Capitol
Theatre Sydney
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
Green is not
my favourite colour, and neither has Stephen Schwartz score for “Wicked” ever been
among my favourites. However I must admit that when the first chords struck up
on the opening night of this return season of “Wicked” in Sydney, I was struck
by how well his music served the tone of fantasy and other-worldliness in which
this musical exists. As the ensemble swirled on to Eugene Lee’s amazing setting
which looks even more spectacular in the ornate splendour of the Capitol
Theatre, it occurred to me that, after an absence of five years from Sydney, “Wicked”
has never looked or sounded better.
Heading a superb
cast for this second Sydney season are Lucy Durack and Jemma Rix. Both are
superb. Both give genuine star performances which fascinate for the detail and
assurance they bring to the telling of the story of a complicated friendship.
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| Lucy Durack and Jemma Rix |
As Glinda,
the good witch, Durack is so maddeningly sweet and lovable you could slap her
face. Her performance is wonderfully detailed, superbly sung and terrifically
entertaining as she confidently nails every laugh.
Matching her every inch of the way, Rix is
vocally dazzling as the green witch, Elphaba, especially in the astonishing “Defying
Gravity” which ends the first act. Rix is also dramatically convincing and there’s
now a palpable chemistry between these two leading ladies which makes their
scenes together both absorbing and affecting.
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| Reg Livermore as The Wizard of Oz |
Good
performances abound. Maggie Kirkpatrick, looks wonderful in her
costumes and is very likeable as Madame Morrible.
Steve Danielsen is suitably dashing as Fiyero, but doesn’t erase
the memory of Rob Mills in this role. Edward Grey adds gravitas to the role of the rather put-upon munchkin,
Boq. Emily Cascarino is a stand-out as
Elphaba’s wheel-chair bound sister, Nessarose, and Glen Hogstrom manages to
bring some depth to the role of Doctor Dillamond, despite being hidden behind a
goat’s mask throughout.
The ensemble work hard and enthusiastically, swirling
from scene to scene, and displaying Susan Hilferty’s marvellous costumes with
flair, while executing Wayne Cilento’s clever dance arrangements with energy, style
and precision.
Regardless
of whether you care a fig about what happened in the Land of Oz before Dorothy
arrived, “Wicked” has become a musical phenomenon and a magical experience. It’s doubtful you will
ever see a better production of it than the one currently playing in Sydney. 