by Jessica Ham

To this day, Wicked is one of my all-time favorite musicals. I saw it for the first time when I was thirteen, and I have been hooked ever since. The grand music and powerful, emotional storylines and characters grab you instantly. I started bawling the second the first song started, that is how much I love this musical.

For those few of you who have never seen or listened to Wicked, it is the origin story for Elphaba, the wicked witch of the west, and Glinda, the witch of the north. The musical goes through how they met, and ultimately, why Elphaba has the reputation of being the wicked witch. The people she meets along the way change her life forever.

First off, let me say, this is my third time seeing Wicked and this is by far the greatest cast I have ever seen. Mariand Torres (Elphaba) brings a rougher around the edges side to Elphaba that I always wanted to see and her vocals knocked my shoes off, especially during the songs “Defying Gravity” and “No Good Deed.” Glinda (Erin Mackey) has a voice of an angel with warm, soothing tones which shows a kinder and deeper side to Glinda. The two women’s chemistry was unmatched by any Elphaba and Glinda I have ever seen. Fiyero (Curt Hansen) had brilliant comedic timing and a voice that made my heart flutter. Let’s face it, Fiyero is dreamy! The wizard (Jason Graae) was like Joel Grey (the original wizard) brought back to life. He captured the essence of the wizard perfectly. The ensemble brought life and grit to the world of Oz, and I loved every minute of seeing them on stage.

The costumes were just like the original, steampunk and perfectly matched to each character. The use of flying throughout the show brought an ethereal magic to the show that I fall in love with every time I see it. I forgot how scary it is to see creepy monkeys flying, but other than that, it was magical. This show outdid itself and produced the same awe and wonder as the original times one hundred.

Wicked will make you feel things you’ve never felt. Bring everyone you know to experience the emotional rollercoaster and magic that is Wicked.

Wicked performs in Fresno through March 31 at the Saroyan Theater. Tickets can be purchased on Ticketmaster and you can get more info on the Broadway Fresno website.

For a look at things behind the scenes of Wicked check out KRL’s interview with the Elphaba Standby. You can find more theatre articles, and other entertainment articles, in our Arts & Entertainment section.

If you love local theatre, be sure to check out our new Mysteryrat’s Maze Podcast, which features mysteries read by local actors. The first 16 episodes are now up! You can check the podcast out on iTunes and Google Play, and also on podbean.

Jessica Ham is 26 years old and an ongoing contributor. With a love of all things nerdy, she’s right at home covering entertainment.