Post by rcolemanuk on Feb 15, 2008 0:26:04 GMT 1
I saw Wicked in London on March 28th 2007, Heres my review.
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WOW WOW WOW What a show! From before the start you get the impression that this is going to be a special show. With the audience hyped up and ready to go before the performance even starts we get the view of the big map of OZ and the dragon leering over us from the ceiling and we are set! The Band Strikes up, the audience cheers, and we are straight in with the action! No lengthy overture, and with the appearance of a fellow Ozian coming out to wind up the curtain the journey begins as we are taken far from the busy streets of London. The story starts at the end of the show but from a brief introduction we are taken back before Dorothy was even heard of to the day Elphaba is born. We then follow the school lives and love lives of both the 'Good' Witch Galinda, later Glinda and the bad witch Elphaba. How Elphaba is summoned to the wizard and doesn't approve of his ways and causes havoc in the Emerald City before running off. The town turned against her, sets out to kill her before Dorothy turns up and does the deed for them. And that's not HALF of the story!
The shows effects from the flying in Defying Gravity, to the visual effects and lighting are stunning. There was no risk of not being able to hear either as from where we were (2/3rds of the way back) the sound was as crystal clear as if you were sat in the front! This was a 'Pop-U-Lar' show as proved by the cheering audience after most of the songs. Kerry Ellis did not let the role of Elphaba down equalling or bettering Idina Menzel in the role. Helen Dallimore's Galinda was just as enchanting. The 2 hour 50 min show flies by and you don't think you have been in there 10 mins by the time its over.
There's not a lot that can be said bad about the show apart from maybe without all the glitz and glam of the set/lighting/effects the story isn't as strong as some. For example the strength of stories like Blood Brothers or Les Mis or Miss Saigon are enough to carry them through with cut down sets. Put simply, to last on a tour the show would have to keep the set pretty much as it is or some of the effect would be lost and the show not as grand, which would be some feat at the set pretty much takes over the theatre. Just when you think there cant be any more lights crammed into it you are surprised yet again with just another spectacle. Some of the memorable ones being the dance and the emerald city in 'one short day'. The story itself contradicts severely the wizard of OZ and shows us OZ from a different point of view. There are a couple of bits which don't match up to the wizard of oz and there are changes through adaptation from book to stage which gives the story a somewhat happier ending. However what is there is believable and a brilliant exploit of uncovered points from the wizard of Oz book.
If you see this show you will be left lighter in the pockets as a top priced ticket currently costs £60 and the merchandise isn't cheap either. This said the show continues to pull crowds and full houses even at matinees and anyone who has seen it will know why. It is worthy of the top spot as musical on my site, down to the show as a whole. It is a shame that probably the best effect is used at the end of the first half and the second half seems quite tame compared but it carries the story through. All in all a refreshing show brought to the west and will hopefully carry for years to come. I SO WANT TO GO AGAIN!
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WOW WOW WOW What a show! From before the start you get the impression that this is going to be a special show. With the audience hyped up and ready to go before the performance even starts we get the view of the big map of OZ and the dragon leering over us from the ceiling and we are set! The Band Strikes up, the audience cheers, and we are straight in with the action! No lengthy overture, and with the appearance of a fellow Ozian coming out to wind up the curtain the journey begins as we are taken far from the busy streets of London. The story starts at the end of the show but from a brief introduction we are taken back before Dorothy was even heard of to the day Elphaba is born. We then follow the school lives and love lives of both the 'Good' Witch Galinda, later Glinda and the bad witch Elphaba. How Elphaba is summoned to the wizard and doesn't approve of his ways and causes havoc in the Emerald City before running off. The town turned against her, sets out to kill her before Dorothy turns up and does the deed for them. And that's not HALF of the story!
The shows effects from the flying in Defying Gravity, to the visual effects and lighting are stunning. There was no risk of not being able to hear either as from where we were (2/3rds of the way back) the sound was as crystal clear as if you were sat in the front! This was a 'Pop-U-Lar' show as proved by the cheering audience after most of the songs. Kerry Ellis did not let the role of Elphaba down equalling or bettering Idina Menzel in the role. Helen Dallimore's Galinda was just as enchanting. The 2 hour 50 min show flies by and you don't think you have been in there 10 mins by the time its over.
There's not a lot that can be said bad about the show apart from maybe without all the glitz and glam of the set/lighting/effects the story isn't as strong as some. For example the strength of stories like Blood Brothers or Les Mis or Miss Saigon are enough to carry them through with cut down sets. Put simply, to last on a tour the show would have to keep the set pretty much as it is or some of the effect would be lost and the show not as grand, which would be some feat at the set pretty much takes over the theatre. Just when you think there cant be any more lights crammed into it you are surprised yet again with just another spectacle. Some of the memorable ones being the dance and the emerald city in 'one short day'. The story itself contradicts severely the wizard of OZ and shows us OZ from a different point of view. There are a couple of bits which don't match up to the wizard of oz and there are changes through adaptation from book to stage which gives the story a somewhat happier ending. However what is there is believable and a brilliant exploit of uncovered points from the wizard of Oz book.
If you see this show you will be left lighter in the pockets as a top priced ticket currently costs £60 and the merchandise isn't cheap either. This said the show continues to pull crowds and full houses even at matinees and anyone who has seen it will know why. It is worthy of the top spot as musical on my site, down to the show as a whole. It is a shame that probably the best effect is used at the end of the first half and the second half seems quite tame compared but it carries the story through. All in all a refreshing show brought to the west and will hopefully carry for years to come. I SO WANT TO GO AGAIN!