ShowBizRadio

Well, I can scratch off the last entry on my Musical Theater bucket list (and the one that was on it the longest). Wicked is now appearing at the newly refurbished, newly renamed Altria Theater courtesy of the Broadway in Richmond series. Up until now my only experiences with the prequel to “The Wizard of Oz” have been through “Glee” and the obsession of my old friend DJ. It was worth the wait.

Wicked starts where “The Wizard of Oz” leaves off, but then, through a flashback of Glinda the Good, we learn how the wicked witch became wicked (and how several other of the characters from the childhood classic book and movie became who they were) as Glinda explains why wickedness happens.

The power of the show is in the two principal actresses; Gina Beck as a glitzy and ditzy Glinda and Emma Hunton as Elphaba, the little green girl who becomes the wicked witch of the west. Beck’s sweet soprano vocals blend and contrast masterfully with Hunton’s powerful, rich voice. Hunton also flawlessly transitions from a meek, sensitive and insecure teenager to the powerful and domineering witch we all love to hate.

Added to their Broadway quality performances are spectacular special effects that are dazzling and visually stunning from the opening to the final curtain. Smooth, seamless scene changes flow like clockwork, as the set resembles the workings of a giant clock presenting the passage of time.

The cast is filled with great supporting performances as well; most notably Nick Adams as Fiyero, the love interest of both Glinda and Elphaba, Alison Fraser as Madame Morrible and Tim Kazurinsky (Of Saturday Night Live fame) as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

I can’t help but say, for great Broadway quality, family friendly entertainment, make it a point to catch this show while you can. You will have a Wicked good time.

The Cast (in order of appearance)

• Glinda: Gina Beck
• Witch’s father: Keith A. Bearden
• Witch’s mother: Marina Lazzaretto
• Midwife: Leslie Becker
• Elphaba: Emma Hunton
• Nessarose: Jenny Florkowski
• Boq: Jesse JP Johnson
• Madame Morrible: Alison Fraser
• Doctor Dilamond: Jud Williford
• Fiyero: Nick Adams
• Ozian Official: Keith A Bearden
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; Tim Kazurinsky
• Chistery: Raymond Joel Matsamura
• Monkeys, students, denizens of Emerald City, Palace Guards: Keith A Bearden, Shayla Beck, Leslie Becker, Nikki Bohne, Lauren Boyd, Kyle Brown, Nirine S Brown, John Carroll, Rick Desloge, Timothy A Fitz-Gerald, Heila Karls, Trevor Ryan Krahl, Rebecca Kritzer, Marina Lazzaretto, Raymond Joel Matsamura, Jonathan McGill, Shannon Mari Mills, Daniel Switzer

Disclaimer: Broadway in Richmond provided two complimentary media tickets to ShowBizRadio for this review.