Wicked, she is, but not so much.
She’s also Elphaba, green and not the most popular girl on the campus of Shiz U.
Being green, as Kermit the Frog says, “isn’t easy.” But Eplhaba (Jackie Burns)
doesn’t shy away from difficult.
Elphaba and her fellow Wicked’s flew back
into San Diego for close to a month to bring “Wicked” to us; ending just after
Thanksgiving. She might possibly want to be with her friends in the North or…?
The Tony Award Winning Broadway
musical “Wicked”(it opened on Broadway in 2003 and never looked back) is here
by POP-U-LAR demand at the Civic Theatre in
downtown San Diego.
Brought to us by Broadway/San Diego,
it is expected to fill the house throughout the month by followers of the best
selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire (you must read the book “Son of a
Witch”) based as well on the characters and story in L. Frank Baum’s 1939 ever so
POP-U-LAR movie ‘The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz’.
“Wicked” is the backstory to ‘Wonderful Wizard Of Oz’. With music by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holtzman, the peppy show is clever, smart witty and
fun all rolled into one.
Jackie Burns is Elphaba |
Schwartz’s lyrics and music are brilliant and catchy and Holtzman’s book is clear and memorable. Overall it’s a show worthy of its popularity. (One of Schwartz’s more snappy songs in the show “POP-U-LAR” and sung by Kara Lindsay’s Glinda is well, is one of the more popular and recognizable. Others that are catchy include “I’m Not That Girl” “Defying Gravity”, “Dancing Through Life” and "I Couldn't Be Happier"..
References in Wicked to “Wizard of
Oz” are made throughout as to how the two are interwoven. Anyone who has seen
the screen version and fell in love with Dorothy, Kansas, the tornado, Aunt Em,
Toto and that group will remember how Dorothy takes a tumble into the land of
OZ after a tornado rips through Kansas. The rest, as they say, is history. Then
there’s Maguire’s back-story to the story and “Wicked” is it! .
Kara Lindsay and Jackie Burns |
The two main characters around which
the story revolves are Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda The
Good Witch of the North. The two form an unholy alliance when they are thrown
together at Shiz University. They end up as room mates through some convoluted
pairing system.
Their behaviors and their
personalities both as roommates and as women are as diametrically opposed to
each other as night is to day. Elphaba as mentioned is green, (an accident of
birth explained early in the story), discriminated against, smart, not overly
friendly with the ‘frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn attitude about what
folks think.
Glinda is beautiful, popular, a tad
bit superficial at first and usually gets anything and anyone she wants. She
eventually befriends Elphaba and tries to teach her the ins and outs of being the
P word.
Over time we get to learn the story
of the why of their friendship and how they got from being roommates to friends
to adversaries to both loving the handsome Fiyero (Jon Robert Hall) to their
visit to Emerald City and their fateful meeting with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz
(Jason Graae).
It is here they meet an Ozian
Official (Wayne Schroder) who has a secret, which
is later revealed. It is also at this meeting that Elphaba gets to use her magical
powers. Yes she flies and uses her handy, dandy broomstick for all sorts of missions.
is later revealed. It is also at this meeting that Elphaba gets to use her magical
powers. Yes she flies and uses her handy, dandy broomstick for all sorts of missions.
Maguire’s back story is fascinating
and engrossing, eventually bringing in all the elements of Oz, the munchkins
and characters from Baum’s original novel together while being original and
novel on it’s own accord as it comes full circle.
Secrets are exposed, threats and
promises made, power is transferred to the most unlikely of characters until
finally the then Galinda the Good (she now wants to be called Glinda) promises
the citizens of Oz reform. Elphaba and Fiyero secretly escape from Oz and
Dorothy, ah yes! Dorothy, well…
One can’t help but being intrigued
with Wicked. Between the Schwartz/Holtzman
lyrics and book, this New York ‘blockbuster’, Tony and Grammy award winner, and this current touring show which is packed with endless talent, put me to the test of trying to piece the puzzle together.
lyrics and book, this New York ‘blockbuster’, Tony and Grammy award winner, and this current touring show which is packed with endless talent, put me to the test of trying to piece the puzzle together.
Jackie Burns is Broadways longest
running Elphaba as well as being with the national tour. Her nemesis Glinda
played by Kara Lindsay was also in the Broadway Company and national tour.
