MUSICAL THEATRE
Music & lyrics by Stephen Schwartz,
book by Winnie Holzman
Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, by Young
Australian Broadway Chorus
At
National Theatre, St Kilda until Jan 27, 2018
Reviewer: Kate Herbert
Stars:***1/2
 |
| Emily Svarnias as Elphaba,Jasmine Arthur as Glinda |
With all
the leads in this production of Wicked played by teenage actors, the unlikely
relationship that evolves from loathing to intimacy between two young witches
is almost identification theatre for young audiences.
The
compelling, emotional core of the story is
the secret girlhood friendship between the witches from The Wizard of Oz.
Elphaba (Emily Svarnias), the
sensitive, outcast, green-tinged child, becomes the Wicked Witch of the West,
while her pretty, popular rival, Galinda (Jasmine Arthur), grows up to be Glinda the Good.
Svarnias compellingly portrays Elphaba’s emotional journey from shy child to young rebel to terrifyingly
powerful witch, and, when she sings the
challenging Gravity, her vocal
control, thrilling tone and big voice belie her tender years. This 19-year old has
a bright future in musical theatre.
Arthur has a charming voice and is suitably perky as the gleefully conceited, relentlessly
cheerful, flirtatious teen witch, Galinda.
Robert
Coates’ production, with its vibrant choreography (Jacqui Green), evocative
design (Mike Fletcher) and lighting (Linda Hum), populates the stage with an overwhelmingly
massive but enthusiastic ensemble aged 10 to 21 years, with a youth orchestra (musical
director, Andy Coates) doing justice to Stephen Schwartz’s rich and diverse score.
The total cast is 114!
The ensemble
fills the stage, playing witch-hunting citizens of Oz, students, monkeys and
denizens of Emerald City, and their chorus numbers are resounding and
exhilarating.
Other featured actors include: Rishab Shrivastav as Fiyero, Emily Palmer as
Madame Morrible, Taylor Troeth as Nessarose, Jackson Hurwood as The Wizard,
Tristan Sicari as Doctor Dillamond and Darcy Harriss as Boq.
Winnie
Holzman’s book strips away many of the complexities of Gregory Maguire’s
original, fantasy novel, and the narrative is riddled with relevant,
contemporary themes including bigotry, bullying, political manipulation and the
persecution of those who are ‘different’.
This first,
all-youth Australian production of Wicked is vivacious and enjoyable and brings
youthful energy to a fantasy tale of friendship and corruption that echoes our
modern world.
Kate
Herbert
 |
Jasmine Arthur as Glinda
|
 |
Emily Svarnias as Elphaba
|
Orchestrations by William
David Brohn
Musical arrangements by
Alex Lacamoire and Stephen Oremus
Emily Svarnias as Elphaba
Jasmine Arthur as Glinda
Emily Palmer as Madame Morrible
Rishab Shrivastav as Fiyero
Taylor Troeth as Nessarose
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