Wicked .....
Green, green, green. These are the words used. Standing at the entrance door, I share some thoughts with the upcoming audience, about what I am going to see in a few minutes. Some people are exited, some are nervous and of course everyone is curious.
The crowd moves towards the stairs, at the top of which appears the big red curtain. I try to find my seat; fortunately the usher gives me a little help. Sat in the comfortable armchair; I discover the great architecture of the Apollo Theatre, but my eyes keep focusing on the stage. The background music reminds us where we are: in Emerald City.
The light dims, the whole theatre is now in the dark. The music gets slightly louder and louder...The red curtain opens and we are transported to a place where the teens Glinda and Elphaba will tell us the story of The Good Witch of the South and the true story of the Wicked Witch of the West. During the first act we are surprised, astonished and even flabbergasted not only by the extraordinary machinery of the special effects, but also by the voice of the cast and their fantastic acting.
When the curtain closes for the intermission, the only thing you want is to go back to the magic of Oz.
The second act starts with fears and tears. The exile of Elphaba and the coronation of Glinda, the true Wizard of Oz give another sense to this prequel. It eventually happens, what everyone expected the appearance of the “ruby slippers”, the becoming “cowardly lion”, the brainless scarecrow and the unfortunate heartless Tin-man but most of all where the tornado comes from...
The red curtain closes again and everyone still feels the power of witchcraft, the lyrics are still in their heads, green becomes the colour of the evening and maybe the night for us all. There’s a standing ovation, that they deserve, the play, the cast and all of the features of this musical make it in one single word: Wicked!
And now Dorothy arrives on the yellow bricks road.....
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