How Wicked Managed To Defy My Expectations
While I may not be a friend of Dorothy, I’m certainly a friend of Galinda.
This article is part of The G Spot, a weekly segment where criticista Gordistotle gives insight into the pop culture happenings of now through opinions or anecdotes on his life living in Toronto.
Now I know it’s a gay stereotype (one that up until a few days ago I didn’t think applied to me) to love musicals. Ok, that’s not entirely true, I love movie musicals or when an episode of TV randomly features the entire cast singing. Just, I was never drawn to theatre, at least, not yet. I’m only turning 23, but I’m unintentionally fast-tracking my way to scarf gay territory. That’s fine, inevitable.
As a preface, I can’t remember if I've ever actually seen The Wizard of Oz. Of course, I know the general synopsis, I don’t live under a rock. Last year during my stay in London a new friend suggested we go see the play together. I was a bit on the fence. Like I said, I’d never even seen The Wizard of Oz, so why would I go see Wicked? However she bought the tickets, and who was I to pass up a free show? I was halfway across the world and she was the only person I knew, what else did I have going on? On top of that, Ariana Grande was already officially cast as Galinda. Even if I couldn’t care less about Wicked (oh how that’s changed in such a short time), I had to do my part as an Arianator to be ready for the movie.
Proof of Arianator status… bonus points because it’s in French
I found myself pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the show: “Defying Gravity was so powerful, I love how the show had such an open ending, what should we do now?” She looked at me like I was crazy and told me, “It’s not over? That was just the intermission”.
Oh… At this point, the show had gone on for an hour and a half…what do you mean this is only intermission? Unfortunately for my new friend, I couldn’t hide my boredom. It didn’t help that the second half is awkwardly paced and overall weaker (spoilers to a twenty-plus-year-old play, but it’s less about the dynamic between the two witches—which is what I loved about it—and more about everybody else, boo).
Now I was always going to see the movie, but the marketing campaign threw me for a loop. I was overwhelmed. What are they compensating for?
But then the press interviews started.
The many interviews of Cynthia and Ariana holding each other’s hands while crying worked better than any Stanley Cup or Starbucks collab could ever have. I had to go watch this movie now, why are they crying so much? I had to find out for myself (and I totally get it now.).
Initially wanting to see it as a date with my boyfriend Sean, I had to hold space for his finals. I—I didn’t know they were happening. Did this mean I wasn’t going to see Wicked? Absolutely not, and thankfully I was propositioned by not one, but two of my fellow Arianator friends. I went from having no one to go with to being booked to see it two days in a row. Of course, I agreed to both, I’d be a bad friend (and fan, remember box office numbers) not to.
The first viewing was with my friend Daniel on opening night but I was honestly too starstruck by Ariana to even process the movie. I’d look beside me to see him either silently snapping his fingers or gasping at each high note. I was so focused on Ariana that small details (like the plot, and overall movie) were lost on me, whaaaat? That’s my fave, give me a break. I knew I was seeing it again the next day anyway. I turned my brain off and listened to the pretty (perfectly colour-graded) pink lady sing.
After leaving the theatre I was initially hesitant to come back again in 12 hours. That feeling went away rather quickly after spending the commute home, the rest of the night, and the following morning listening to the soundtrack on repeat.
~ “Dear Gordlinda you are just too good, how do you stand it? I don’t think I could!” ~
When are they sending “What Is This Feeling?” to the radio? There’s real crossover appeal here, I’m talking a “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” or “Let It Go” level of hit. Needless to say, being able to get excited for each musical number was more than enough reason to see it a second time.
Accompanied by my friend Quin, I was off to the theatre to see Wicked for the second time.
Quin is someone that I’ve shared many emotional moments with (first year of University, you know how it is), so this time, I actually watched the movie and channelled said emotions a bit too much. While I may have been touched by the sentimental moments the first watch, they hit me like a truck the second time around… Let’s just say Quin had to whisper and ask if I was ok.
I wasn’t, why did “Popular” make me tear up?
I think I was entering some sort of Wicked-induced psychosis? Whatever it was, it spilled into the next day and I found myself shedding tears while listening to “No One Mourns The Wicked”. Every time Ariana sings “She died alone” I just burst into tears, you guys she did so well I-.
Editor’s note: 10/10 snack setup
Cynthia and Ariana complemented each other perfectly—it didn’t feel like watching the two celebrities in all the tearful interviews, but Elphaba and Galinda. Each star disappeared into their roles, in part due to the movie’s expert costuming, makeup, and hair, but also because of their true love and commitment to the roles. If you’ve followed either’s career, they’ve performed and professed their love for Wicked many times over. I couldn’t think of a better pair to play the two witches. The on-and-offscreen chemistry the two shared made a good movie into a great one.
My only issue with the movie was that some of the vocal processing and mixing on the tracks flattened Cynthia and Ariana’s voices, which took away some of the emotion from pivotal tracks like “Defying Gravity”. The play’s version showcases the depth of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoworth’s voices, which get lost in the film’s version. I, obviously, love both, they’re different and that’s ok.
Putting my fan bias aside, Ariana was absolutely a standout. Her comedic timing was perfect and had the entire theatre cackling. But we knew about her comedy chops already from her stints hosting SNL. It was in scenes like the Ozdust Ball (tears bitch, tears), that she showed that she was fully capable of emotional scenes too. All her training paid off, she killed the role.
I’m really looking forward to seeing what roles she pursues after Wicked. Ariana mentioned that she plans to slow down her singing career (sigh) to prioritize acting and I’m sure after the acclaim she’s garnered as Glinda, she’s being sent scripts as we speak.
Now as a fan, I am so excited for the direction Ariana’s career is heading in. These new operatic vocals mark her transition from pop star to full-fledged diva. Once a pop girl undergoes vocal training for a film project; Gaga doing the Sound of Music at the 2015 Oscars, Madonna for Evita, the list goes on, their career is never the same. We will never again, for better or worse, get a “Thank U, Next” or “Side To Side”. Usher in the new era of Grande’s career, one filled with enunciation and diction. We already got a taste of it on ‘Eternal Sunshine’, but she’s shown us just how much she’s grown. And I can not wait.
My week has been completely taken over by Wicked—it’s all I can talk about. I’ve bugged friends and family alike to go see it.
I guess… I could… maybe, just maybe, go see it for a third time. I mean, I never did end up seeing it with Sean… As an Arianator, I wouldn’t want the movie to have too steep of a second-week-fall-off… let me check Cineplex…