Wicked – Birmingham Hippodrome

“There’s No Place Like Brum!”

There’s certainly no place Brum for the next few weeks as the international green-faced, broomstick-wielding, hit-stuffed mega-musical drops its house on the stage of the Birmingham Hippodrome which it will be calling no place like home until the 7th April.

“Wicked” erupted on Broadway in a flume of green smoke 21 years ago and has been dazzling us with a rainbow of pizzazz ever since. Stemming from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 revisionist exploration of the characters from L.Frank Baum’s 1900 novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” itself adapted into the cloyingly sentimental and techo-surrealist 1939 movie starring Judy “Slippers” Garland, “Wicked” has become the mainstay of both West End and Broadway with many an actress donning the Shrek-hued make-up and defying gravity.

Stephen Schwartz (who must have had the longest career hiatus in show business with “Godspell” in 1971 followed by “Wicked” thirty one years later and only a “Pippin” and a couple of Disneys to keep him from the bread line) adds to his vast collection of shiny awards having written both the music and lyrics alongside the book writer, Winnie Holzman. This is top-end, top-grade, top-quality, polished-within-an-inch-its-life show biz. And we love it.

Sarah O’Connor bubbles merrily as Glinda, the soon to be good witch, with some stunning vocals and a fine flair for comedy opposite Laura Pick as the wickedest witch Elphaba who figuratively and literally hits the highest heights with a stunning number to close Act One. A closer Act Two tries hard to top but doesn’t quite manage. Carl Man as Fiyero, the heroic hunk, soon to be a familiar Oz character and Jed Berry as a quirky Geordie Boq will also add to the well-known trio both prove themselves personable and endearing. Donna Berlin as Madame Morrible is sharp and clean and hits her targets like a seasoned pro and Simeon Truby as the all-powerful man behind the curtain, the Wizard himself. Megan Gardiner as Nessarose completes the leads and a welcome addition she is and those tights give away who she with soon become.

Embellished by a stunning chorus of triple-threaters all of whom are given their moments to shine, a sound design to die for and Matthew J.Loughran directing the merry old band of Oz this is the show we would all click our heels three times to return to.

So come out, come out wherever you are because it’s here in the Merry Old Land of Brum. So, follow the Yellow Brick Spaghetti Junction, (and your little dog, too!) and get yourself a ticket!

www.birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/wicked-2/  

Reviewer: Peter Kinnock

Reviewed: 6th March 2024

North West End UK Rating: