[NEohioPAL] Berko review: WICKED (State Theatre/Playhouse Square Foundation)

[Roy Berko]

Wonderful ‘WICKED’ wows but is almost drowned out by
orchestra

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

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

__COOLCLEVELAND.COM--

‘WICKED,’ that wonderful, often wacky Broadway smash
hit is back at the State Theatre.   The touring
company went through town in June of 2006 and played
to sold out audiences.  This version should also pack
the place.  

One of the fears of seeing a retreaded tour is that it
will be a wattered down version.  Do not be concerned.
 This is a full-blown, Broadway level production with
impressive sets and a  professional cast that wowed
the audience.  Wowed, in spite of the fact that during
the first act on opening night, the orchestra drowned
out composer Steven Schwartz’s oft-clever words.  The
sound techie must have been on the rebound from a rock
concert and didn’t realize that, in theatre musicals,
the words of the performers must be heard.  Someone
must have gotten to him during intermission, because
the second act was under decibel control.

The show has everything to make for a hit!  Great
music and lyrics, creative staging, and a delightful
yet philosophical story line with a message which
includes comments which could be applied to the Bush
administration’s diminishing of  personal rights, and
what happens when a small group of zealots determines
what is “best for everyone,” and tells lies to get
their way.

‘WICKED,’ 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.   

The script also reveals “truths” about Oz.  Do you
know how Dorothy got the red slippers?  Are you aware
of how the tin woodsman, the cowardly lion or the
scarecrow came to be? 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 a novel by Gregory
Maguire.

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 appears and disappears in a
magical bubble, large gears grind, bubble machines
spray rainbows and 175,000 pounds of scenery cover the
stage. 

Carmen Cusack, slathered in green makeup, gives a
lustrous performance as Elphaba, generally known as
the “Bad Witch.”  Bad, as we find out, she isn’t.

Katie Rose Clarke as Glinda, the blond, air-headed
“Good Witch,” is also wonderful.   She glows on stage.
 Cliffton Hall, he of pumped up body and an
Elvis-hairdo,  has a nice singing voice and
effectively develops the role of Fiyero, the playboy
whose goodness shines through.  

Canton’s Lee Wilkof disappoints as the Wizard.  He
just doesn’t have the pixie-yet-evil quality of
Clevelander Joel Gray, who was in the Broadway
production.   Alma Cuervo starts fine, but loses her
characterization as the evil Madame Morrible, the
brains behind the evil goings on (think Dick Chaney in
drag).

The show has a strong Cleveland connection.  Matthew
Rego, Michael Rego and Hank Unger are the ARACA Group,
one of the shows producers. 

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:  ‘WICKED’ is wonderful and worth
seeing.  If you missed it the first time around, go! 
If you saw it before, go!  

Special offer:  Two-hours prior to show time each day
of ‘WICKED,’ people who come to the box office at the
State Theatre can enter their names for a drawing
which will take place thirty minutes later.  The
winners will be allowed to buy a maximum of two
tickets for the show at a cost of $25 each.

‘WICKED’ runs through March 9.  Tickets which range
from $29.50 to $84.50 can be ordered by calling
216-241-6000 or going to www.playhousesquare.org.


Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info
      
Roy's theatre and dance reviews appear regularly on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.  His reviews also appear on www.coolcleveland.com


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