Needless to say we are lucky and fortunately to have them both performing here
in San Diego. They make one awesome duo with voices that soar and performances
at their best.
Kara Lindsay |
Over time we get to learn the story
of the why of their friendship and how they got from
being roommates to friends to adversaries to both loving the handsome Fiyero
(Jon Robert Hall) to their visit to Emerald City and their fateful meeting with the
Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jason Graae).
being roommates to friends to adversaries to both loving the handsome Fiyero
(Jon Robert Hall) to their visit to Emerald City and their fateful meeting with the
Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jason Graae).
It is here they meet an Ozian
Official (Wayne Schroder) who has a secret, which is later
revealed. It is also at this meeting that Elphaba gets to use her magical powers.
revealed. It is also at this meeting that Elphaba gets to use her magical powers.
Maguire’s back story is fascinating
and engrossing, eventually bringing in all the elements
of Oz, the munchkins and characters from Baum’s original novel together while being original
and novel on it’s own accord as it comes full circle.
of Oz, the munchkins and characters from Baum’s original novel together while being original
and novel on it’s own accord as it comes full circle.
Secrets are exposed, threats and
promises made, power is transferred to the most unlikely of
characters until finally the then Galinda the Good (she now wants to be called Glinda) promises
the citizens of Oz reform. Elphaba and Fiyero secretly escape from Oz and Dorothy, ah yes!
Dorothy, well…
characters until finally the then Galinda the Good (she now wants to be called Glinda) promises
the citizens of Oz reform. Elphaba and Fiyero secretly escape from Oz and Dorothy, ah yes!
Dorothy, well…
One can’t help but being intrigued
with Wicked. Between the Schwartz/Holtzman lyrics and
book, this New York ‘blockbuster’, Tony and Grammy award winner, and this current touring
show which is packed with endless talent.
book, this New York ‘blockbuster’, Tony and Grammy award winner, and this current touring
show which is packed with endless talent.
John Robert Hall as Fiyero |
Jackie Burns is Broadways longest
running Elphaba as well as being with the national tour.
Her nemesis Glinda played by Kara Lindsay was also in the Broadway Company and national tour. Needless to say we are lucky and fortunately to have them both performing here in San Diego. They make one awesome duo with voices that soar and performances at their best.
Her nemesis Glinda played by Kara Lindsay was also in the Broadway Company and national tour. Needless to say we are lucky and fortunately to have them both performing here in San Diego. They make one awesome duo with voices that soar and performances at their best.
Jason Graae smooth and suave as the
empty shelled but nasty Wizard. Jody Gelb is force to be reckoned with as
Madame Morrible and John Robert Hall’s Fiyero, the boy hero and love interest
of both Glinda and Elphaba is a perfect fit.
Susan Hilferty’s costumes lend to the
colorful imagery. With huge clockwork turning gears (Eugene Lee) towering over
the players and equally scary looking greens lighting up both dragon and Wizard
figures (Kenneth Pozner), we are taken into the Land of Oz and on a fantastical
thrilling journey as the magical story of “Wicked” begins. It’s wonderfully
wicked and still I love it!
This might be the third or forth time yours truly has seen “Wicked”
but this is the first time I connected the political dots that point to an ever
-nasty political atmosphere seen in the show I never noticed in the past.
Kara Lindsay and cast. Glinda "Couldn't Be Happier" |
But with so much of what’s going on in our charged political
climate today, it should not be surprising to hear those references to hate, fear
mongering, rumors and lies, killings and crooked politicians who need to be
liked, but not smart. What stands out the most is how easily it is for one
group to oppress another.
“I hear she has an
extra eye
That always remains awake
I hear that she can shed her skin
As easily as a snake!
I hear some rebel Animals
Are giving her food and shelter!
I hear her soul is so unclean
Pure water can melt her!”
That always remains awake
I hear that she can shed her skin
As easily as a snake!
I hear some rebel Animals
Are giving her food and shelter!
I hear her soul is so unclean
Pure water can melt her!”
It’s a bigger than life production and after 15 years it’s
still running strong
See you at the theatre.
Dates: Through Nov. 25th
Organization: Broadway San Diego
Phone: 858-570-1100
Production Type: Musical
Where: 1100-3rd and B Downtown San Diego 92101
Ticket Prices: $39.00-$169.00
Web: broadwaysd.com
Venue: Civic Theatre
Photo: Joan Marcus
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