[NEohioPAL]Berko review: WICKED (PHSq)

[Roy Berko]

Wonderful ‘WICKED’ wows audience at the State Theatre

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	


In a great injustice, ‘WICKED’ was not selected as the
best musical in the 2004 Tony Awards competition.  
The recognition went to  ‘AVENUE Q,’ an X-rated puppet
show.   As evidenced by the screaming, standing
ovations the touring production of ‘WICKED,’ now on
stage at Playhouse Square’s State Theatre is
receiving, and you’ll know the audience’s feelings
about what should have been the prize winner.

The show has everything to make for a hit!  Great
music, fine performances, creative staging, and a
delightful yet philosophical story line with an
important message which includes comments which can be
applied to the Bush administration’s diminishing of
the population’s personal rights and what happens when
a small group of zealots determines what is “best for
everyone.”

‘WICKED,’ which is the “behind the story” tale of two
young women, Glinda and Elphaba in the ‘WIZARD OF OZ’
story.  You know them better as the good and the
wicked witches.   

Think you know who is really the good and who is the
wicked witch?  Are you aware of how the tin woodsman
came to be?   How about the cowardly lion or the
scarecrow?  Think that the wicked witch really was
melted by a bucket of water?   All of these questions
are answered in the Stephen Schwartz, Winnie Holzman
musical which is based on the novel by Gregory
Maguire.

The show’s music, by award winner Stephen Schwartz,
known for ‘PIPPIN,’  ‘THE MAGIC SHOW,’ and ‘GODSPELL,’
is typical Schwartz.  There are lovely ballads (“I’m
Not That Girl”), delightful ditties (“Popular” and
“Wonderful”), large scale production (“Dancing Through
Life” and “March of the Witch Hunters”), and light
rock (“As Long As You’re Mine”). 

Touring productions can be of questionable levels. 
Worry not if you are lucky enough to have tickets for
the three-week sold out run of the show.  This is
Broadway at its very best!  The sets are amazing. 
They include a dragon whose wingspan is the same as a
Cessna 172.  There is enough electrical current on
stage, according to the show’s press release, to
supply twelve houses with power.  Monkeys fly, Glenda
descends in a magical bubble, large gears grind, 250
pounds of dry ice produce the haze and magical poofs,
bubble machines spray rainbows and 175,000 pounds of
scenery cover the stage.  The costuming is magical. 
The musical sound is good.  But, most importantly, the
show is well directed and superbly performed.

Julie Murney, made up in green makeup throughout the
show, gives a lustrous performance as Elphaba,
generally known as the Bad Witch.  Bad, as we find
out, she isn’t.  Her voice is glorious, her character
development clear.  She radiates.

Kendra Kassebaum as Glinda, the blond, air-headed Good
Witch, is also superb.   She glows on stage.  Murney
and Kassebaum blend beautifully in several songs.

Kirk McDonald, makes for a charming Boq, the munchkin.
 K. Todd Freeman (Doctor Dillamond) is appealing as
the goat who loses his human voice.  Sebastian Arcelus
has a wonderful singing voice and effectively develops
the role of Fiyero, the playboy whose goodness shines
through.  PJ Benjamin is fine as the Wizard, as is
Alma Cuervo as the evil Madame Morrible.

The show has a strong Cleveland connection.  Matthew
Rego, Michael Rego and Hank Unger are ARACA Group, one
of the shows producers.  The young trio, who are from
the Western Cleveland suburbs, besides producing
‘WICKED’ have been represented on Broadway by ‘NIGHT,
MOTHER,’ ‘THE GOOD BODY,’ ‘URINETOWN THE MUSICAL,’
‘FRANKIE AND JOHNNY IN THE CLAIR DE LUNE’ and ‘MATCH.’
Their off-Broadway shows have been:  ‘DEBBIE DOES
DALLAS,’ ‘THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES,’ ‘THE LARAMIE
PROJECT’ and ‘SKYSCRAPER.’  Forthcoming are the film
versions of ‘URINETOWN’ and “DEBBIE DOES DALLAS.’

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:   Trying to get tickets to the
three week sold-out run of ‘WICKED’ is an impossible
task.  If you have tickets, celebrate.  If not, rumor
has it that the show will be coming back in the not
too distant future.


Roy Berko's web page can be found at www.royberko.info.  His theatre and dance reviews appear on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal.

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