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THEATER REVIEW: ‘Wicked’ at the Fox Theatre
"Wicked." Grade: B +. Through Nov. 2. $31-$70. Presented by Broadway Across America-Atlanta and the Atlanta Broadway Series. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Midtown. 404-817-8700, ticketmaster.com. Bottom line: We couldn't be happier.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My fellow Ozians: These are times when the world could use an infusion of green. These are times when our spirits are gravity-laden. These are times when the soul needs escapism. These are times for Broadway’s “Wicked.”
Ding-dong, Glinda and Elphaba are back.
Back at the Fox Theatre with their gossamer gowns and bubbles, their flying monkeys and love troubles, their witchy wars and munchkin struggles. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, this tale of a green-skinned boarding school outcast and her not-so-wonderful wizard has always struck me as a Harry Potter for girls and a Disney entertainment for grown-ups, and I mean this as a compliment.
Adapted by “Godspell” composer Stephen Schwartz, directed by Joe Mantello and featuring an eye-popping overload of grandiose design and nifty technical tricks, the 2003 Broadway musical made stars of Kristin Chenoweth (Glinda) and Idina Menzel (Elphaba) — reaffirming the sheer giddy pleasure of razzle-dazzle entertainment and outsize spectacle.
Broadway loves big, and “Wicked” delivered.
Yet when it first appeared, many critics (including yours truly) were so busy nit-picking the music and naysaying the glitz that we forgot to sit back and let the magic wash over us. After five years and several viewings, I’m delighted to say that “Wicked” has won me over.
I never fail to see new things in the story. The score may be a tad overwrought and the book sugared with cheap one-liners and easy laughs. But the education of Elphaba and Glinda — who redefine notions of beauty while remaining true to themselves — is an emotionally transporting experience.
And not just for girls.
In this Broadway Across America-Atlanta/Atlanta Broadway Series production (which continues through Nov. 2, so no excuses), Carmen Cusack is simply the best Elphaba I’ve ever seen. It’s too easy to play Elphaba as hot-headed and shrill, but Cusack summons her character’s stealthy powers from a sense of calm resolve. (She’s a glorious singer to boot.)
On the other side of the rainbow, Katie Rose Clarke’s Glinda is all bright colors and excess. She could stand to take the comedic mannerisms down just a hair, but her shimmering soprano voice is exquisite, and her character’s journey is genuine and moving. Being “Popular” isn’t always enough, and happiness comes at a cost. Glinda loses Fiyero (Cliffton Hall), but in the end, she forgives.
In the big dance scene (check out Susan Hilferty’s fabulous black-and-white ball costumes), Hall moves like a slick disco dandy in tights and doesn’t seem quite right for the part. But without relying on some preconceived, cookie-cutter approach, he transforms himself form a “silly rich boy” into a credible love interest, and that’s due as much to the rich grainy texture of his voice as his physicality.
Lenny Wolpe brings years of experience to bear on his Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Like Myra Lucretia Taylor (Madame Morrible), he’s a pro. And considering that she spends most of her time in a wheelchair, Deedee Magno Hall (as Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose) gives a nice performance, too.
Overall, it’s almost impossible not to see this show through a prism of history and politics. Creatures are rounded up and shunted away for being different. A man is changed into a scarecrow and strung up in a field in image that recalls Matthew Shephard and Jesus Christ. A powerless old geezer seeks out the aid of a strong young woman with long black hair and glasses in a desperate attempt at victory (nudge, nudge).
Working on numerous levels at once, “Wicked” is dark and delicious meditation on the nature of love, jealousy, revenge, power and beauty. It refutes the claim that “No One Mourns the Wicked.” We don’t just mourn Elphaba, we desperately want her to succeed.
Permalink | Comments (18) | Post your comment | Categories: Theater
Comments
By DT
October 10, 2008 6:35 PM | Link to this
Can’t wait until next Saturday, the 18th. First row, C-Orch…may be a little too close. Never have sat in the first row at the Fox. But, I’m psyched…I love the show (4th time). I hope to see Carmen and Katie but it’s a matinee and the standby’s do have strong credentials. Glad to have Wicked back!
By BCB
October 14, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
Going tonight for the first time! Can’t wait!
By MS
October 17, 2008 8:03 AM | Link to this
Three of my friends and I drove 6 hours from Alabama to see Wicked at the Fox. It was amazing!! A little confused about it not following the book but still an outstanding performance and plan on seeing it again in April when they travel to Birmingham, AL.
By TRR
October 17, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this
We saw the show for the first time last weekend and it was great! I couldn’t imagine how they had turned the book into a musical, much less made it funny - but it was wonderful. I wonder if everyone doesn’t relate more to Elphaba, trying to do the right things while usually feeling misunderstood or discounted, watching others play Glinda while suffering quietly inside. But I was amazed at the power of Carmen/Elphaba’s voice! She was almost spiritual and moved me - Defy Gravity is my new motto!
By Will Skelton
October 18, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
Cant wait to see this next weekend the 26th!!!! i have been waiting to see this musical for my whole life! ive read the book six times!!! This musical is not just for girls! i never thought i would be the kind of guy that would like this kind of stuff, but Wicked just speaks to you in a way that no other story can. its Great!!!! :)
By Sylvia Esparza
October 18, 2008 9:57 PM | Link to this
I went to Saturday’s Oct 18th matinee of Wicked and was so disappointed because we couldn’t hear so much of the dialog. There were 12 people on two rows in the furthest left corner of the upper mezannine who had to whisper what we thought they were saying. What a disappointment!! I waited so long for this Broadway performance. I’ve been to the Fox Theatre many many times and I’ve NEVER been disappointed before. In fact, always thought there wasn’t a bad seat in the house. I did mention the problem to two Ushers, but was told they were new and couldn’t do anything. Visually this show was exciting, but I still would love to have heard what the performers said.
