Review: WICKED at Straz Center For The Performing Arts

Wicked fans are mounting their bubbles and brooms and navigating the yellow brick road to The Emerald City, (Straz Center, Tampa), to defy gravity with Elphaba and company. For most, this is a yearly pilgrimage to pay homage to their misunderstood heroine. For a very few, it's a first glance at the visually stunning Broadway spectacular.

Young and old alike attend this theatrical giant, celebrating 14 years on Broadway. You will likely sit next to someone who knows the dialogue, characters, sets, costumes and embody an impeccable lyric repertoire. They come in Wicked gear, show off tattoos, don green sun glasses and possess cast-autographed Grimmeries. They attend with people they love, to share this experience, and have tissues readily available for upcoming heart-tugging moments.

The truly committed fans know present and past cast members and liken performances to, "that note Idina or Kristin hit", "Eden Espinosa's riff" or "Megan Hilty's Glinda". If this sounds like gibberish to you, then you need to get your Wicked on! Wicked, the thrice winning Tony Award and Grammy Award winning musical, is based on Gregory Maguire's novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of The Wicked Witch of the West. Although the novel had a more dark and political bent, the superb music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, exceptional book by Winnie Holtz, and magnificent costumes by Susan Hilferty, bring out the best in this ingenious re-imagining of the beloved classic, and make this a journey well beyond Oz.

Opening the show, and descending in her attention getting bubble, Glinda the Good Witch, brilliantly played by Amanda Jane Cooper, steals the show. Her sense of comedic timing adds a lovable dimension to her character interpretation of the blissfully oblivious, self-centered "Galinda". Her remarkable vocal range easily transitions from low guttural growls to flawless operatic highs. Jessica Vosk as Elphaba has one of the most vocally demanding roles be it on tour or Broadway. With Broadway credits under her belt, such as The Bridges of Madison County, Fiddler on the Roof and Finding Neverland, she was well up to the task. Jessica had the audience in the palm of her hand through the "uplifting" anthem, Defying Gravity, which ended in emboldened cheers from an audience that resembled fans in a football stadium rather than the sometimes-reserved theater crowd.

Fred Applegate, as The Wizard dignified the lovably deceitful man behind the curtain. Isabel Keating, as the clever Madame Morrible was glorious. Jeremy Woodard portrayed the suave Fiyero, personified. Cast members Harry Bouvy, (Dr. Dillamond), Kristen Martin, (Nessa Rose), and Andy Mientus, (Boq), rounded off this gifted ensemble with their luminous presence.

Wicked will make you celebrate and mourn, laugh and cry and maybe most of all, think. It speaks to so many people on so many levels as you witness the path of bullying, deception and resentment that each character is tasked with carrying. Things aren't always what they seem in Oz or in our world today. Yet there is a positive takeaway in the heart-wrenching song, For Good. Something we can all use a little of these days. Wicked runs through February 26th at the beautiful Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa.

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