Wicked - Apollo Victoria Theatre (Review 2010)
Review by Katherine Redmond
THREE and a half years after it opened in the West End, it’s safe to say that Wicked has become nothing short of a theatrical phenomenon.
The re-telling of The Wizard of Oz, which focuses on two witches and how one came to be known as good and the other as evil, has most certainly captured the imagination of the theatregoing public.
It was branded “the biggest thing in musicals since The Phantom of the Opera” by The Times, was recently awarded an Olivier for Most Popular Show and has continued to grow in strength year by year.
Since opening at the Apollo Victoria in 2006 it has taken over £95 million and been seen by almost 3 million people.
One of the keys to Wicked’s success is its fiercely loyal fan base. A large majority will go and see the show multiple times in the course of a week, camp outside the theatre days in advance for front row tickets to a cast change and drop everything in order to witness a new understudy.
I’m willing to admit that, although I’ve never taken such drastic action, I’m a fan of the show and have been since the first time I saw it in 2007 with most of the original London cast.
Since then, I’ve seen several different Elphaba and Glinda pairings, who have all brought very different elements to the roles. Some of them I’ve liked and some I’ve been less enthusiastic about, but the diversity of fan opinions is all part of the buzz that surrounds the show.
It was therefore with a mixture of nerves and excitement that I graced the Apollo Victoria on Monday, April 5 to see the new cast, a week into their run, try and conjure up their own form of magic. And I’m thrilled to say that they well and truly succeeded.
Rachel Tucker is nothing short of brilliant as Elphaba. As an ex-reality TV show contestant from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s I’d Do Anything she arguably had the most to prove to the audience and she certainly succeeded in doing so.
While her talent is obvious she also has a commanding stage presence and radiates star quality.
I could not help but be reminded of the error in judge Barry Humphries’s comment that Tucker would “be better as an understudy” as she soared above the stage and brought the house down with one of the most powerful versions of Defying Gravity I’ve ever had the pleasure to witness.
Her performance is not only powerfully sung but beautifully acted. She captures the blend of Elphaba’s prickliness and vulnerability, which is hard to achieve, perfectly.
If there was any doubt whether she could have played Nancy, it is completely diminished now, yet you cannot help but feel that leading the cast of the West End’s biggest musical is where she truly belongs after all.
Louise Dearman is similarly impressive as Glinda the (not so) good witch, although she is perhaps a little harder to initially warm to than her predecessor, Dianne Pilkington, who was incredibly popular with fans of the show.
Her Glinda is more snobbish and selfish, where Pilkington’s was naïve and ditzy, yet I wouldn’t say this was a bad choice as it allows her to put her own stamp firmly on the part. Her vocals are close to flawless and blend with Tucker’s well when they duet.
The rest of the new cast are also very strong. Lewis Bradley, who is temporarily understudying Fiyero before Lee Mead joins the cast on May 10, exceeded my expectations and has notably convincing chemistry with Tucker.
Cassandra Compton and George Ure make a charming Nessa and Boq, Clive Carter is possibly the most charismatic Wizard the London cast has ever had and Julie Legrand manages to portray an eccentric Madame Morrible while maintaining a sinister edge.
The new cast has definitely brought a whole new energy and life to the show that I haven’t experienced since the first time I saw it. I would therefore urge even those who’ve seen it before to return for a repeat viewing.
And for anyone who hasn’t yet got around to going I highly recommend it. Wicked is spectacular, vibrant, full of big showstopping songs and funny but it’s also touching and comes with a strong message about standing up for what you believe in and being comfortable in your own skin… whether it’s green or not.