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Life & Arts

‘Wicked' a window into a witch's transformation

by CHRISTIAN OCHOA 
The Daily Cougar 

It seems the trend nowadays is try to get the whole story, more out of curiosity than a desire to be objection. Wicked, a revisionist perspective on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, might irk a few fans of the classic story, but it will captivate those who wonder what's beyond the story that's presented. 

Reality is left behind when a patron enters the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. On stage, The Clock of the Time Dragon stands atop of a map of the Land of Oz; the Emerald City shines in the middle of the map. And if the opening scene serves as an indicator, Wicked has no qualms with being silly. 

Glinda the Good (Christina DeCicco) descends to her fellow Ozians in her standard bubble after the infamous melting. 

The Wicked Witch of the West is dead. 

The Ozians gather around their fearless blonde leader and ask her if the rumors are true: Was Glinda the Good friends with the Wicked Witch? The flashback begins and the audience learns about the origins of the famous witches of Oz. 

The multi-layered story is filled to the brim with moral ambiguity. The audience is taken back in time when Glinda the Good was known as Galinda and was the roommate of the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba (Victoria Matlock). 

Back at Shiz University, Galinda is part of pink and popular crowd, while Elphaba is the lonely, green outcast. Galinda is not necessarily a good person, either -- she leads a campaign against Elphaba. Being rich, spoiled and a little on the bubbly side, Galinda's values are shallow. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Elphaba is a plain and uptight girl who just wants to save the world.

The relationship between the two gets more complicated when Elphaba becomes the star pupil at the university and handsome prince falls for her. Galinda's plans to humiliate Elphaba fail, as Elphaba stands strong in the face of adversity. The story gets a bit more sentimental when Galinda turns a new leaf, but the comic relief that DeCicco provides is spot on -- she's a pink fluff of idiosyncrasies that include squirms and fast talking. 

It might require a little bit of familiarity with The Wizard of Oz to get the subtle references in Wicked, such as when Glinda the Good gives directions to Dorothy, or the reason why the witch despises the sweet farm girl, but the comic relief doesn't end with DeCicco.

With developing powers and friends at her side, Elphaba feels she's on top of the world, especially when the Wizard requests her presence. Things are not what they seem, though, in the dazzling Emerald City. Soon enough, the bright witch learns about shady dealings and the corrupt politicians running amok in the city. 

Anyone in her situation would turn cynical, and by Act II, the once pure-hearted girl realizes that no good deed goes unpunished and vows to seek vengeance for all who have crossed her.

The story, unfortunately, has the potential of going through a downward spiral that's reminiscent of after-school specials: no one's entirely good or wicked. But if it weren't for the tower of strength that is Elphaba, Wicked would be categorized under stories that try too hard to sell themselves.

Elphaba begins bright-eyed and ready to change the world for the better. Wearing her iconic pointy, black hat and holding her broom, Elphaba becomes the Wicked Witch who we once hated (or feared), but now sympathize with. The infamous cackle that once struck fear in Dorothy -- and her little dog, too -- is now met with astonishment. Oz transforms a shy girl into a formidable opponent.

Perhaps this is why the show is so popular. Wicked gives fans of The Wizard of Oz more to chew on, but it also offers an accurate shows how the world can come crashing down on the hopes and aspirations of those with good intentions. 

Elphaba might have been the victim of a smear campaign, but her true inner strength doesn't come from ignoring what others say. Instead, she flies through the hearsay as she becomes a complex force and iconic character. 

Send comments to dcshobiz@mail.uh.edu