Wicked Review - A Magical Night Out

Believe the hype.  ‘Wicked’ is one show in the West End that everyone seems to rave about. After seeing it you will be too! ‘Wicked’ tells the story of the two witches of the Wizard of Oz and how they came to be. Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good (played by Hayley Gallivan, the understudy of Louise Dearman and Gina Beck) meet at school and throughout a whirlwind of a tale we find out just how Elphaba came to be the Wicked Witch.

 The story is genius. As a prequel it takes a totally original direction and ends up changing the way you view the Wizard of Oz whilst seamlessly joining with the original tale. Unlike other attempts at creating a backstory (such as the recent film Oz: The Great and the Powerful) there is nothing predicable in this tale.

‘Wicked’ as well as being magical is also touching. The strong themes of friendship and standing up for what you believe in that run throughout are totally relatable, a great achievement for a fantasy story. The backstory of Elphaba is very believable and will completely change your perspective of the Oz story, and in a good way. If you couldn’t believe the charming world of Oz could be improved then be prepared to be shocked. ‘Wicked’ achieves the unachievable.

As soon as you walk into the theatre you are greeted with a huge and stunning set. It truly is magical! Every part of the set moves and interacts and becomes almost an extra member of the cast.  The Apollo theatre is a perfect fit as the stage is huge and is able to accommodate the vast scale of Wicked’s production. The use of special effects is also dazzling.

Elphaba and Glinda are perfectly cast. The chemistry between Gina Beck and Hayley Gallivan was palpable and made the show ever more believable and enjoyable.  Gina Beck is hilarious as Glinda and brings so many laughs throughout.

‘Defying Gravity’ is the highlight of the show. This song performed in the West End exceeds all expectations. If you are a fan of the Glee version of the song prepared to be blown away! Hayley Gallivan is one of the best performers I have seen, her voice is outstanding and more than once did I get goosebumps. Her performance of ‘Defying Gravity’ had everyone stunned into silence, wowed and more than a few people crying, before bursting into rapturous applause.

Gina is yet another performer with a brilliant voice. In fact every member of the cast sings incredibly well. The attention to detail paid to the supporting cast is fantastic. Every little aspect has been thought about and makes ‘Wicked’ such an incredible production.

The costumes are beautiful. Once again the quality and details are of the highest degree. The costumes not only are there to dress the cast, they are there to be a part of the show.  As Elphaba moves through her journey she starts off as a dowdy teenager but through getting to know herself her appearance evolves. As the people of Oz’s opinion of her changes so does the way she looks. ‘Wicked’ is a production where every single thing you see plays a part in the story.

The songs perfectly highlight what is happening in the show. Moving between drama, laughs and emotion I haven’t stopped listening to the soundtrack since leaving.

‘Wicked’ raises the bar in theatre. Every aspect is first class and this show is what modern productions in the West End must try and live up to. It is boundless in its execution, every member of the cast is exceptional, the sets dazzling, the songs mesmerising. ’Wicked’ is the best show I have seen in the West End. It truly is spellbinding. Do not miss out!

‘Wicked’ is currently playing at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. A UK tour starts in Manchester on 14^th September 2013. Visit www.wickedthemusical.co.uk for all the information your heart may desire!