WICKED by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman (Mirvish). At the Ed Mirvish Theatre (244 Victoria). Runs to August 5. $59-$209. 416-872-1212. See listing. Rating: NNNN
This is the fifth time the North American tour of the Broadway musical Wicked Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzmans prequel to The Wizard Of Oz has flown into town, and this cast is one of the best imaginable.
My late colleague Jon Kaplan rightly argued that the shows success depends on the chemistry between the two leads, the green-hued rebel Elphaba (Mary Kate Morrissey) and the sparkly princess-in-training Glinda (Ginna Claire Mason), opposites who meet in school and forge an unlikely friendship, all while dealing with hormones, popularity (cue one of the shows best numbers) and a sinister plot involving discrimination against the schools animal instructors.
Morrisey brings a principled dignity and fearlessness to her empathetic outsider whos more concerned with her disabled sister, Nessarose (Catherine Charlebois), than with socializing. Mason, meanwhile, delivers every word with a knowing wink and demonstrates great comic timing as the entitled blond whos used to getting her way and attracts the attention of the schools alpha male, Fiyero (Jon Robert Hall), as well as a lovestruck munchkin named Boq (Cole Doman, adorable).
I still have problems with some of Holzmans book. The themes about everything from bullying to historical revisionism to political activism are as relevant as ever. But theres a lot of plot and exposition to get through in the lengthy first act before Elphabas demanding act one closer, Defying Gravity (which Morrissey, suspended by wires, executes respectfully.)
Still, director Joe Mantellos production, complete with Susan Hilfertys dazzling costumes and a colourful, unfussy set by Eugene Lee, moves along swiftly to its climax. And when the two women sing their poignant duet about friendship, its heartfelt.
You have to give people what they want, intones Jason Graaes Oz, who turns out (no surprise) to be not so wonderful after all.
This production does just that.
