Wicked

Laurel Harris and Kara Lindsay (Photo by Joan Marcus 2014).

Good and evil are BFFs in the wildly popular Wicked, a musical adaptation of the novel by Gregory Maguire with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman.

Now in Toronto for a return engagement at the Ed Mirvish Theatre, Wicked tells the untold story of the unlikely friendship between Glinda the Good (Kara Lindsay) and Elphaba (Laurel Harris), otherwise known as the Wicked Witch of the West. The production begins just after Elphaba is killed (by a certain girl from Kansas) and looks back at how she came to be known as Wicked.

Born out of an affair between the Munchkin Governor's wife and a mysterious stranger with a bottle of green elixir, the emerald-skinned Elphaba is kindhearted and clever, but she is misunderstood, even by her own family. At school she is an awkward outsider tasked with watching over her younger wheelchair-bound sister Nessarose (Emily Behny). However, everything changes when she is paired up with the unlikeliest of roommates: the bubbly, airheaded it-girl Glinda, or "Ga-Linda" as she demands to be called.

The two girls have opposing personalities and viewpoints yet their relationship is one of begrudging mutual respect and they eventually become friends. Glinda gleefully takes Elphaba under her wing in the hilarious number "Popular," but the fiercely independent Elphaba is destined for something different. Their fragile relationship is tested when Elphalba catches the eye of Glinda's handsome love interest Fiyero (Matt Schingledecker), who shares her concern for the welfare of the endangered talking animals of Oz. At the same time, Elphaba's magical talents are recognized by the headmistress Madam Morrible (Kathy Fitzgerald) who believes the young witch may be useful to the Wizard.

A dream come true turns into a nightmare as Elphaba and Glinda journey to the Emerald City where Elphaba becomes a victim of the Wizard's corrupt plan to silence the talking animals of Oz forever. Lindsay and Harris perform a heart-thumping rendition of the show's hit song "Defying Gravity" as Elphaba flees the Emerald City. Destined to become the enemy of Oz, Elphaba becomes a scapegoat while Glinda remains behind as a public figure working for the Wizard. 

Featuring dazzling costumes and sets, lively choreography and exquisite vocal work by the leads as well as the ensemble, Wicked is a funny, touching and inspiring musical that proves good and evil are not always what they seem to be. Don't miss it!

Wicked runs until November 2 at the Ed Mirvish Theatre. Visit mirvish.com for more information and to buy tickets.