Wicked – Bord Gáis Energy Theatre – Review
23 July – 14 September 2024

Age Guidance: Recommended for ages 7

Find out more about this production here and the cast here.

Wicked is a prequel to Dorothy’s story in Oz. In the musical, we meet two characters from the original film, Elphaba (Laura Pick) and Glinda (Sarah O’Connor), and hear their backstories. They are two witches going in very different directions. One will become the Wicked Witch of the West and the other is destined to become Glinda the Good Witch.  We meet the two at University, where they’re studying sorcery. Elphaba is disliked by the other students for her green skin and her unusual manner. Glinda is loved by all, a blonde bombshell who always gets her own way. When the two end up sharing rooms, they form an unusual connection. When the dashing Prince Fiyero (Carl Man) arrives at the University, Glinda is immediately smitten. We follow the two on their journeys through University and their trip to meet the wonderful Wizard of Oz (Simeon Truby).

The world of Oz was created by L. Frank Baum in his novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900. The book was later adapted into the classic film in 1939. In 1995, Gregory Maguire published the novel ‘Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’ which expanded upon the world. This is the source material for the musical, which has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. The original Broadway production was staged in the Gershwin Theatre in October 2003 and went on to win three Tony Awards. This production will be your last chance to see the Musical live in Dublin before the release of the movie adaptation, which is scheduled for November of this year.

This is a touring production but is still quite a lavish affair, with impressive sets, including a dragon hanging over the proscenium arch. As it is a fantasy world, you can expect to see a variety of creatures including flying monkeys, tin men and a multitude of other oddities. Surprisingly, they use real sets for most scenes, as many similar productions rely on images projected onto the backdrop. It is a stylish production and it does justice to the source material.

It’s unusual to see a Musical with such excitement surrounding it. When the lights dimmed in the theatre, there were squeals of anticipation and a short blast of spontaneous applause before we even started! A large number of those attending were hardcore fans who had seen the play on numerous occasions. The cast almost without exception had powerful voices with the two leading ladies having several show-stopping moments. What surprised me was the level of humour in the work, with some hilarious moments and light touches. At times, it felt like a typical American high school drama, as they quipped and harassed each other. It’s one of the most anticipated Musicals of the year and this production has something for everyone.