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Tue06182013

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News Flash: Random

“Wicked”, adapted for the stage by Winnie Holzman, has been breaking records all over the world since it landed on Broadway in October 2003 and this stop by the touring company must have set a record for the number of times a touring company has come to South Florida.

The story is basically good versus evil that, using the characters from “The Wizard Of Oz” by L. Frank Baum, tells how the wicked witch of the west and the good witch of the north developed into the roles they would play. Most of it happens before Dorothy arrives in Oz but you will get a brief look at her, the tin man, the scarecrow and the tail, yes the tail, of the cowardly lion, as it is brought up to the current day.

Along the way there are the many angles of romance with Nessarose (Zarah Mahler) in love with Boq (Michael Wartella) who is in love with Glinda (Jeanna De Waal) who is in love with Fiyero (Billy Harrigan Tighe) who is in love with Elphaba (Christine Dwyer) but with all that the main story is about the friendship between Glinda and Elphaba and how they affect each others lives from the first day they meet. Also the wizard of Oz (Paul Kreppel) and Madame Morrible (Gina Ferrall) play major roles to move the story along. One of the themes of “Wicked” is being ‘different’ and how people treat those who are, such as Elphaba, who is green.

The music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz are a very big part of the success of the show and goes from the Paul Kreppel vaudeville turn in “Wonderful” to Billy Harrigan Wartella showing smooth moves as he and the ensemble do a ‘Broadway’ song and dance to “Dancing Through Life” but it is 4 songs that make and break the show which are “Popular” (De Waal), “As Long As You Are Mine” (Dwyer and Tighe) “For Good” (De Waal and Dwyer) and the power ballad “Defying Gravity” (Dwyer).

Wartella is a much better dancer than singer and De Waal doesn’t quite get all the humor out of her version of “Popular”, or the role of Glinda, but Dwyer dominates every time she is on stage and especially when singing. Her voice reaches the last row in the balcony and she seems to modulate her voice when singing with others, not to overpower anyone.

The orchestra backs the cast of 38 while the musical staging by Wayne Cilento still looks fresh as does the direction by Joe Mantello. The lighting by Kenneth Posner, sets by Eugene Lee and special effects by Chic Silber give the show the spectacle look that brings out ohhs and ahhhs from the audience. The costumes by Susan Hilferty could use a little freshening up such as Madame Morrible’s bustle in the first act.

“Wicked” will be at the Broadway Performing Arts Center until February 17 until going on to Orlando.

1st act 1 hour and 25 minutes Intermission 17 minutes 2nd act 1 hour and 2 minutes.
Strobe lights excessive amount of smoke

Coming February 26 in Miami “Les Miserables” March 5 in Fort Lauderdale “Flashdance”