Over winter break, the critically acclaimed “Wicked” broke the box office with $709 million in revenue worldwide.
This turnout is partly due to a cast starring singer Ariana Grande, singer and actress Cynthia Erivo and actor Jonathan Bailey as the main protagonists. Musical numbers only enabled the actors to perform at their best, creating a performance on par with the original source material.
Although Wicked stays true to its Broadway counterpart, producers added details to flesh out relationships and storylines.
The plot of Wicked follows the two protagonists, Elphaba and Glinda, played by Erivo and Grande. Both have their own goals in mind, with Elphaba striving to do right by her sister and Glinda striving to do right by herself. Due to her familial connections and perfect state of being, society treats Glinda with the utmost respect and importance. Elphaba is less fortunate, receiving only gasps and glares due to her unsightly green skin. She does not let this plight stop her from caring for her sister, who she looks out for at her own expense. When her sister decides to attend Shiz University, their father tasks Elphaba to watch over her.
When Glinda arrives at Shiz University only moments later, it is abundantly clear that her and Elphaba are opposites of the popularity spectrum. Their tense dynamic does not pose a problem until an incident causes Elphaba to become the prized pupil of headmistress Madame Morrible, much to Glinda’s chagrin. Miscommunication forces Glinda to be charitable, allowing Elphaba to share a private room with her—a journey that goes as well as can be expected.
The two begin to connect after a dance party and several musical pieces, transcending social status and peculiar green skin.
On top of Elphaba’s growing power and newfound friendship with Glinda, a threat poses the possibility of domestication for the talking animals of Oz. The tension throughout this conflict adds a layer of mystery and fear to the lighthearted movie.
Much of “Wicked’s” success lies in the production value and talented actors that grace the screen. It would be a crime to not appreciate the attention to detail in the portrayal of these characters and setting. Grande took up the role of a prissy, on-top-of-the-world girl better than many expected, surprising the audience with more than her voice. Erivo’s acting felt less like acting and more like telling her story through another’s; the message of Wicked is taken by many as an illustration of the struggles experienced by people of color. Casting Elphaba as a Black woman added to the meaning behind the character, especially as she grows confident in her skin and learns to accept herself.
Wicked truly does justice to the original musical, giving the audience an experience worth a lifetime. Those who watched it shouldn’t pack up just yet—the sequel, “Wicked; For Good,” is set to release later this year.
