I’ve seen
Wicked twice on stage and both times been impressed by the way the show
transcends its fantastical roots to deliver a narrative about friendship,
prejudice and understanding within such an unlikely premise. It’s an
unapologetic musical in the truest sense. This big screen version has done a
great job in upgrading the limited production available on stage to give the tale
a full cinematic experience. Yet this is far from empty spectacle; instead the proximity
of the cameras and the editing brings us closer to these characters than we can
ever see from the auditorium of a theatre. It reveals aspects of the narrative
we might not have noticed from a distance. It also has live singing, recorded
on set to give extra energy. Plus, it is hugely entertaining breezing through
its two and a half hours with ease.
