Wicked Brings Whimsy and Escape to San Diego Audiences
by Cassiopeia Guthrie, Feb. 12, 2025
In November 2024, buried in literature review for my doctorate, I desperately wanted to be whisked away and found escapism in Jon Chu's stunningly beautiful "Wicked" on the big screen. I was utterly charmed by Cynthia Erivo's tender 'The Wizard and I,' brushed tears from the corners of my eyes as Galinda and Elphaba found one another the Ozdust Ballroom, and gasped audibly when Chenowith and Menzel appeared during 'One Short Day.'
Fast forward to February 2025 and, with a news cycle filled with one new challenge after another, I was once again seeking a place to hide for a couple of hours. Luckily, this is the context in which the "Wicked" musical swept into San Diego.
There's a reason this Gregory Maguire story, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and book by Winnie Holzman have made it over two decades. The musical has won over 100 international awards including a Grammy and three Tony Awards. As the 4th longest-running show in Broadway history, the production has made its way though America's Finest City before, but its messages of self-discovery and standing up for your beliefs, paired with powerful and problematic propaganda continues to ring true.
Like its recent movie, the musical, directed by Tony Award winner Joe Mantello with musical staging by Tony Award winner
Wayne Cilento, is crafted in a way that facilitates a quick toppling into Oz. From the moment when a gear-laden bubble descends from the rafters, the audience is mesmerized. A captivating cast and vibrant visuals (most notably steampunk costumes and prismatic lighting) ensure that once they arrive, they remain fully immersed in Oz.
Furthermore, the touring cast is flush with belters who understand the assignment, among them Alex Vinh (Boq), Erica Ito (Nessarose), and - of course - the powerful pipes of Lauren Samuels (Elphaba). And while there are some staging elements and notes that fall a little bit flat, "Wicked" saves its best song ('For Good') and moments for the end, capping off the evening with warm fuzzies and a little more hope in the world at large.
"Wicked" is in town through March 2 at the Civic Theatre.
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