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‘Wicked: the untold stories of the witches of Oz’ is one of the most popular musicals at the West End and this year it became the tenth longest running show in London. The musical is centred on the 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by George Manguire which paints many events of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and the 1900 story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum in a different light. Wicked sets out to portray a very different picture of the two witches from what we have always known by the film. As a child I was always afraid of the wicked witch of the west but Wicked completely changed my feelings towards her, so prepare to have your world turned upside down as you learn the ‘true’ story behind the wicked witch of the west.

From the moment you enter the Apollo Victoria theatre you can feel yourself walking through the production set with the green theme perpetually pervasive from the bar set up to the stair leading to the theatre hall. As soon as you take your seat you are immersed in the surroundings of the set and, when the mechanical dragon first moves at the beginning of the show, the Land of Oz truly comes to life.

The story covers all that goes on in the Land of Oz from the perspective of the two witches, the Wicked Witch of the West Elphaba and Glinda the Good. The two meet at school and find themselves forming one of the most unconventional friendships possible, one of jealously, even hatred, but also love and kindness towards one another. The story shows the many struggles they had to overcome together from different viewpoints, a love triangle, their reaction to Oz and of course Elphaba’s determined personality and consequential sentencing. Through the numerous adventures it becomes clear that Elphaba is a miscomprehended green-skinned child who dedicates all her time and effort into solving the strange occurrences in the Land of Oz. Indeed the Land of Oz governed by the amazing Oz himself started to lose its charm as animals were first forbidden to teach at schools and then deprived of the ability to speak. Elphaba’s kind heart could not bear to witness such strange cruel events in the makings without trying her best to stop them.

A bright student and talented in potions, Elphaba finally realises her all time dream to meet the wizard of Oz himself, yet once she does the majestic image she once had of him falls apart. Oz is behind all of the mean things occurring in the Land of Oz and when Elphaba chooses to oppose him she is condemned as the villain of Oz, the wicked witch of the west. As Elphaba’s reputation goes up in flames Glinda takes her place beside Oz as she at first deems her reputation and own vanity to be more important than justice and the growing friendship between the two girls becomes frail even more so when Fiyero, Glinda’s love, runs away with Elphaba. Gradually, Glinda begins to see the wicked ways of Oz for herself and begins to hope she too can make a change for the better. One of the most fascinating aspects of the threatre production is that the story coincides with Dorothy’s arrival in the Land of Oz and shows how the flying monkeys, lion, scarecrow and tin man we all love became such. The story ends with an astonishing revelation about Oz – well I’m not going to tell you it here! If you want to know whether Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship can survive even the most strenuous of upheavals and more about who Elpahaba’s father really is then head to the West End and enjoy one of the most magically wonderful times of your life. With outstanding choreography, captivating songs such as ‘Defying gravity’, ‘I’m not that girl’ and ‘Popular’, heartfelt love scenes and an amazing cast seeing Wicked is a must!

IMAGE1 : http://www.thelowry.com/event/wicked

IMAGE 2: http://sixthseal.com/category/travel/united-kingdom/london/