This past November, the long-awaited movie Wicked, an on-screen adaptation of the Broadway musical by the same name, was released in theaters. This release was the first part; part two is expected in November 2026.
Wicked is the prequel to The Wizard of Oz, and it tells the story of Elphaba Thropp, a girl born with green skin and unexplainable powers. When dropping her sister, Nessarose, off at her new school, Shiz University, she becomes emotional, causing her powers to act up.
This occurrence catches the eye of Shiz’s headmistress, Madame Morrible, played by Golden Globe winner Michelle Yeoh, who offers to take Elphaba under her wing and insists that she enroll as a student at Shiz University. Elphaba agrees, in an attempt to meet the mysterious Wizard of Oz, played by Jeff Goldblum of Jurassic Park fame, and requests that he fulfill her one wish: to help the animals.
Wicked is carried by the powerful performance of actress and Tony winner Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba. Her wide vocal range and compelling acting make even the most boring scenes interesting. Erivo takes the character and makes Elphaba her own, as shown in the emotional song “The Wizard and I” where Elphaba daydreams about the Wizard mentoring her. Erivo’s impressive portrayal of longing draws the viewer in and allows the audience to feel what Elphaba is feeling.
Pop star Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda, was a natural in her role. She embodied Glinda’s bubbly personality and showcased amazing vocals. Although her performance wasn’t as impressive as Erivo’s, her character added comedic relief at times and really shined through in the song “Popular.”
The true show-stopping number was the final song, “Defying Gravity.” In this last scene, both Erivo and Grande show their emotional range. Both actresses put on extremely convincing performances and displayed their amazing vocal abilities. Erivo truly stole the show when she sang the final riff of the song and put on a performance that will stick with the viewer long after watching.
Hidden under the enchanting sets and whimsical characters lies a deeper meaning of being true to oneself. Despite constant ridicule from her classmates and even her own father, Elphaba continues to fight for what she knows is right and is a fantastic role model for young girls everywhere.
Overall, Wicked is a heartfelt story of friendship and self-acceptance. The story teaches a valuable lesson about being true to yourself no matter what that should be seen by young children everywhere.
