Wicked – Palace Theatre

Wicked is – and for the last 20+ years has been – a musical theatre smash hit, with indefinite residencies on Broadway and the West End, plus touring productions in more than 130 cities worldwide. And now, with the Universal Pictures motion picture just hitting cinemas, it seems that Wicked-mania has hit fever pitch.

So as Wicked is taking the world by storm once more, I willingly took a seat to watch the magic happen in the place where it began… the theatre.

This particular touring production – led by Production Manager Matt Towell – has all the hallmarks of a show flown straight from the West End: sublime staging, iridescent costumes, and scintillating set design. This production is a testament to the beauty and brilliance of musical theatre, with seamless musical and visual transitions that truly transcends the theatrical space. This show has all the visual magnificence of a motion picture, while maintaining the beautiful intimacy of the theatre – one of the many reasons Wicked has kept audiences spellbound for over 20 years.

It’s easy to get caught up in the magic, the mystery and the magnificence of a show of this magnitude  – but in my opinion this show is truly exceptional. Like most pieces of theatre, the cast can make or break a production: in this case, I have never seen a more stellar ensemble than this one.

The lead protagonist Elphaba is so perfectly cast, it’s like this role is tailor-made for her. Laura Pick effortlessly moulds into her character from the moment she comes onstage, and continues to command the spotlight in every single scene. Her acting is flawless, her movements around the stage deft, and her vocals truly out of this world. Her rendition of Defying Gravity – the show’s smash hit – is pitch perfect, delivered with the nuance and ease that only someone with Pick’s exceptional talent can deliver. Instead of trying to replicate some of the greats in this role (like Broadway’s Idina Menzel or the West End’s Kerry Ellis) Pick delivers her own take on the song, and it is simply masterful. She truly earned every single goosebump, tear, and standing ovation she elicited. This is truly a role Laura Pick was born to play.

Although Elphaba is certainly the standout, the secondary cast are also magnificent. Carl Man’s performance of male lead Fiyero is sublime, and Donna Berlin’s reimagination of the character Madame Morrible is masterful. For me, Sarah O’Connor’s version of Glinda is a tad too close for comfort to Broadway’s Kristin Chenoweth, but her voice is unquestionable and more than matched the vocal talent of Laura Pick’s Elphaba.

The staging, costumes and set design truly catapulted this show into the stratosphere. Scenic Designer Eugene Lee does a truly magical job of bringing the wonderful world of Oz to life, seamlessly transporting every audience member to his “oz-mopolitan”, make-believe world. Costume Designer Susan Hilferty brings Lee’s vision of Oz to the fore with her deliciously ostentatious outfits, dressing each character with such care and attention to detail that you couldn’t wait for the next costume change.

This tour’s 6-week stint in Manchester is the 10th and final date, which started in Edinburgh back in December 2023. However, everyone in the theatre felt like it was the very first time: The energy in the cast was infectious, the intensity high throughout, and the chemistry between the lead protagonists palpable.

All in all, this production really does defy gravity. It’s faultless to a tee, and really does bring to life the irrefutable magic that happens when every single element of a show fits together so seamlessly.

If you’re lucky enough to see this production at Manchester’s Palace Theatre before it flies away on 12th January 2025, it truly will make your friends green with envy. https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/palace-theatre-manchester/

Reviewer: Hannah Wilde

Reviewed: 4th December 2024

North West End UK Rating: