Thank goodness ‘Wicked’ is in Syracuse

“Wicked” is both a prequel and reimagining of The Wizard of Oz, telling the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda the Good Witch, as they form an unlikely bond at Shiz University. Their initially tense relationship evolves into a meaningful friendship, even as the world around them pushes the two women onto very different paths.

The musical begins where the source material ends. Glinda makes her entrance by descending gracefully in a magical bubble, dressed in a sparkling blue ballgown as bubbles fill the stage. Below Glinda, the citizens of Oz celebrate the Wicked Witch’s death, singing “No One Mourns the Wicked.” During the number, Glinda reflects on Elphaba’s past, and we see Elphaba’s mother having an affair with a mysterious stranger. The stage dims as the two dance together, passing a green elixir between them. The song ends with Elphaba’s birth as a green baby, and the story transitions back to present-day Oz. A fellow citizen then asks Glinda if it’s true that she knew Elphaba.

From here, the story of “Wicked” truly begins, taking us back to Elphaba and Glinda’s school days. These performers immediately bring the characters and world of Oz to vivid life; the energy of the show and precision of the cast made the audience feel fully immersed in the story from the very first scene.

The comedic foot flips and hair tosses from Glinda, played by Taylor Quick in an understudy role, lit up the theater with laughter every time. From the banter during “What Is This Feeling?,” where Elphaba and Glinda showcase their mutual hatred and Jessie Davidson cleverly mimics Glinda’s movements, to crowd-favorite “Popular,” the audience was clearly having the time of their life. Throughout the latter number, Davidson’s Elphaba learns to be more like Glinda, her famous toss-toss included, and the chemistry between the two leads was electric. The expressions and interactions between Elphaba and Glinda demonstrated how deeply the actors understood their characters.

In the iconic song “Defying Gravity,” Elphaba soared into the air on her broom as the lighting focused entirely on her. The spotlight on Elphaba served as a powerful visual statement, emphasizing her strength, confidence and character transformation.

Another staple song, “For Good,” is just as powerful, showcasing Elphaba and Glinda’s final meeting. Their friendship is beautifully expressed through the lyrics, highlighting how much the two women have changed each other. Elphaba makes her exit behind a curtain, with a light casting her shadow as Dorothy splashes a bucket of water on her, releasing green smoke. Glinda watches silently, tears streaming as her dear friend departs. The scene transitions back to present-day Oz, where Glinda exits the bubble, forever changed by Elphaba, now responsible for protecting Oz.

The whole performance, from the actors to the costumes to the set design, was amazing. In particular, the scene of Oz’s monkeys getting their wings featured incredibly detailed costuming. The wizard’s face is awash in gold while it talks, which is just as visually captivating.

Don’t wait a clock tick, and get your tickets now to see how great pink and green look together on stage.