WICKED Returns to Manila, Praises Filipino Audiences

Manila, Philippines--Hailed as "one of the most popular West End musicals ever" by the London Evening Standard, Stephen Schwartz's WICKED returns to Manila after a phenomenal run of the Australasian production three years ago. According to James Cundall, producer and chief executive of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, he brought back WICKED as a fulfillment of a promise he gave to Filipino audiences a few years back. He recalled that during the last night of the show at the main theatre of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the audiences serenaded the cast with songs as a goodbye gift and a treat to a great and fantastic show. "We've never seen such a loving audience than here in the Philippines," said Cundall.

The preparation and shipment of the whole production from the Hong Kong leg of the tour was likewise praised by Cundall because of the overall commitment and dedication of the crew coming from the UK, the touring company, as well as the locals that made sure that all stage sets down to the tiniest details would arrive in Manila just in time for the opening night last Thursday, February 2. At a recent press event, he also added his gratitude to the musicians and instrumentalists and even commended The Theatre at Solaire's distinct features that ensure the quality of the sound.

This production of WICKED boasts a powerhouse cast that includes actors that came from both the West End and Broadway productions. Leading the cast are Jacqueline Hughes (Elphaba) and Carly Anderson (Glinda). According to Carly, this is her first time to perform in the Philippines; she's thrilled because of the great reception of the Filipinos in foreign productions such as this. When asked what could be her best advice to future actresses that will play Glinda, she said, "You should have your own Glinda and you should own it to ensure that the audiences can connect with you."

According to the other cast members, their first night in the Philippines was filled with a cheerful mood because of the audiences' warmth and good reception. According to Steven Pinder, who plays the dual role of the Wizard and Doctor Dillamond, "The cheers of the audiences give us more energy to perform and be bubbly, thus, intensifying our performance on stage." One cast member also shared that their Filipino staff also contributed to making their stay in the country "homey." There was even an instance that a Filipino crew member gave the cast Pei Pa Koa candies--a popular Chinese medicinal lozenge for the throat used by Filipinos singers. As a whole, the cast praises the hospitality of the Filipinos and their wide interest in theater shows most especially musicals.

Besides the cast and the stage set, another element that sets WICKED on top is the costumes. All dresses, suits, props and even the wigs were all custom-made to fit each of the actors. They all boast great patterns and shapes which make them look more vibrant on stage especially when lit. The gowns used by the principal actors are also resplendent as they were all inspired by the famous designs of great fashion houses such Chanel and Dior.

Set in a spectacular and colorful fantasy world of wizards, witches, magic, and spells, WICKED tells the story of an unlikely but profound friendship between a popular blonde girl, Galinda, and a misunderstood, green-skinned girl, Elphaba. Filled with wonder and enchantments, the magical stage musical follows their extraordinary journey from sorcery students to becoming the iconic Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West from L. Frank Baum's beloved tale "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

Its complete cast includes Jacqueline Hughes (Elphaba), Carly Anderson (Glinda), Bradley Jaden (Fiyero), Steven Pinder (The Wizard and Doctor Dillamond), Kim Ismay (Madame Morrible), IdDon Jones (Boq), Emily Shaw (Nessarose), Jodie Steele (who performs the role of Elphaba at certain performances), Kyle Anthony, Joe Atkinson, Sam Brown, Hannah Cadec, Joel Cooper, Nicholas Corre, James Davies-Williams, Natasha Ferguson, Elizabeth Futter, Zoe George, Amy Goodwin, Alex Jordan-Mills, Stuart MacIver, Tom Mather, Stacey McGuire, Sara Morley, Emily Olive Boyd, Wendy-Lee Purdy, Dean Read, Paul Saunders, Elisha Sherman, Joshua St Clair, and Hannah Veerapen.

Produced by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and Concertus Manila, and presented by Globe LIVE, WICKED plays the Theatre at the Solaire in Paranaque from February 2 through March 12, 2017.

Buy tickets at TicketWorld.com.ph.

Photos: Jory Rivera, Paolo Ruiz