New Musical Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre > Reviews > Wicked!!!!!

Author's product rating:   

Prices	Excellent
Transport links	Excellent

Advantages:	Fantastic actors, actresses, costumes, stage and special effects
Disadvantages:	Expensive for alcoholic drinks

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

On November 3rd 2007 I travelled from Cumbria to London with a friend to watch the Wicked musical at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, I was blown away by the amazing actors, actresses, costumes, stage and special effects.

The musical is based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch, and tells the untold story of the wicked witch before Dorothy arrived in OZ. After weeks of contemplating I decided to watch the musical first before reading the novel.

The Apollo Victoria Theatre is easily assessable from the Tube as the Theatre is opposite the Victoria Tube Station. There are numerous restaurants in the area and shops. If you are attending the evening performance and decide to go for a meal before the show I would recommend booking a table in advance as there could be up to a 40 minute wait, and you don't want to miss the beginning of this show.

I paid around £35 for the centre of the upper circle (Row R) and got a great view of the stage. A website showing the seating chart and the best places to site can be found at http://www.theatremonkey.com/APOLLOVICTORIAstalls.htm

From the start of the show I was gripped and at certain parts I was laughing out loud, I never wanted it to end. At one point, when the actress who plays the Wicked Witch was singing I could feel the hair on the back of my neck standing up on end, it was an amazing feeling. The vocals and the dance moves of the actors and actresses were incredible! The people who play the flying monkeys were fantastic, they moved very realistically.

The show starts when the people of OZ are rejoicing the death of Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West, Glinda the Good Witch was informing people that the Wicked Witch is in fact dead. The people of OZ then start asking Glinda about the history of the Witch as they had heard a rumour that Glinda was once friends with her.

Elphaba was born green and as she was growing up became the butt of everyone's jokes; she was ridiculed by children and had no friends. Her sister is disabled and her father clearly dotes on her, he instructs Elphaba to look after her sister while she is at school. Elphaba feels that she is a failure in her father's eyes because she is 'different'.

Glinda and Elphaba hated each other at first, they were like chalk and cheese but over time they become good friends. As the story progresses Elphaba find out that all the talking animals are forgetting how to speak, she believes that something awful is happening in OZ and only the Wizard in the Emerald City can help.

I don't want to give too much away as it will spoil the story.

The Apollo Theatre décor is magnificent and is the perfect setting for Wicked. The staff are helpful and friendly. There is an interval half way through the show for you to get a drink (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and some snacks. If you smoke the front doors are open to allow people to pop outside. Binoculars are 50p to rent (found in the front of the seats) and there are numerous Wicked merchandise on offer, including programs, mugs, t-shirts, umbrellas and so much more.

I would recommend this musical to people who are interested in fantasy and want to hear the untold story of the Wicked Witch. Be prepared to be blown away by the stage, costumes, vocals, talented actors and actresses, special effects and of course the flying monkeys.

Now I have watched the musical I can't wait to read the book.