Wicked: For Good

Wicked lovers are on the edge of their seats… Wicked: For Good, the sequel to the movie Wicked, which will come out this November 22nd. This blockbuster follows the journey of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North (Ariana Grande), and Elphaba, Wicked Witch of the West (Cynthia Erivo). Wicked illustrated the story of two fearless best friends fighting the evil of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum). The movie ended with Elphaba embracing her identity as the Wicked Witch of the West and flying away, leaving Glinda, while performing the hit song, “Defying Gravity.” The new movie will continue this story as Glinda (who is now officially Glinda the Good) becomes a public figure, overseen by Madam Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) and the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and as Elphaba (now the Wicked Witch of the West) continues her fight for animal rights, living as a fugitive. They are all put to the test with the unexpected arrival of Dorothy Gale from Kansas.

But now for the real question: how has the story of Wicked progressed from the original novel? The original novel by Gregory Maguire in 1995 gave a new perspective on the villain in the story of the Wizard of Oz by giving her the name Elphaba and detailing her life before the arrival of Dorothy from Kansas. This novel was then spun into the original Broadway musical, which goes more in-depth into the friendship between Elphaba and Glinda. The recent movies continue this approach by focusing mainly on the friendship between Elphaba and Glinda and how a series of events challenges it. There is also a large difference in tone, with the novel being rather cynical and dark and covering a much longer span of time, whereas the musicals and Broadway show add a much more romantic, whimsical tone, and are also condensed into a shorter timeframe. Though it at first may seem like just another story, the Broadway musical, novel, and recent movies all include themes of social constructs.

One of the main themes is prejudice and “otherness.” Elphaba’s green skin makes her a victim of prejudice and most definitely makes her an “other.” This theme resonates with current world issues of discrimination. The story also goes into government corruption, with it critiquing the abuse of power and propaganda, as the Wizard maintains control by manipulating public opinion. Lastly, Wicked challenges the rather simplistic ideas of good and evil. That not everything is black or white. The story suggests that the circumstances, intent, and someone’s perception play a huge role in how actions are judged. Comparing the novel and musicals reveals that the medium is truly in the message.

Although Wicked is a fantasy story, viewers can connect with the internal growth of the complex characters. This musical offers a whimsical experience that turns a heavy story into an uplifting, gravity-defying tale.