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December 17, 2024
“Wicked” came out on Nov. 22, 2024 as a screen adaptation of the Broadway musical, “Wicked.” The new movie adaptation perfectly encapsulated the musical - leaving nothing out, and truly bringing the story to life. With actors such as Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande filling the shoes of Elphaba and Glinda, it would be hard to see any actresses suit the roles quite as well as they did. You may have recently seen Grande and Erivo in interviews getting emotional over the bond they kindled through the process of acting together. Watching the movie you can see exactly why they were so emotional, as everyone was crying in the theaters during the moments they shared together. Whether it was the choreography, costuming, actors, vocals, or the sets, this movie was astonishing to witness.
Before the movie came out, it was hard to know exactly what to expect from Grande playing the iconic role of Glinda, since the role itself has only ever been portrayed by Broadway stars, such as Kristin Chenoweth, Alli Mauzey, and so many more. Grande, a pop musician taking the lead of a character that houses such an operatic soprano voice blew the audience away with songs like, “No One Mourns The Wicked,” which includes intense vocal techniques that the audience would have never anticipated from Grande. The song, “Popular,” which Grande sings isn’t a vocally challenging song for a soprano to sing, but Grande brings into comedic relief combined with an astonishing singing voice. Grande’s rendition of “Popular” adds in fun bits throughout the song to make it more enjoyable for the audience to perceive.
Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba (Photo Credit: Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection)
Ariana grande as Glinda Promo Art (Photo Credit: Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection)
Erivo is a critically acclaimed Broadway actress, starring in the revival of “The Colour Purple,” winning the 2016 Best Actress at the Tony awards, as well as winning a Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album. Nobody was left confused or stunned with Eviro being cast in the role of Elphaba, as she has a vast background within musical theater. Erivo wowed crowds through her powerhouse voice, with the classic Elphaba song, “Defying Gravity.” Through Ervio’s acting, it almost felt like she wasn’t even acting - like she was actually Elphaba, going through everything that her character was experiencing.
While the movie was two hours and 40 minutes long, every minute of it was filled with emotion and so much feeling. “Wicked,” perfectly encapsulated the original storyline, and when it did add in its own bits, it all was just context - nothing out of the plot. With this being part one of the movie, it’s hard to comprehend how it could be topped by this stunning introduction.
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