Cover Cynthia Erivo portraying Elphaba for the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, ‘Wicked’ (Photo: Universal Pictures)
Cynthia Erivo portraying Elphaba for the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, ‘Wicked’ (Photo: Universal Pictures)
1 / 1
It has been a long time since a Broadway musical was adapted into a movie the right way—this way. Here’s our take on the Academy Award-nominated blockbuster film, ‘Wicked’
Generations of musical theatre fans could arguably be divided by the hit Broadway or West End musical of their time. There was a period when all the schools would have their students sing songs from The Sound of Music or hopeful auditionees showcasing their talent by singing songs from Les Miserables. For my generation, it would be Wicked. Either the Millennials in their teenage years heard it first from Ryan Murphy’s series Glee or came across the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire and found it having its soundtrack available on Apple Music.
Those fortunate enough to see it live at the Gershwin Theatre on October 8, 2003, wouldn’t stop talking about it. So, when it finally premiered in Manila in 2017 at the relatively newly-built The Theatre at Solaire, having the tickets sold out was inevitable.
Like its fans, actors Tony and Grammy winner Cynthia Erivo and Grammy-winning international pop star Ariana Grande dreamed of having the beloved musical its film version. When they were cast as Elphaba and Galinda/Glinda, respectively, much anticipation for the film was palpable in the air as it was expected to defy expectations.
Above Ariana Grande playing Galinda/Glinda in the film adaptation of ‘Wicked’ (Photo: Universal Pictures)
Ariana Grande playing Galinda/Glinda in the film adaptation of ‘Wicked’ (Photo: Universal Pictures)
1 / 1
Wicked is Universal Pictures’ two-part film adaptation of the stage musical under the helm of Jon M Chu (Crazy Rich Asians). It follows the friendship of the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch of the North, characters from L Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz book series that Maguire expanded and reimagined for contemporary readers. Based on the musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, Wicked grounds the events that have happened in the spectacular Land of Oz and the iconic songs from the musical into an intimate cinematic experience that makes the adaptation epic in proportions.
Featuring only the first act of the said musical, the 2024 adaptation focuses on the years spent by Elphaba and Galinda/Glinda at Shiz University, culminating in the revelation of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz’s true character that turned things around for Elphaba while discovering the power of levitation.
Read more: Holiday Movies 2024: Here’s what to watch in the cinemas this Christmas season
Above The Emerald City in ‘Wicked’ directed by Jon M Chu (Photo: Universal Pictures)
The Emerald City in ‘Wicked’ directed by Jon M Chu (Photo: Universal Pictures)
1 / 1
Even with just the first half of the musical, the 2024 film was a satisfying version that stays true to its source material’s theatricality, visual references to the filmmaking period of The Wizard of Oz (1939) that catapulted its star Judy Garland to stardom, and to the depth and humanness of the characters amidst the whimsical and mystical realms shaped by Baum and Maguire and built over by Schwartz and Holzman.
Chu’s eye for direction and Alice Brooks’s cinematography gave justice to Nathan Crowley’s production design, which had most of the sets built on Universal Pictures’ sound stages. The scale, detail, and enhancements for several scenes elevated the original musical’s theatricality for its songs and choreography. Its visual effects were passable and not distracting, blending well with the production design.
Above The official trailer of ‘Wicked’
But what truly gave Wicked its authentic spectacle was the actors’ live singing under the recording direction of Simon Hayes, who also worked with the film adaptation of Les Miserables. The ingenious approach cohesively mixed with the intense choreography of the actors and the ensemble and the stunts required from them to make magic believable in the film.
The actors also tackled their characters with much genuineness, with some scene lines satisfyingly expanded to make room for the gradual development of emotions. Hence, we find some songs having more measures in between, with the actors free to express their characters’ emotions and add their personal take to them. We see how much Grande tapped into her actor persona in this film, mixing how Kristin Chenoweth originated Galinda/Glinda on Broadway and her nuances. We find sincerity in her subtleties and a profound understanding of what Elphaba meant to her.
Meanwhile, Erivo gave the character of Elphaba a lot of expansion, executing Chu’s added contexts and scenes to make her a more well-rounded character. As a result, Wicked succeeds in making Elphaba understood better, with Defying Gravity a truly powerful, emotionally-charged torch song to wrap the film.
Above Jeff Goldblum portrays The Wonderful Wizard of Oz while Michelle Yeoh breathes life anew to Madame Morrible in Jon M Chu’s ‘Wicked’ (Photo: Universal Pictures)
Jeff Goldblum portrays The Wonderful Wizard of Oz while Michelle Yeoh breathes life anew to Madame Morrible in Jon M Chu’s ‘Wicked’ (Photo: Universal Pictures)
1 / 1
Equally commendable were the portrayals of Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Marissa Bode as Nessarise, Ethan Slater as Boq, and Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero. Peter Dinklage gave his voice to Professor Dillamond, who, compared to the original musical, had been turned into a speaking erudite goat from the get-go to establish the conflict of the story better. Striking to see how they add flair to the musical are Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James, who portray Galinda/Glinda’s college friends.
Wicked, at its core, is a story of friendship and love that is more powerful than any magic in the world. With the desire of one’s heart as a central plot point, the film navigates the heart’s purity and corruption and how an enduring bond can make a difference.
Wicked received 10 nominations at this year’s Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Ariana Grande), and Best Actress (Cynthia Erivo).
NOW READ
Fitness tips from Century Tuna Superbods winner Justine Felizarta
Save the Children PH on ending physical punishment against children
Topics
About
Before assuming the Art and Culture Editor position, Franz has always had a penchant for visual and performing arts. He is passionate about exploring and writing about the local cultural scene and rediscovering the country’s storied past and rich heritage. Besides working on this luxury lifestyle magazine, Franz is an avid book reader, local traveller, museum-goer, chorister, and community theatre playwright.
Work
Franz earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas. He writes about local visual and performing artists and their craft; drinks wines, liquors, and spirits and talks about the creativity of their respective winemakers and master blenders; tries to learn more about business and investments; respects the tradition and artistry that go behind the making of watches and jewellery; and appreciates the genius of architecture and creative design.
As head of Tatler Philippines’ pool of writers, he helps them bring impactful and socially relevant stories to light.
For any leads, you may reach him through @franzsorillaiv on Instagram or franz@tatlerphilippines.com via email.
