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Wicked takings for hit show
By Patrick Sawer, Evening Standard 01.11.06
Helen Dallimore as Glinda (right) with Idina Menzel as Elphaba
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Wicked, the quirky spin-off from The Wizard Of Oz, has become a surprise West End hit. The musical - a story of two witches, one good, one wicked - took more than £750,000 at the box office last week and almost £2.5 million last month.
Since the first public performance on 7 September, Wicked has been seen by more than 130,000 people, with an average nightly attendance of 95 per cent of the capacity at the 2,300-seat Victoria Apollo Theatre.
The show, which opened officially on 27 September, is believed to be one of the most profitable to hit the West End. Fans include Hollywood stars Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn, who were photographed leaving the show at the weekend.
This popularity is all the more impressive considering the competition includes Dirty Dancing, Daddy Cool, Spamalot, Cabaret, The Sound Of Music and Porgy And Bess. Wicked transferred from Broadway, where it was a massive hit, winning 15 awards, including a Grammy for its music and a Tony for the lavish sets and costumes.
The musical, based on Gregory Maguire's novel, tells the story of the witches from L Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz. One, Elphaba, a wilful revolutionary, becomes " wicked" while her friend, Glinda, becomes "good".
The London production has attracted audiences of all ages. Evening Standard critic Nicholas de Jongh said it was "a wicked, wonderful version of Oz", adding: "A remarkable kaleidoscope of magical shocks, surprises and sensations,Wicked works like a dream."
Sunday Telegraph reviewer Tim Walker said the show was "sexy, sassy and sensational", adding: "It is magnificent to see a musical that manages to be populist and intelligent at the same time."
Publicist Rupert Goodwin said: "Wicked has struck a chord with many people. As well as being a great show with great songs, it contains serious themes such as the way certain people are shunned, how deceptive appearances can be and the issue of a strong political leader who is not all he seems. The word has obviously gone out that this is the musical to see."
Idina Menzel, who plays Elphaba, won the 2004 Tony Award for her performance in the Broadway production, while Helen Dallimore is making her West End debut as Glinda. Nigel Planer plays the wizard. Dallimore grew up in Oxford before moving to Sydney, where she trained and made her name playing Miss Adelaide in Guys And Dolls while still at drama college.
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Reader views (1)
I attended the show on 2009-05-08 with my family and I really enjoyed the lyrics and the whole story.
My level in english as fallen down since I spent 3 years in London, 22 years ago. This prevented me understanding every joke which make my neighbours laughing. However this was a magic evening !
- Coutanceau, Ermont France
