When “Wicked” — the musical adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” — premiered on Broadway at the Gershwin Theater in 2003, it was met with mixed reactions. Critics lauded the show’s production and the performances of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, but there was less enthusiasm for the musical’s score, songs and choreography.
Nevertheless, the musical retelling of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum captured the hearts of Broadway audiences and has quickly gained a cult following. Since its debut, “Wicked” has become the fourth longest-running and second highest-grossing musical on Broadway, raking in $1.6 billion across more than 8,000 performances.
It would be no surprise if the film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical achieved comparable levels of commercial and critical success as its source material.
Directed by Jon M. Chu, “Wicked” is slated to release in theaters this Friday, Nov. 22. In the film, Chu perfectly translates the story of the unlikely friendship between Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo) and her roommate Galinda Upland (Ariana Grande-Butera) from the stage to the screen.
The film’s runtime — a whopping 2 hours and 40 minutes — is about as long as the stage musical itself, yet it only covers the first act of the original story. But audiences, entranced by the retelling on screen, are unlikely to notice its length.
The added screen time enables viewers to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamic between Elphaba and her sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode) and insight into Elphaba’s studies at Shiz University under Headmistress Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). Writers Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox ensured that every moment in the film was essential in accurately depicting Elphaba’s journey to meet the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Gloldblum) and her eventual transformation into the Wicked Witch of the West.
With both lead actresses’ experience on Broadway (Erivo in “The Color Purple” and Grande-Butera in “13”), it is no surprise that they each brought showstopping performances to the film. Their impressive talents are most apparent during the film’s climactic conclusion, with their chemistry creating a palpable sense of tension.
Grande-Butera’s portrayal of the bubbly, friendly and social-climbing Galinda is particularly charming. Along with being a major character in the story, Galinda also serves as comedic relief. Grande-Butera masterfully depicts the comedic elements of her character, eliciting laughter from audiences even in the most serious of situations.
The stunning vocals of both Erivo and Grande-Butera are showcased by the film’s many musical numbers. Specifically, Erivo’s dramatic and powerful rendition of “Defying Gravity” in the finale masterfully symbolizes Elphaba’s transformation into a young witch who is in control and aware of her powers.
Fans of Grande-Butera may recognize the song “Popular,” which the singer sampled in her feature in pop artist Mika’s single “Popular Song.” The musical number is perfectly complemented by choreography, as Grande-Butera flaunts her ability to perform dramatic moves like doing the splits mid-air.
In fact, the entire film’s choreography is praiseworthy. From the introductory song “No One Mourns the Wicked” to the number “Dancing Through Life” led by the rule-breaking Prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), there is never a moment in which the choreography is bland or boring. Any issues previous critics had with the choreography in the stage musical are remedied well in the film.
No review of “Wicked” would be complete without praise for the film’s stunning visuals, costumes and styling. Although its technical effects may not be incredibly advanced, the film’s marvelous cinematography and colorful scenes bring the fantastical Land of Oz to life. The Ozdust Ballroom scenes, in particular, are filled with magnificent displays of color and exquisite costumes worthy of being displayed in museums and on red carpets.
As fans eagerly await the official release of “Wicked,” they can brush up on their knowledge of the song lyrics and prepare themselves for a picturesque adaptation of the beloved musical. A beautiful introduction to the tragic story of the friendship between Elphaba Thropp and Galinda Upland, “Wicked” is sure to be one of the most popular films at the box office this upcoming weekend.
Manav is a junior from Indiana, concentrating in International and Public Affairs. In his free time, he likes attempting the daily Connections puzzle or falling down Wikipedia rabbit holes.
