“You shouldn’t let statements like that bother you, I mean I always do, but you shouldn’t,” words spoken by Elphaba Thropp in the broadway play, “Wicked”, inspired me as well as I’m sure they did others.
The play recently came to Little Rock for one week only. The musical is a fun and creative twist on the movie and books written by L. Frank Baum, and introduces the side of the story that is untold by the Wicked Witch of the West. The play is based upon the inspirational book written by Nancy Holder, Wicked. “Wicked” is about the life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West. It tells the story of her life from her birth, to her schooling, up until her death. The play starts out in the point of view of Glinda, the good witch, who is telling the munchkinlanders the story of how she was once friends with Elphaba.
It tells about her birth and her instant rejection as a child because of her “greenness.” She then, when she is older, is sent to Shiz to watch over her sister Nessarose, while she studies. That is where she meets the shallow Galinda, who later changes her name to Glinda, who was roomed with her by mistake. The two girls at first, are animate about their distaste and general loathe for each other, such was displayed in the song, “What is this feeling,” that is performed by Elphaba and Glinda. Eventually however, through out the play the two characters grow to tolerate, and even learn from each other. The two girls are later sent to the Emerald City, where they are to meet Oz the Great Wizard. Once they are there, Elphaba discovers what she wants, who she is, and what she needs from the wizard. The play is phenomenal with amazing stage effectsand even more astounding actors and actresses.
The story itself is life-changing with its daring metaphor to learning how to accept what is different in reference to Elphaba’s green skin and her eventual acceptance by Glinda, Fiyero Tiggelar, Elphaba’s love interest, and others in the play. The props in the play were amazing. At the top of the stage, there is a metal dragon, that represents the magic time dragon that is mentioned in the book. The powerful Oz is represented by a giant metal face that is controlled by the the real Oz. The play has been performed in places such as New York and is very beautiful. It honestly changed my life and showed me the true meaning of true character.
