"Wicked" is a new musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman, based on the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire. "Wicked" starts before the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda, the good witch, became residents of Oz. In actuality, the storyline goes, the two witches were best friends at one time.
Of course one of them was unusual inasmuch as she was born green - we're talking emerald-green skin. The other is a pretty perky blonde. How the two became friends and end up in Oz is a colorful musical adventure - a pick-me-up and ho, ho, ho kind of musical. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll never forget the story of these two witches.
Expect flying. Glinda opens the show on a bubble, and there are plenty of flying monkeys. There's also a smoke-snorting dragon that continually looks down at the audience with eyes as red as the devil's.
You'll even catch a glimpse of the Tin Man. And oh, that lion is most unhappy as a caged young cat. Animal lovers will be especially thrilled with this production because in addition to telling the story of the two witches, it tells a story about how animals lost the ability to talk.
Elphaba, who grows up to be the Wicked Witch, is absolutely enchanting. You will never again think of her character as ugly and mean when you see Stepanie J. Block's poignant and unforgettable performance. She truly makes you question why some unique individuals are presented as "wicked." She'll also change the meaning of the term "green with envy."
This big spectacle production features set design by Tony Award-winner Eugene Lee; costume design by Tony winner Susan Hilferty; lighting design by Tony nominee Kenneth Posner; and sound design by Tony Meola of "The Lion King" fame.
The special effects are outrageous. Emerald City never looked so green. Glinda's bubble mobile is a hoot as she goes up toward the heavens and down again on a whim.
"Wicked" began Broadway performances on Oct. 8, 2003 at the Gershwin Theatre; it continues to be a top-grossing show on Broadway. The national tour of "Wicked" opened earlier this year at Toronto's Canon Theatre and sold out a seven-week run. That essentially has happened at Bushnell, where the show is "virtually" sold out. By "virtually" I mean some single tickets are still available, and then there's always the chance someone might cancel.
Additionally, the producers attached to the show a daily drawing so that some lucky people get the opportunity to purchase one or two orchestra-seat tickets for only $25 each. Here's how it works: on the day of a performance now through Dec. 18 at The Bushnell, a lottery will take place 2½ hours before show time. People who present themselves at the box office will have their names placed in a lottery drum and then, 30 minutes later, names will be drawn for 23 orchestra seats at $25 each, cash only.
This lottery is only available to those who show up at the box office in person, and there is a limit of two tickets per person. So, if you're feeling lucky, get to the Bushnell a few hours before the show and keep your fingers crossed.
HARTFORD STAGE - Hartford: A crash of thunder and darting streaks of lightning open Charles Dickens' ghostly tale, "A Christmas Carol," now playing at Hartford Stage. Tortured souls tethered to clanging, heavy iron chains rise from the fiery bowels of the theater to warn Ebenezer Scrooge that the time has come for him to change his parsimonious ways.
Balancing nightmarish characters and hearty, high humor, this is without a doubt one of the best-ever productions of Dickens' holiday treat. Everything from laugh-out-loud thrills to spine-tingling chills is presented in this scenically spectacular rendition.
However, no matter how gorgeous the Christmas card scenes, how adorable the young area children, and how powerful the three ghosts of the tale are, this show depends on the actor who plays a character with a moniker so meaningful that it is included in dictionaries and defined as stinginess and miserliness - in a word, "Scrooge."
Bill Raymond as Ebenezer Scrooge is a hoot-and-a-half. He shivers and shakes, kicks up his heels, and makes young and old audience members cheer. He's absolutely fabulous.
What a world Scrooge lives in. Ghosts fly overhead, time swirls, snow flutters, and magical goblets spill golden flakes onto the stage. Add unearthly screeching, scratching sounds, and bleached ghostly figures, and you have unforgettable theater.
There's no bah-humbugging this large multi-talented cast. For instance, Bill Kux plays Scrooge's housekeeper Mrs. Dilber in comic drag. So rough and tough and dressed in skirts and aprons, he brings the audience to tears of laughter - it's impossible not to howl at his antics. However, he also makes the audience quake when he steps into the role of the damned Ghost of Jacob Marley, Scrooge's late partner.
Parents should take note that, although this production is a great family holiday event, it may be too scary for tiny tots. Some of the ghostly images may keep youngsters awake at night.
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