THEATRE REVIEW: "Wicked" -- Defying Delusions of Grandeur... Almost.

      In December of 2003, my mom, dad, sister, and I saw a performance of the Stephen Schwartz musical "Wicked" at the Gershwin Theatre in New York.  My mom had already seen the musical on a previous trip to New York with her girlfriends (when it was in previews, I think).  She loved the show and wanted us to see it too.  So we saw it towards the end of Thanksgiving Break at the beginning of December.  That was the same trip where we saw the Mel Brooks musical "The Producers" at the end of November with my grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Not only that, but on this trip, my grandparents celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary, and at the restaurant where the celebration was, I got drunk from drinking too much white wine.  We saw "Wicked" after that. 

     On the night we saw "Wicked," Kristin Chenowith, Idina Menzel,  Joel Grey, Carole Shelley, and Narbert Leo Butz starred in the production.  The musical was, and still is, directed by Joe Mantello, with scenic design by Eugene Lee.  The production had opened for previews two months before, and the theatre lobby was already decked out as the Land of Oz.  The 2004 Tony Awards hadn't happened yet, so the producers must have known  "Wicked" was going to be a hit.  

     The stage at the Gershwin Theatre is enormous.  The entire production had a larger-than-life look to it.  During intermission, after "Defying Gravity," I'm sure we talked about how great the show was so far.  I think my mom wanted us to see it because of the show's message that while it is OK not to be normal, life can be a lot harder that way.  After the show, my sister and mom took either the subway or a taxi back to my grandma's apartment (there was no Uber or Lyft back then) while my dad and I walked.  Little did I know how many more times I would see the show. 

Idina Menzel as Elphaba (photo by Sara Krulwich).

     The Original Broadway Cast Recording of "Wicked" is one of my favorites, yet it has its flaws.  There is dialogue missing from "Defying Gravity," as well as some lyrics too.  Also, Nessarose's song, however brief, is missing from the cast recording altogether.  It's not the best song in the musical, of course.  But without it, Nessarose is barely in the cast recording.  Basically, she sings about life in a wheelchair, being ignored by Elphaba, and "scrounging for scraps of pity."  Part of the song is a duet with Elphaba (of course it is).  Maybe Stephen Schwartz got his personal feelings towards people in wheelchairs while writing the song (scrounging for scraps of pity) and so it couldn't be included in the cast recording. 

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     In December of 2008, my sister, grandparents, aunt, uncle, and I saw the Chicago Production of "Wicked" during its final few months at the Oriental Theatre (now called the Nederlander Theatre).  After it closed in January of 2009 (I think), it would go on tour with more simplified Eugene Lee scenic design.  Basically, the catwalk structures on either side of the proscenium were left out of the touring scenery.  The Chicago Production of Wicked had been running since the spring of 2005.  To this day the musical returns on tour every few years.

     The only cast member who I remember being in the Chicago Production the night we saw it was Dee Roscioli (Elphaba) and Erin Mackey (Glinda).   The Chicago audience loved Dee Roscioli.  I thought she did a great job, but I had trouble hearing her during the end of "Defying Gravity" because of how loud the orchestra was.  Also, I noticed how the ensemble kept doing the same dance move during the song "Dancing Through Life."  The lobby of the Oriental Theatre was similarly decorated to that of the Gershwin Theatre.  Even though the Chicago Production of "Wicked"  has been gone for years, there is still paneling with the show's logo at the theatre entrance. 

Dee Roscioli as Elphaba (photo by Joan Marcus).

     Another thing I remember about the night we saw the Chicago Production of"Wicked" was that it was freezing cold outside.  It was either ten degrees above zero or ten degrees below zero.  After the show we made our way to Rosebud (a restaurant near the theatre).  Also at the restaurant was the Chicago cast of "Jersey Boys," the production of which was enjoying a successful run at the Bank of America Theatre (now called the CIBC Theatre).

