| Wicked is the prelude to L. Frank Baum's classic book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It is more heavily influenced by the book than the iconic 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz, which differs from the book in a number of ways. Set in the days prior to Dorothy's arrival from Kansas, Wicked explores the idea that the infamous antagonist we call the Wicked Witch of the West was a misconstrued, victimized person. Her alleged wickedness was merely retaliation against a charlatan wizard's corrupt government. At Shiz University, the intelligent green-skinned teenager, Elphaba Thropp, meets beautiful and ambitious Galinda Upland (who changes her name to Glinda during the course of the play and later becomes Glinda the Good) when the two become roommates. Their lives intertwine, and throughout the show their friendship struggles to endure extreme personality differences, opposing viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, and of course Elphaba's eventual tragic fall from grace. To be sure it's a Wicked Musical!
|
