On October 30, 2003, the global sensation “Wicked” debuted on Broadway. Composed by Stephen Schwartz, the hit musical took the world by storm. Fast forward to 2022 when director John M. Chu announced the two-part adaptation of “Wicked.” Soon after, it was announced that the movie would be starring Emmy, Tony, and Grammy winner Cynthia Erivo as protagonist Elphaba Thropp alongside pop star Ariana Grande playing the Good Witch Glinda. When Chu announced the new movie, fans around the world went wild. People filled the theaters, and “Wicked” would later be announced as one of the highest grossing ticket box sales of all time.
“Wicked” is the story of the infamous “Wicked Witch of the West,”named Elphaba, from “The Wizard of Oz” and her friendship with Glinda, The Good Witch. This story follows the characters’ growing friendship before and after the original “Wizard of Oz.” Protagonist Elphaba enrolls into Shiz University where she meets Glinda. These characters have their differences in the beginning but eventually become the best of friends.
When news broke that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were cast in these beloved roles, many fans had speculations. Despite Ariana Grande being one of the most famous female vocalists in the world, some fans didn’t believe that she could portray Glinda properly. It’s safe to say that the doubters were proven wrong. The singer did an incredible job bringing this character to life, and her confidence left many viewers exclaiming how she was born to play this role. Her singing, dancing, and acting were all outstanding. One aspect of Glinda’s character that stood out against the other characters and some of the serious plot points was her constant humor. Alongside Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo also does a spectacular job capturing Elphaba Thropp’s character. In notable performances such as “The Wizard and I” and “Defying Gravity,” Eviro proves how much she deserved this role. These two actresses were the highlight of the movie for many and made watching it a special experience.
Much like the performances in this movie, the choreography and sets were also astonishing. When a musical has a song named “Dancing through Life,” the choreography has to be the number one priority. The articulate dancing in “What is This Feeling?” captivated the audience as well, and many sought out how to learn the dance so they could post themselves dancing along on apps like Instagram and Tiktok. To further immerse audiences, the creators of “Wicked” used practical sets instead of CGI. The intricate manmade sets allowed viewers to step into the world of “Wicked” and feel like students at Shiz University themselves.
Overall, “Wicked” is a must-see for anyone who enjoys musicals, friendship, and movies in general. The performances, choreography, and sets all play into the role of creating a groundbreaking movie, and many hope to see “Wicked” receive its well deserved awards in the near future.