Wicked: The Great Return

On the 7th of February, hundreds of Melburnians lined Collins Street adorned in green and pink to score $20 tickets to the first Melbourne preview of Wicked. Curating an audience flooded with fans, each with their own connection to the show, the 2nd of March became one of the most electric nights in Australian theatre.

Wicked has established itself as one of the most iconic musicals of the 21st century, based on the novel by Gregory Maguire. Peeling back the curtain on Oz before Dorothy’s arrival, it tells the story of Elphaba before she became the Wicked Witch of the West, and Galinda before she was made Glinda the Good Witch. Probing the question of how wickedness is truly defined and how it transpires, the plot follows Elphaba’s journey through school, her friendship with Glinda and her entanglement in the schemes of the great Wizard of Oz. 

Shewit Belay and Kurtis Papadinis impressively mirror the transition of their characters Nessarose and Boq from bright-eyed and wonder-filled to jaded and scorned. Adam Murphy impresses as Dr Dillamond, Elphaba’s teacher, with his face rendered unrecognisable by the prosthetics that turn him into a goat.

As the love interest of both leading ladies, Liam Head steps comfortably onstage as Fiyero. Producing a few humorous moments, his “Dancing Through Life” is an absolute party.

With a new hand on the Wizard’s top hat in Melbourne, Simon Burke returns to the Regent after his run as Harold Zidler in Moulin Rouge! The Musical, taking over from Todd McKenny. Seamlessly fitting into a cast that have been in their roles for six months, Burke brings the cheek, depth and ominous energy of The Wizard to life in a performance that is a testament to his time and experience in the industry.

Wicked has acquired many titans of the Australian musical theatre industry in their cast, including Robyn Nevin as Madame Morrible. As sugar-sweet as she is cut-throat, she is in her element in this show which is just as renowned as she is.

Courtney Monsma is practically perfect as Glinda, with exceptional characterisation and a wit that rivals anyone who’s adorned the curly blonde wig before her. In a showcase of her diversity as a performer, Monsma elegantly steps into Glinda’s journey from queen bee, to public figure, to emerging leader. Her stunning vocals become evident from the very beginning, singing easily through “No One Mourns The Wicked” and setting the tone for the show, before having a ball as she performs “Popular” which is a dazzling highlight of the production.

In her lead debut, Sheridan Adams has burst out of the woodwork to portray Elphaba in an effortless performance that makes us wonder why she wasn’t found sooner. Stepping into a role that makes a star of its actress, we can’t wait to see what this might bring for Adams after her successful run in this show. With flawless vocals (and a few exciting opt-ups), she makes you believe you’re hearing “Defying Gravity” for the first time, and glows in her rendition of “No Good Deed”.

Wicked’s popularity is an attestation to its originality and how effectively the world of Oz is expanded by its existence. In saying this, through expansion also comes a lot of darkness and grim themes, particularly in the second act. As Elphaba becomes more and more tormented by the Wizard painting her as his enemy, the musical takes a rapid twist into darkness which can seem slightly abrupt given the wit and glimmer of the first half.

In the end, Wicked has earned its reputation in the industry as a theatre piece that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. Capable of drawing laughter, gasps and tears from even the strongest theatre critics, it's a story universally loved by any age, gender, or background. If you’ve never seen it, or seen it hundreds of times, this production (and this cast) deserves a visit from everyone in Melbourne.

Wicked is currently running at The Regent Theatre!

Find out more at their website: Wicked The Musical Australia

This review is based upon the performance of Wicked on the 2nd of March, 2024.

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