Review Wicked West End….
I was honoured to be invited to previews of Wicked on Broadway over 10 years ago.
I fell in love with this magical masterclass of musical theatre instantly and crowned it ‘Best Family Musical EVER’.
Tonight I re-visited this mammoth sell0out production for the first time in 7 years at the HUGE 2000+ seater – Apollo Victoria Theatre.
Wicked is simply 5* on every level from visuals, sound to the hugely impressive cast!
Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz – is a stunning, moving, hysterical and beautifully produced musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman.
Enjoy Celebrity Radio’s Exclusive Audio / Visual review via YouTube:
Not only is it still a timeless musical, but having seen this spectacular production for the 20th time tonight, it is also without question one of the best, most elaborate & impressive family musicals in West End history!
Absolute value for money from start to finish with no expense spared.
Wicked is based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, a parallel novel of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum’s 1900 classic story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Enjoy our EXCLUSIVE interview with Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz:
The sets and costumes are sensational and the Stars in this show leave you speechless with their breath-taking talent and energy.
The keys to this shows success is the music. Schwartz has done a remarkable job making every note count.
The songs are beautifully written, moving, memorable & hugely melodic.
It ticks all boxes for all ages. It feels so modern yet respects, alludes to and gives great nods to the hugely successful musicals of the past.
Not only is this show visually brilliant with incredibly elaborate and technically brilliant sets, but it is musically, lyrically brilliantly.
Sadly for me the sound mix was a little off tonight. At times it was screamy, other times muffled, even the orchestra were almost inaudible at certain points which took the edge off for me.
Having said that, the average punter would not care as this Broadway show-stopper has divine lighting, incredible costumes and hugely impressive and elaborate sets.
Wicked tells the story of two unlikely friends, Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (the Good Witch of the North), who struggle through opposing personalities and viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, reactions to the Wizard’s corrupt government, and, ultimately, Elphaba’s public fall from grace.
It’s a love story with a wonderful ethic and moral without being gushy.
It plays so well with young girls who are trying to ‘discover themselves’…what is good, bad, beautiful and ugly. You come out feeling more wise than when you went in.
Bravo to all involved with Wicked.
An utter theatrical triumph on every level and should be the bar that all other shows try to achieve when taking to the London stage and wanting a show that lasts!
Review at the Birmnigham Hippodrome for Celebrity Radio by Alex Belfield.
