Review: WICKED is 'Defying Gravity' at the Overture Center

This isn't Madison's first Wicked rodeo.

The show has come to town three times since 2010, yet, Overture Hall was still filled to the brim with eager audience members last night.

Why?

Because Wicked is visually spectacular, musically varied, and has relevant lessons to be learned.

Elphaba, the green-skinned loner accustomed to being on her own, is paired off to share a room at Shiz University with the bubbly, bratty, and blonde Glinda. Glinda flaunts her popularity in front of Elphaba though she eventually opts to share her 'wisdom', as well as her makeover skills, with her unfortunate roommate. Instead of accepting Elphie's differences, Glinda would prefer to change her.

When Madame Morrible witnesses some of Elphie's unique qualities firsthand, namely some hidden magical powers, she sends her off to the Emerald City to meet with the Wizard of Oz. Elphie invites Glinda along to enjoy the journey by her side.

But, when Elphie discovers that the Wizard is a fraud, set on destroying the lives of Oz's animal inhabitants, she refuses to serve him. Elphie begs Glinda to leave the Emerald City with her - but Glinda refuses. Elphie is then deemed a 'wicked' witch by the Wizard and Madame Morrible, while Glinda is dubbed 'the good witch' and given elite social status among the citizens of Oz.

Elphaba (Alyssa Fox), the misfit turned formidable foe, is well developed. She gives fulll attention to the growth of her character throughout the production which makes Elphie's transformation all the more fascinating to watch. Fox's physical manifestations of change are also intriguing. As an awkward Shiz student, Elphie stands straight and progressively becomes hunched once she is declared 'wicked'. Though Fox's vocals suffer while singing in her lower registers during Act I, she easily makes up for it in her performances of "Defying Gravity" or "No Good Deed".

At the other end of the character spectrum is the Energizer Bunny that is Glinda. Carrie St. Louis certainly has the vocal power, as well as the charisma, to bring down the house, but her additional antics make Glinda a caricature of her former self. St. Louis' sarcastic underpinning is a breath of fresh air for a song like "Popular". Unfortunately, with all of the extra scurrying and flailing around that she does, she loses energy and appears out of breath at times in her show stopping number.

Although he possess no actual powers of enchantment, The Wizard of Oz (Stuart Zagnit) gets some musically magical moments over the course of the show. Despite his reputation in Oz, his rendition of "Sentimental Man" is downright charming. Even in his moments of malicious intent it's difficult not to pity him.

Moreover, it's difficult not to get sucked into the Land of Oz.

From Eugene Lee's giant cogs, lighted archways, and smoke expelling dragon to Susan Hilferty's sea of green costuming fanfare - Wicked is a display of sheer visual magic. Hilferty's steampunk designs rival the latest fashions of The Capitol of Panem of Hunger Games fame while Lee's intricate set mesmerizes audiences with every twinkling light.

Wicked, much like its relative The Wizard of Oz, is a cultural phenomenon. With tie ins galore to the Oz film, there are all sorts of goodies for fans of all ages to discover in this show with its lessons about love, acceptance, as well as its anti-bullying messages. It is the type of show that inspires conversation.

It is the type of show that can conjure tears of joy and sorrow in the span of two and a half hours.

It is also the type of show that gets people excited about theater and that is just "Wonderful."

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