Real world social commentary wrapped in memorable show tunes and a classic, fantastical setting.
After The Wizard of Oz, came
various musical versions of the story including, The Wiz, a primarily
Black cast retelling of the story featuring R&B songs like When I Think
of Home and Ease on Down the Road. The hit film version of The
Wiz starred Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, and other
superstars. Later came the Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and
Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. This time the story of Oz is told
from the point of view of the story’s original villain, Elphaba. In this version, Elphaba
is mistreated, well-meaning, exploited, framed, and ultimately understandably
angry. She also has a fraught friendship with Glinda the good witch in the
original version of the story. The novel
inspired the musical, Wicked, featuring a tragic hero, tortured friendships,
and iconic songs that never quite leave your mind. The Tony winning Broadway
musical is the inspiration for the 2024 feature film musical starring Cynthia
Erivo and Ariana Grande as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively. After more than a century
into existence, Oz has been through many interpretations.
What contemporary audiences often
want is a complex character study. People are seldom just bad or good. They are
the products of their experiences and they act based on the reality of their
world view and their lived experiences. Wicked, Part 1, tells us the
story of a child, Elphaba, who is unloved because of her skin color (green) and
feared because of her strength (magic). Despite this she grows to be resilient with
a mix of compassion and cynicism. While escorting her younger sister Nessarose (Marissa
Bode) to the wizard school, Shiz University, Elphaba’s magic skills catch the
eye of a professor (Michelle Yeoh), so Elphaba also ends up enrolling in Shiz to develop her powers in the hopes of one day meeting the magical Wizard, the
powerful leader of the land who can grant any wish. Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is
stuck rooming with the self-absorbed and intensely popular, Glinda (Ariana
Grande) who is the opposite of Elphaba’s reticent, outcast vibe. The two
initially dislike each other but over time they become friends after each
offers the other an unexpected act of kindness. The arrival of the handsome and
charismatic prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) creates a love triangle with Glinda
and Elphaba. Meanwhile Elphaba’s younger sister Nessarose is attracted to the Munchin
student Boq (Ethan Slater) who is not-so-secretly in love with Glinda. But the
main external conflict is the oppression and racism against the talking animals
who have been part of society for ages. Elphaba discovers a plot to wrongfully
imprison them, cut them off from their homes and employment, and take away
their ability to speak. Her determination to speak out against the injustice
puts her in conflict with those in power and strains her friendship with Glinda.
The film is only part one of the musical so it ends with much of the conflict unresolved.
However, the story ends on an inspiring note as Elphaba and Glinda struggle with
their respective choices.
If you are familiar with the
musical, none of this is new material. But, while the film manages to stay true
to the stage show, it also brings startlingly sharp observations of current
issues of racism, social oppression, and political manipulation. When Elphaba is
stared at because she is green, Glinda expresses hope that they can solve her
skin color problem. Elphaba irritatedly rebuffs the suggestion and a man in
Glinda’s entourage defensively declares that “I don’t see color.” The fact that
Elphaba is played by a Black actress, particularly makes the message resonate.
As the story progresses, Elphaba
and Glinda uncover political intrigue involving the innocent talking animals as
pawns. Later the talking goat history professor, Dr. Dillamond (voiced by Peter
Dinklage) warns that “you ignore the past at your own peril.” When you see Wicked,
you can easily talk for hours about the current societal references in the story.
The film has sharp content and excellent acting from Cynthia Erivo as the determined
Elphaba and Ariana Grande as the good-hearted, but hesitant to act, Glinda.
In addition to the unexpectedly
thoughtful and timely plot, Wicked delivers exactly what audiences want
in a musical: stunning sets, gorgeous dance numbers (and costumes), and iconic
songs (Popular, One Short Day, and Defying Gravity) that will
make you want to play the soundtrack then entire way home from the theater. Cynthia
Erivo is perfect as Elphaba, playing the character in an understated but
bitingly cynical way. Ariana Grande is adorable as an onscreen embodiment of Barbie
from Barbie and Elle from Legally Blonde, as she moves from
confident and self-absorbed to compassionate, conflicted, and ultimately overwhelmed.
The film also has nods to Wednesday and Enid from the Netflix series Wednesday.
The only real problem with this film is that it is Wicked, Part 1, which
means that we only get through the first half of the story in this rendition. However,
it is so well done and ends on such a high note (literally and figuratively)
that this story of the rise of an unlikely hero ultimately feels satisfying.
--
The Math
Nerd Coefficient: 8/10
Highlights:
- Sharp social commentary
- Stunning sets and performances
- Poignant, sing-a-long fun
POSTED BY: Ann Michelle Harris – Multitasking, fiction-writing Trekkie currently dreaming of her next beach vacation.
