Melbourne’s esteemed Regent Theatre was draped in pink and green on Thursday night as the city welcomed, for the second time, the Australian production of Wicked presented by John Frost for Crossroads Live. With a green carpet, Ozmopolitan cocktails, the Ozdust Boutique and, of course- lots of bubbles, the foyer of the grand theatre was transformed into the beloved fictional land of Oz. There was a palpable feeling magic in the air as guests poured in, all wearing varying shades of green to celebrate the night ahead. And what a night it was! We laughed, we cheered, we sang, we cried. To summarise, this show is nothing short of thrillifying!
If you’re out of the loop, Wicked tells the story of Glinda (played by Courtney Monsma) and Elphaba (Sheridan Adams), otherwise known as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West, before and during the events of The Wizard of Oz.
The show opens with the flying monkeys climbing on the absolutely breathtaking set (complete with an animatronic dragon), and flying about on stage. We soon then meet Glinda, who arrives by bubble to greet the citizens of Oz, who are celebrating the death of the Wicked Witch. The set designs by Eugene Lee and practical effects are absolutely out of this world, and left the audience in complete awe.
The first act is centred around the two girls meeting at high school, with Elphaba being outcast immediately due to her green skin, and Glinda being the instigator. Due to a mix up, the two end up sharing a room and ultimately becoming best friends.
Without a doubt, the leading ladies absolutely blew this out of the water. Monsma’s portrayal of Glinda was fresh and unique, adding her own flair and humour to the role. The audience was audibly laughing at every line, made even more hilarious by her quirky mannerisms and expressions. Her unadulterated talent shone through, especially in the fan-favourite, whimsical number “Popular”. Meanwhile, Sheridan Adams as Elphaba was truly enchanting to witness and her rendition of “Defying Gravity” was simply otherworldly, with that final note eliciting a huge reaction from the audience. For me, this was the absolute highlight of the night.
Robyn Nevin and Simon Burke as Madam Morrible and The Wizard were outstanding and a complete joy to watch, as utterly tragic (in the best way) as their characters are. Liam Head as Fiyero is another standout, and since “Dancing Through Life” is my favourite track from the show, I had high expectations and he absolutely pulled through! Hilarious, charming and wickedly talented- we love to see it.
Fans of the classic Wizard Of Oz will particularly love Act 2, where there is a lot of crossover with Dorothy’s story. This is where we see Elphaba embrace her ‘wickedness’ and earn the title, The Wicked Witch Of The West. With twists and turns at every corner, the tale is not at all what it seems. There were gasps from the captivated audience at every reveal, and even though I’d seen it before I was no less affected.
It was certainly no surprise that the show received a standing ovation, but the fun didn’t end there. The curtain call was met with the loudest cheering I’ve heard from a theatre audience, and the look on the casts’ face was priceless. Complete with confetti canons, the show literally ended with a bang.
There isn’t enough words to describe how utterly amazing this production is, with every member of the cast putting on an absolutely spellbinding performance. From the sets, to the costumes, the choreography and the undeniable sheer talent of all involved, Wicked will transport you on a journey to Oz, and have you rethinking everything you thought you knew about these beloved characters.
I can assure you that you absolutely will not want to miss this show. Be prepared to have a wickedly fun time.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Wicked is playing at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre until June 30th; before moving onto Brisbane’s QPAC in September. You can grab your tickets for Melbourne HERE.
