Wicked

Critiqued by Holly Bartges

October 13, 2009

The magic of Oz grows stronger every time it appears. Either the third touring production now playing at the Temple Buell Theatre is the finest to wing its way through Denver, or the magic that grabbed hold of the concept exploring the land of Oz prior to Dorothy's house landing on top of the Wicked Witch of the East in the midst of the land of Munchkins, grows stronger, brighter, and more vibrant, reaching into the soul of the collective consciousness.

Donna Vivino as Elphaba in Wicked Photo by: Joan Marcus

This third production is about as Awesome and Magnificent as any musical production can possibly get.

Directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento, orchestration by William David Bohn, conducted by Boko Suzuki, and a mind boggling cast with perfected voices and character expertise, Wicked is a Wow-Ful theatrical experience.

Considering the themes flowing through the story, and considering the themes running through our society at this moment in history, there appears to be juxtaposition between the two. Politically peoples stand back-to-back poles apart wanting to be heard, unwilling to listen to the opposition.

And yet there is Wicked knocking the socks off of everyone sitting in those Buell seats.

Ever since L. Frank Baum introduced the Wicked Witch of the West to the world one hundred and nine years ago, she has exemplified evil personified. And yet here we are, in this time and this place falling in love with her. Falling in love with Elphaba so wondrously portrayed by Donna Vivino, empathizing, understanding her, and silently saying to her, "Of course. Your rage has reason for expression."

She's different. She was born different; born green. Shunned by her father, treated like scum wherever she went, and reduced by her father, elegantly played by Kevin McMahon, to only be useful to care for her younger sister, Nessarose confined to a wheel chair, gorgeously played by Amanda Rose.

Doesn't she make you think of all of the people you've run into, met, observed, walked away from, scratched off your party list, teased, shouted at, turned your back on, justifying the behavior because you didn't approve, didn't agree with, didn't understand, and didn't want to understand?

Isn't that the point?

And yet, we love her.

Full of life, wonder, in spite of her torment, with bottled rage and a social consciousness that grabbed her by the throat, refusing to let her go. She knows. She understands. What do you mean the animals have become too powerful and therefore must lose their power of speech? Doctor Dillamond, teaching at their school, a wise but helpless goat, sees the handwriting on the wall. Engulfed by Paul Slade Smith, he elicits a lump in the throat for his predicament, and the befriending Elphaba gives to him. You love him, and you want to scream NO when he begins to loose the ability to speak. Of course, there's a laugh when she offers to share her lunch with him, and he eats the paper the sandwich is wrapped in while she eats the sandwich. He is a goat after all. Smith provides him an honest "goatness".

There's a dream nudging Elphaba. The Wizard will take care of this horrible affair. Some way, somehow, she must get to the Wizard. He will turn this around.

Chandra Lee Schwartz as Glinda and Donna Vivino as Elphaba in Wicked Photo by: Joan Marcus

Spoiled, rich beyond imagination, swallowed by her prettiness, her popularity, her single-mindedness, her shallow hollowness, expecting a private suite at the school, Galinda, deliciously brought to life by Chandra Lee Schwartz, is horrified to learn she gets to room with Elphaba just because she raises her hand at the wrong time when her scattered brain won't let her pay attention.

Elphaba, whose name comes from a derivative of Baum's initials, attracts the attention of Madam Morrible when rage reveals Elphaba's magical powers. Randy Danson allows herself to become enveloped by Madam Morrible. Bossily uppity, this woman wants control, demands it, and gets it. Danson is exquisite. Puffed up with self importance, Morrible will slide onto any side she finds the butter.

Even though Glinda, who finally changes her name, befriends Elphaba, a tall handsome man can build a wall faster than Elphaba can rattle the electricity. Enter, Fiyero, delightfully played by Richard H. Blake, waltzes into their lives. Glinda will have him no matter what, in spite of the fact, something about Elphaba grabs him.

Ben Liebert takes on the role of Bog, hungrily attracted to Glinda. She, offended by his attention, wants nothing to do with him, and tricks him into paying attention to Nessarose. After all, Bog is a Munchkin, and what would Glinda be doing with a Munchkin? With puppy love smeared all over his face, Liebert gives Bog animated deliciosity.

Then there's the Wizard. In the Wizard of Oz, he's a loveable old guy who solicits empathy. Like Dorothy, he just wants to go Home. This Wizard dives deeper into the psychology of what happens to people who try to become what they are not. The Muchkins think he is wonderful, all-powerful because he floated out of the sky in a balloon. Rather then tell them the truth; he grows to believe his wonderfulness and powerfulness, lying to everyone, especially to himself. Richard Kline surrounds himself with this grandiose character. He's a Sentimental Man, so the song goes, but because he has trapped himself in lie after lie, and enslaved the citizens of Oz, pretending to be what they want him to be, believing in his power, he becomes more evil, more pathetic than the Wicked Witch of the West could ever be. At least, she's up front with her disappointed rage escaping from the depth of her soul.

The rich music and poignant lyrics grab the heart with No One Mourns The Wicked, The Wizard and I, I'm Not That Girl, Something Bad, and As Long As You're Mine, to name but a few. Not only is the cast exquisite in their characterizations but also their voices are beautifully strong.

As technology grows faster than Elphaba can create smoke screens, the special effects created by Chic Silber boggle the mind. The stunning flying Monkeys take the breath away. Richard Kline's invention of Chistery, the Wizard's right hand monkey commands specific attention, even from the sidelines. (I know about monkey business. I had one once.)

The Original Broadway Company of Wicked Photo by: Joan Marcus

Kenneth Posner's lighting design becomes a rich member of the cast, alive with electrical current that goes far beyond plugging a few skillions chords into the wall and computer. It's breath taking.

Only a couple of things bother me about the show, which has nothing to do with this production, and that's the introduction of the Scarecrow and the Tin Man. Dorothy's house has already landed. How can they be with this group and still be with Dorothy? I certainly appreciate the twist of fate, but the question remains.

Even Glinda goes through a transformation from a silly self-service material girl to a woman filled with wisdom. Schwartz develops the transformation for Glinda with Kidd gloves from comedic child-like silliness to a Lady who knows truth.

And Nessarose? In a wheelchair from a freak accident, pampered by her father, wanting independence, wanting to prove her worth on her own terms, becomes overwhelmed by her own pent up rage to don the Wicked Witch of the East's demeanor. Rose's interpretations nails human emotion to the wall. When we hear about and witness angry out of control people, we rarely ask the why question. What causes an individual to fly off the handle out of control, shooting or beating anyone or anything that comes into sight? Rose's sensitive treatment of Nessarose provides delicate insight.

Wicked is a breath taking, awesome, exquisite, wondrous production, and should not be missed by anyone. Although it plays through November 15, reservations may indeed be difficult to obtain. Don't give up. Keep calling. People do have to cancel for a variety of legitimate reasons. Go ahead. Bother the Box Office. They love the attention. Besides, you just might catch them at the right time. Wicked is worth every once of effort.

Wicked
The untold story of the Witches of OZ By Stephen Schwartz & Winnie Holzman
Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire