November 09

THEATRE – WICKED – THIS PLAY WILL PUT YOU UNDER A SPELL

Posted by Editor on November 9, 2018 in 5 Star Rating, Heart London Magazine, London Events, Reviews, Theatre | 1 Comment

‘Wicked has become one of the great blockbuster musicals of the 21st century’ – The Irish Examiner, 2018

Winner of over 100 major international awards, Wicked continues to be a mind-blowing global phenomenon. The play, which is suitable for a general audience and recommended for the ages 7+, is currently playing at the Victoria Apollo Theatre in order to celebrate its landmark 5000^th performance and Heart London Magazine had the chance to go and see it. Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two young women; the popular blonde girl Glinda and the misunderstood green girl Elphaba. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. From the remarkable cast to the show-stopping songs by Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz and its adaption for the stage by Winnie Holzman, Wicked exceeded our expectations!

The musical was a FANTASTIC experience. You lose yourself in this play, finding yourself attaching to the characters, emphasizing with them and rooting for them when things go bad. You find yourself asking out loud ‘would I do the same thing if I was in that position? The songs that are sung throughout the show are amazing, especially Defying Gravity. That whole performance gives you so much: a cast of 36; exotic, colourful scenery etc. Absolutely mesmerizing.

The extremely talented actress Alice Fearn portrays Elphaba, who is also known as the Wicked Witch of the West. She captivates you from the moment she blesses the stage with her presence. The emotion she brings to this role is unbelievable, especially when she is singing ‘Defying Gravity’. You hear the pain in her voice. She does a great job of connecting to the audience, giving us eye contact and using every inch of the stage very well. Alice Fearn is raw, fearless, and impeccable.

Maria Coyne is perfect as Glinda, such a dream. Her elegance and sophisticated nature makes her perfect for the role of the Good Witch of the South. She too connects with the audience, making the audience laugh with her ditzy and quirky personality. She displays her emotions very well, you feel for her when things don’t go as quite as she expected.

David Witts portrays the pleasantly charming Fiyero. You fall in love with his majestic presence, winning smile and his striking singing voice. He does very well portraying a man who is torn between his mind and his heart. He never misses a note when he sings and he proves to us that he is a triple threat with his dancing. An absolute pleasure to watch.

If you haven’t had the chance to watch Wicked yet, get your priorities in order and make sure you go and see it. Whether it is the first time you will be watching it or the 100^th time, Wicked is an absolute treat and it continues to put you under a spell. Every. Single. Time.