Your Ultimate Guide to Watching the ‘Wicked’ Movie (If You’re Not a Broadway-Loving Theater Fan)
If you’re not a theater fan, chances are you might not know the Wicked movie is based on a musical with Idina Menzel as Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo in the film) and Kristin Chenoweth as Galinda (Ariana Grande portrayed her on the screen). Both versions are based on the 1955 novel by Gregory Maguire about two witches before Elphaba became the Wicked Witch of the West, Galinda became Glinda the Good and before Dorothy arrived in Oz in the story The Wizard Of Oz.
So, if you are uninitiated in the musical world of Oz, we’ve got you covered. This guide is for anyone who’s about to see the movie, find out what the hype is about but have no idea what they’re getting into—except, of course, a whole lot of singing, sorcery and Grande having the time of her life portraying the role she was born to play.
What is Wicked About?
It is a lot more than who is the “good witch” and who is the “bad witch.” It’s also about Elphaba and Galinda’s friendship. They started out as rivals. It’s also about discrimination: Elphaba is discriminated against and bullied because of the color of her skin and governmental corruption, and Elphaba discovers the Wonderful Wizard of Oz is not so wonderful at all.
Forget What You Know About the Wizard of Oz
In The Wizard of Oz, we know that Elphaba is the villain, she is the Wicked Witch of the West after all. But like what Galinda said, “Are people born wicked? Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?” With this film, we’ll have a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Elphaba as a wicked witch and who “thrust” wickedness upon her.
Elphaba’s Backstory
It’s glaringly obvious Elphaba’s green. In the trailer itself, we see Galinda point it out. Elphaba’s mother drank a green elixir before having an affair. As a result, the baby was born with green skin. Elphaba grew up under the care of her nanny and her sister, Nessarose who always comes to her aid when she’s bullied because of her skin.
Expect a Lot of Singing
Well, it is a musical fantasy film that’s based on a musical, after all. Don’t be surprised when the cast starts singing in every important scene. It’s kind of a giveaway when the movie’s lead stars are a pop icon and 2016 Tony Awardee for Best Actress in a Musical.
You might have already heard “Defying Gravity” which is the musical’s signature song. Then there’s Galinda’s “Popular,” which is exactly what it was, a song to help Elphaba become the most popular girl in school (where was this song when we were in school?)
There you have it, your crash course in Wicked. So, when you sit down to watch the movie, remember it’s not just about witches who can sing, it’s about discovering that good and evil aren’t always “black and white” and sometimes, the most “wicked” characters are just misunderstood.