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     On July 13th and 15th, 2012, I saw performances of the National Tour of "Wicked" while it played at the Civic Theatre in San Diego, CA.  I was in town visiting my dad (who lived in San Diego at the time) for my birthday, and he surprised me by telling me that not only was Comic Con in town, but so was "Wicked."  We didn't plan on going to Comic Con, except maybe to walk around outside the Convention Center and look at the Bat Mobile display.  So we went over to the Civic Theatre box office before the performances on July 13th and 15th.  Both times, there were available tickets in the balcony section.  My dad saw it with me on the 13th, and I saw it again by myself on the 15th.  

     On both nights I saw the show, the production starred Nicole Parker and Ali Mauzey.  They both did a great job.  This was my first time seeing a performance of the touring production of "Wicked," so it was then that I noticed the lack of scenery around the proscenium.  It didn't take much away from the show.  I just wish, from where I was seated, that Nicole Parker's head wasn't blocked by the metallic time dragon during ... you guessed it ... "Defying Gravity."

Ali Mauzey as Glinda (photo by Joan Marcus).

     

     Nicole Parker added some comic relief to her portrayal of Elphaba that wasn't exactly lacking the previous times I saw "Wicked."  I think when Dee Roscioli and Idina Menzel performed the part, the humor was a little more subtle.  Even the role of Glinda had changed since the first time I saw the show.  Her mannerisms and quirkiness were more exaggerated and over-the-top, particularly during the scene where she sings the song "Popular."  

     

     The cast of this National Tour engagement of "Wicked," at least when I saw the show, included Justin Brill (Boq), Clifton Davis (Dr. Dilamond), Demaree Catherine Hill (Nessarose), Andy Kelso (Fyero), Liz McCartney (Madame Morrible), and P.J Benjamin (The Wizard).

Nicole Parker as Elphaba (photo by Joan Marcus).

     At one point while seeing "Wicked" in San Diego," the theatre began shaking.  It wasn't for a very long time.  This happened when I went back to see it on July 15th.  I don't think it was caused by the orchestrations.  The Civic Theatre is so massive, and I was seated in the back of the balcony level.  I might have been slightly alarmed, but I was enjoying "Wicked" so much that I didn't feel like evacuating!

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     Towards the end of 2013, "Wicked" made a return engagement in Chicago at the Oriental Theatre, so Theo and I went to see it.  The light bulbs of the theatre marquee were replaced with green ones (or should I say emerald?).  This was the same touring production I saw in San Diego a year and a half before, except this time Allison Luff played the part of Elphaba.  Jenn Gambatese played Glinda.   If I remember correctly, the role of Fyero was played by Curt Hansen, who played the role of Gabe in the National Tour of "Next to Normal."  Not only that, but my sister and I would later see Allison Luff play the role of Fantine in the Broadway Revival of "Les Misérables" before it closed.

     The three actors I mentioned gave strong performances in this production.  Wben I saw "Wicked" at the Oriental Theatre in 2008, my seat was on the orchestra level.  As I mentioned before, that time I had some trouble hearing the lyrics.  This time, Theo and I were sitting either in the middle mezzanine section or further back than that--and I could hear every word.  I don't know exactly how many times "Wicked" has returned to Chicago since I saw it in 2013.  I know it returned in 2017.  It is also making another return stop at the end of 2022.  Unless I win the Broadway in Chicago ticket lottery to the show, I don't think I will be seeing it again.  Then again, who knows?

     Since seeing "Wicked" five times (so far), I have read the Gregory Maguire novel twice.  I am not exactly sure what possessed me to read it a second time.  As far as a comparison between the book and the musical, I have to say I like the musical better.  In the musical, at least Elphaba enjoyed a happy moment or two.  Either that or she allowed herself to.  Though I can't remember specifically when those moments were... except at the end of the song "As Long As You're Mine" when Elphaba and Fyero embrace because she feels wicked for the first time.  She seemed happy then.  Yet being happy all the time isn't realistic.  Also, assuming others are always happy is a good way to become green with envy.

Allison Luff as Elphaba (photo by Joan Marcus).