Wicked

This past Saturday, Tary and I went to watch the Broadway musical Wicked with a group of friends at the Boston Opera House. The show was cleverly written, wonderfully performed, and wildly entertaining. The acting was top-notch and the music was catchy. Jackie Burns, the actress who played the lead role of Elphaba, was endearing, funny, and she sang beautifully. She gave a very moving and convincing performance. I want to see Wicked again!

Wicked tells the story of Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, who was misunderstood and often ridiculed for her odd appearance. It also shows her relationship with Galinda, who later becomes Glinda the Good Witch of the North. Throughout the musical, their relationship is tested due to personality differences, opposing viewpoints on the corrupt government, a shared love-interest, and Elphaba's eventual fall from grace. The plot was set before and during Dorothy's arrival to the Land of Oz and included familiar references to the Wizard of Oz film.

Without giving too much away, Wicked basically told the back-story of Elphaba and how she was genuinely a good person. After Elphaba discovered the government's corruption, they tried to discredit her by labeling her the Wicked Witch of the West. There were quite a few moments where I felt really bad for her, especially during moments where she was teased by her classmates. You can't help but get a little emotional as she struggled to make things right. Along the way, the origins of well-known characters from the Wizard of Oz were also revealed such as the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow.

So if you're a fan of the Wizard of Oz and of musicals in general, I highly recommend Wicked! It was wicked awesome!