There has been much hype about about the new show, Wicked, at the Apollo Victoria, with some commentators proclaiming it the best show EVER seen in the west end. A mighty smoking dragon hanging over the stage at the beginning started to justify this opinion, but the sound of the band at the outset was weak and let down the the opening number by not being clear enough. Perhaps the sound engineer could hear it very well from his position but his responsibilities extend to, if not the entire auditorium, then certainly the centre of the dress circle where I was seated. The lighting on the other hand was generally well designed, the front of house was rigged mainly with source 4s and the moving lights kept on stage where they could not distract the audience. Plenty of moving lights allowed for different looks in each scene and they were well used, with tasteful colour mixes. Video Projection, an effect that is often over used in many shows, was done and edited well, not over lighting and only enhancing, a well designed show. The show was tightly cued and the followspots also were very sharp on their pickups. The low clarity of sound and good lighting continued for the whole of a very long first half, over an hour and a half! The first half closer came as a relief as it was difficult to hear and needed a lot of concentration to make out the words. The lighting for the FHC number (Defying Gravity)allowed Elphabas' harness to be seen, but with just one wobbly flycue when taking out Glyndas Bubble it was technically a good first half. The second half has probably not seen as much time in rehearsal, the show seemed hurried, as though the director had run out of time and maybe money. The lighting also was less thought out although with rope lights round the pros and other architectural fixtures it still managed to look new. The fight scene where the Wicked Witch is melted by water was a back lit silhouette effect and seemed slightly "Church Hallish" (ie cheap and oddly out of place) and when the melted witch was exposed again she was represented by a Blue pool of light, this seemed strange given that throughout the rest of the show she was Green. Over all the show was technically very good as the back stage of the Apollo does not allow much room for manoeuver or mistakes.
Lighting 8/10 Sound 6/10 Set 8/10
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