Wicked times for all
Wicked Showbiz Christchurch Isaac Theatre Royal, until April 21.
I first fell in love with Wicked when I saw it in Sydney.
Since then I’ve listened to the Broadway original cast recording countless times, hoping that eventually it would come to Christchurch.
Showbiz Christchurch’s production is everything I could have hoped for, from excellent leads and a strong cast right through to the energetic chorus line, a sumptuous set, dazzling costumes, and a tightly-knit orchestra.
Skilful lighting brought the whole thing to life and sound was well done save for the occasional mic crackle. Director Stephen Robertson should be very pleased with the results of his labours.
It all hinges on having two main female leads who can flesh out the characters so the comedy is as fun as the pathos is moving. Rebekah Head (Glinda) and Heather Lee Wilcock (Elphaba) were truly outstanding.
Head captured the shallowness of Glinda, but also her softening later on and she sailed through the high notes. I loved the shades of doubt she brought to Thank Goodness.
Wilcock’s I‘m not that girl was tender, yet she had real menace as she rose in Defying Gravity, her slide into wickedness complete in a venomous No Good Deed.
Together they handled the showstopper Popular superbly, really making the most of it. I did, however, feel that the tempo was a little quick, here and in a couple of other places, so that some of the lines appeared rushed.
In support, Fergus Inder made for a suitably nonchalant Fiyero and Chris Goodyear a convincing Wizard.
I enjoyed Sarah Greenwood Buchanan as Madame Morrible, creating interest in a character I had hitherto overlooked.
Tom Worthington (Boq) and Kira Josephson (Nessarose) created a nice chemistry and Jack Fraser was a fine Dr Dillamond.
Hurry to book your ticket now – as the song from the show goes, they’re going to be popular!