The Justice

There is nothing like feeling empowered through music, especially when sitting among two rows of Brandeis students at Wicked , in the Boston Opera House. Knowing that Wicked is a favorite in the Brandeis community, I felt more at ease singing along with the actors while sitting among my peers. Featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (based on a novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire), Wicked is a preamble to the Wizard of Oz story, which explains how Glinda and Elphaba, two friends who begin as enemies, end up as the Wicked Witch of the West and the good witch. Elphaba is intelligent, green-skinned and under-appreciated, whereas Glinda is blonde, bubbly and self-indulgent, but over time they grow together, affecting each others' lives through experiences of identity crisis, friendship and love. A running commentary of human nature is embedded in the story, as the musical illustrates that we all make mistakes, share blame and question ourselves at some point in life. Wicked is also a love story in which two souls find each other and express their love through a powerful song called "As Long as You're Mine."

Through word of mouth and raving reviews, Wicked has become highly popular; everyone from children to adults can connect to the story of Wicked.

The musical started on the right foot by casting Idina Menzel as the original Elphaba, who also played Maureen in original cast of Rent, a role for which she later won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. The production also received the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 2005 and was nominated for 10 Tony awards, including Best Musical. Surprisingly, the traveling cast in the Broadway Across America tour of Wicked measures up to the original New York City cast.

The leading tour cast members have commanding stage presence, incredible voices and perfect execution, while still leaving a unique imprint on each role. Elphaba, played by Victoria Matlock, has a booming voice that projects across the theater and deep into your soul. Christina DeCicco's Glinda steals the stage with her magnetic acting abilities, keeping the audience captivated and laughing often and, Elphaba's sister, Nessarose, played by Deedee Magno Hall, unexpectedly stands out from a less prominent role among the cast with a flawless voice and faultless performance.

The set design is intricate, featuring flying monkeys and blinding lights, with a special scene in Emerald City standing out most and certainly beating Brandeis in any measure of greenification. The costumes are especially glittery; the sparkles even find their way into the Wicked Witch's black outfit. The audience becomes especially excited before intermission when Elphaba is suspended in the air while singing the inspiring lyrics of "Defying Gravity." Several other favorite songs include "Dancing Through Life," "Popular" and "For Good." In the lasting notes of the finale, tears welled in my eyes, as I felt overcome by the emotive performance of Wicked. Wicked will be playing at the Boston Opera house through Nov. 11, 2007, but if you really want to be blown away, take a quick trip to the Big Apple and play the ticket lottery for a front-row spot at Wicked .

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