As Wicked celebrates 10 years on the Great White Way, a touring version also makes its way to Milwaukee for the third time. Wickedlast played here in 2013. The current national tour continues to work its magic to cast a spell on audiences.
Few musicals across the decades can claim the enduring popularity of this one, which mixes strong themes about friendship, rebellion, and female empowerment with lighter, fleeting moments of romance, action; redemption and humor. The touring cast – alas - is no match for the original Broadway actors; but what can you expect when there are currently four world tours circling the globe? One cannot demand the same magic from the fledgling troupe that visited Milwaukee, although they are trying hard.
As Elphaba, the green-faced witch who is the show’s main character, Alyssa Fox contributes greatly to the show as a whole. From her first moments on Earth, Elphaba’s green body casts her into a misfit. Eventually, she understands the advantages this brings, and capitalizes on them to realize her dreams. Fox’s soaring voice captures the character’s feeling in songs such as, “The Wizard and I,” “I’m Not that Girl” and, of course, “Defying Gravity.” That third song, which closes the first act, was met with an explosive burst of applause on press night. It left little doubt that the audience was fully engaged in the show. Elphaba’s nemesis/lifelong friend, Glinda, gets a bit less polish and authenticity from Carrie St. Louis. She has incorporated a lot of unnecessary stage business into the show, as well as delivering some of her lines in such a low voice that one begins to think of satanic possession. This adds nothing and often detracts from the character’s main qualities: manipulation, sweetness and – near the show’s end – a mature understanding of her role in the society she chose. Unfortunately, the character’s arc is a bit blurred by all the extra stage business. It also diminishes Glinda’s best song, “Popular.” Glinda bounces around the stage so much it seems like she’s in a manic state. Although both Elphaba and Glinda deliver the goods (most of the time), the most curious casting is Jake Boyd as Fiyero. His character is a playboy who drops into town and immediately focuses on Glinda, the “prettiest girl.” Over time, Fiyero becomes more serious under the example set by Elphaba. Boyd sings well and looks the part but displays little personality. It is impossible to believe that Glinda and Elphaba would fight over such a milquetoast. The supporting cast is exceptionally strong, led by stage veterans Stuart Zagnit (The Wizard), and Wendy Worthington (Madame Morrible). Experience gleams in their movements and precise diction. The same goes for Chad Jennings as Dr. Dillamond. Though far younger than the actors mentioned above, Jennings shows a deft talent for the humor and pathos of his character, a goat/professor at the university attended by Elphaba and Glinda. As Nessarose, Elphaba’s disabled sister, Liana Hunt brings even more darkness to the role than one recalls from previous visits to Oz. In the second act, she does an excellent job of guilt-tripping Elphaba into heeding her wishes. (However, the scene in which Nessarose grabs the book of spells is still somewhat troublesome in this otherwise smooth-running narrative.) As Nessarose quickly garbles a spell to detain Boq, her beloved munchkin, Elphaba confidently uses the book to turn him into one of the three beloved characters who accompany Dorothy to Oz – the tin man. The large ensemble, who seems to spend a lot of time changing costumes, smartly delivers the production numbers. And those costumes are a wonder in themselves (if one only had time to admire them in this fast-paced show). Wicked travels with all the bells and whistles of the Broadway version. The fantastical looking set, in which characters seem to be captured in a gigantic timepiece, is outstanding by anyone’s standards. Glinda’s arrival by bubble comes off perfectly. The flying characters (monkeys as well as Munchkins) seamlessly make their entrances and exits. In all, Wicked does a fantastic job of creating another universe – and one that delivers the whole package. The show ends on a high note, as the duet sung by the two witches, “For Good,” is sweetly and movingly delivered.