By teaaek
October 19, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this
This show is fantastic! The cast here in Atlanta is unbelievable!
Just a note about seats at the Fox for this performance. The way the stage scenery is set is is important to get as close the the center as possible. If you’re on the far left or right, you will have limited view(and apparently hearing as well as mentioned above.)this is told to you at time of purchase. In the future, just try to get as close to the center as possible, it’s more important than how far away you are!
By DT
October 20, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
Well, this past Saturday’s Matinee was exceptional…especially so from a first row perspective! Since Carmen and Katie will be leaving the show after Atlanta, I was pleased to have caught Carmen at least. And Meggie, filling in for Katie, was certainly up to the task! While the Fox theater has a legion of fans, and deservedly so, you can’t ignore the fact that it’s HUGE (by NYC theater standards)with over 4,500 seats. A lot of any show can be lost if you have a distant row/seat in the balcony or the orchestra. I feel badly for Sylvia and her experience.
By borntoroundabout
October 20, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this
I went with my wife and teenage sons to the Sunday night performance and have to agree about the sound quality. I, too, found the dialogue hard to understand and the orchestra to be intrusive at times. We were just a few rows up in the loge and, yes, to one side - so I also longed for the views of the very center-focused staging. All in all, however, we enjoyed the show and I was moved with Ms. Cusack’s performance.
By BE#3
October 25, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
My wife was dying to see this so we went on a Friday night as to not interrupt a football Saturday! This is only the 3rd Broadway show I’ve seen and again I was blown away. The entire cast was awesome. If you get the chance, catch this show while it’s here!
By Dan Snodgrass
October 25, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
Just saw it last night (Friday the 24th) and we were in the Dress level just behind house left Loge.
Dialog was sometimes hard to decypher. Intelligibility of the sound system was pretty poor. That’s the problem, of course, with line array speaker systems. Site lines for this show have always been a complaint and this is amplified at the Fox. Still in all, this is the best performance I have seen of the show (saw it last year at the Fox and the previous year in Hollywood at the Panteges.
Cusak was fabulous.
By John Edison
October 27, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this
This show was excellent from my $700.00 front row right center orchestra seats! Worth every cent I paid for this awesome view! I have seen the show before from further back and thought it was great, but front row is definitely the way to go! I didn’t miss a thing and didn’t have people squeezing in and out like with the other rows. Get the best if you can, its well worth it!!!
By DT
October 29, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
Well, I had to go back for one more show before it leaves town (and most of the cast leave the show). Limited view seat from the Loge but, for the most part, it was fine. Having seen the show numerous times, I knew what I was missing from stage right and far back center stage. The poor folks sitting around me, who had obviously not seen the show before, were leaning left at a 45 degree angle to make visual contact at times. Saw both Carmen and Katie this time and….Carmen is the best green girl I’ve seen and Katie…seemed out of breath a lot and was way over the top in her comedic routines, for me. But the audience loved her and stopped “Popular” a couple times with their applause! All in all, an entertaining show of the highest caliber! Loved it! I’m sure I’ll see it again.
By Lindsay
October 30, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
I saw it last night and have not read the book, but I’m sure it’s a little different. I loooooved the play! it was amazing! best play I have ever witnessed and the witches’ singing voices are amazing! It was absolutely fantastic. the ballroom dresses were awesome
By Renee Boykin
October 30, 2008 7:12 PM | Link to this
My husband and I took our two daughters 16 and 17 on the 28th and we all thought the show was out of this world, the ladies who played Elphaba and Glenda, were spectacular, my youngest daughter is in theater and was amazed, the cosutmes and the music were Awesome, thanks for a great night. The Boykins
By Kennect
October 31, 2008 11:05 PM | Link to this
Saw it last weekend…Orch. way back to the left of the stage…No sight line problems, no problem usnderstanding dialog, etc….Can’t imagine why others would have problems other than the rear orch. might have not caught the time clock dragon and the projections of the monkey’s at one point…Overall, I thought it and the cast was excellent…We got the Glinda understudy but I thought she was great…..Biggest problem for me were the audience members that showed up late or at least wouldn’t get their rearends in their seats before the opening of the first and second act!!!!!!!!! No excuse for such…..
By Lao Villar
November 1, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this
I watched Wicked last May for the first time in Chicago and have been hooked since. My wife and two kids, aged 12 and 6, have listened to the CD and have enjoyed it. We are all going to see Wicked at The Fabulous Fox theater in Atlanta tonight, November 1st. It’s going to be a Boo-eautifully Wicked night.
By NG
November 2, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this
Our whole family was so excited about going to see Wicked for the first time. Unfortunately, we could only get the “limited view tix” at the Fox. These were far right, orchestra level. They should rename these seats “TOTALLY OBSTRUCTED VIEW”. We never saw the back of the sets, and the Tin Man and scarecrow were not visible. We missed a lot of the storyline, comedy, and overall performance. In addition, the speakers were right in front of us, so we got all of the VERY LOUD orchestra, but had a very hard time hearing the dialogue. What we could see was good, but our plan is to try and see it again in NY without the obstructions. Overall, Dissapointing night. Also, try not to sit in back of a woman wearing the new “Sarah Palin” big hairdo! This only added to a poor experience.