Wicked...

February 3rd - February 21st
David A. Straz Center for Performing Arts
Tampa, FL

As this musical begins, the company opens with the overture “No One Mourns the Wicked”. And if you were like me and got to see Wicked during it’s run in Tampa last month, you know no one mourns after seeing this wonderful production.

Wicked is a stage musical written by Broadway veteran Stephen Schwartz based on the best selling novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire. Wicked chronicles events taking place before what happens in the beloved film “The Wizard of Oz”. Before Dorothy and Toto dropped in, we learn about the friendship between Glinda and Elphaba after mistakenly being coupled together as roommates. We also met characters like the hopeless romantic Boq who only has eyes for Glinda, but is passed along to Elphaba's sister Nessarose. And no fairytale is complete without a prince charming type, and Fiyero enters stage right. Through song and prose, Wicked tells the story of friendship, love and social equality simply packaged as a wonderful evening at the theatre.

After the wildly popular and Tony Award winning run on Broadway, original cast members Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel set a very high bar for the lead roles of Glinda and Elphaba respectfully. In the 2010 national tour of Wicked, Chandra Lee Schwartz and Donna Vivino rose to the challenge and exceeded expectations. Schwartz’s portrayal leaves little to be desired thanks to the sometimes ditsy and clueless, but ultimately heartwarming nature of Glinda the Good. Showing a vocal range reaching into operatic soprano, I was amazed of the talent on stage from Schwartz. From the moment she steps on stage as the green skinned odd one out, Donna Vivino demands the attention of everyone in the audience as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. Anytime Vivino began a song, I knew it was going to take my breath away. Richard H. Blake's performance of Fiyero leaves little to be desired as the heart throb of the show. Justin Brill and Brynn O'Malley support the leads as Boq and Nessarose. Their forced relationship is heartbreaking and only gives the name of the story that much more meaning.



(Donna Vivino and Chandra Lee Schwartz as Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked)

With a musical with so much hype before it ever makes it to the touring circuit, you know it’s going to be a fantastic night out. Sitting in the theatre and seeing the mechanical dragon adorned above the proscenium, I couldn’t wait for the curtain to rise and show to begin. With wonderful songs placed expertly in between the gripping story, Wicked is one of those guaranteed shows that you can’t say too much about. If I did have two complaints about the show, I would have to say that there was a hard time hearing some of the ensemble members during the songs with everyone together. Thanks to Paul Bilyeu and Tara McNamara, we were able to have wonderful seats, so I can’t give the excuse of bad seats for the auditory issues. My only other complaint is that the show was too short! Yes, hyperbolic I know, but I was having such a great time I was sad to see the curtain call.

All in all this was a professionally executed, top notch performance of one of the best musicals of our generation. I have to consider myself one of the audience members floored by “Defying Gravity” to end the first act. I looked over at my wonderful girlfriend and didn’t have much to say. With a timeless message of love, friendship and tolerance, Wicked proves it will be around for quite some time entertaining audiences old and new.

Wicked enjoyed an extremely popular run here in Tampa during the month of February. If you happened to miss the show while it was here, Wicked will be showing from March 3rd through the 21st at Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. And for those looking to make a trip up to the city that never sleeps, be sure to drop by the Gershwin Theatre where Wicked plays eight shows a week.

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