As a die-hard theater fan who has watched Elphaba and Glinda’s magical tale unfold on Broadway multiple times, I must say that the cameos of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth in “Wicked” were nothing short of enchanting! The way they brought their original characters to life during the “One Short Day” sequence was a delightful nod to the musical’s rich history.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for Wicked.
It was generally expected that the cinematic version of the long-running Broadway musical “Wicked” would somehow involve the original Elphaba and Glinda, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, as well as the newcomers, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Theater purists who kept their excitement for the movie despite numerous postponements were certainly a factor, and director Jon M. Chu was mindful of this. However, before “Wicked” hit the screens, it wasn’t clear how these legacy stars would be included in the film.
In the “One Short Day” segment of the movie, both Menzel and Chenoweth make an appearance, following Elphaba and Glinda’s arrival in the Emerald City. This part also introduces fresh musical content, expanding on the stage production’s musical-within-a-musical called “Wizomania“. In the original Broadway play, “Wizomania” presents a quick peek into pro-Wonderful Wizard of Oz propaganda. The Flatheads, short and flat-headed characters, are responsible for this, as created by L. Frank Baum. The catchy tune they sing is “Wasn’t he wonderful?”, penned by composer Stephen Schwartz.
In this adaptation of Wizomania, the portrayal provides a more detailed account of Oz and the Wizard’s actions, though it remains biased with a strong emphasis on propaganda. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, without the characteristic round heads, assume the roles they originally played as Elphaba and Glinda in this production. Although Menzel is not green-skinned in this version, the relationship between the two characters echoes their dynamic from Wicked, with Menzel’s performance maintaining the star quality she exhibited as Elphaba, while Chenoweth’s character tries to overshadow Menzel and hog the limelight. They sing about the Grimmerie, an old book of magic that no one in Oz could understand until the Wizard arrived via balloon. While this tale is fabricated, it sounds believable when sung.
Besides their dynamic reminiscent of old college roommates from Shiz University, there are several references to the original musical. Menzel performs Elphaba’s battle cry from “Defying Gravity,” an unconventional move that likely needed approval from Erivo. Additionally, Chenoweth covers Grande’s mouth to halt her singing at one point – not quite an Easter egg, but more like what you’d anticipate if you placed two Glindas in the same space.
Besides Menzel and Chenoweth, there are other familiar faces in both Wicked and “One Short Day.” One such cameo is Winnie Holzman, who made a brief appearance as a resident of the Emerald City. Holzman is well-known for creating shows like My So-Called Life, but her contribution to Wicked goes beyond that: she wrote the book for the musical adaptation, based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. She even penned two versions of the film’s screenplay, one solo and one in collaboration with co-writer Dana Fox.
In the “One Short Day” scene, Stephen Schwartz, a well-known composer known for his multiple Academy Awards and Tony nominations (including losing the Tony for his Wicked score to Avenue Q), makes a more noticeable appearance. He is portrayed as the palace guard who tells Elphaba and Glinda that “the Wizard will see you now!”. Schwartz’s upcoming project, Broadway-bound The Queen of Versailles, pairs him once again with Kristin Chenoweth in the leading role. Although Schwartz’s cameo in the first Wicked movie may indicate he won’t appear in Wicked: Part Two, he had earlier revealed that he penned two new songs for the sequel’s soundtrack.
For future appearances, it’s possible to incorporate more original Broadway actors from the musical “Wicked” in the upcoming film. Given their talents, Norbert Leo Butz and Christopher Fitzgerald could convincingly portray roles like witch hunters.
Read More
- PENDLE PREDICTION. PENDLE cryptocurrency
- Skull and Bones Players Report Nerve-Wracking Bug With Reaper of the Lost
- SOLO PREDICTION. SOLO cryptocurrency
- Smite 2: Overcoming the Fear of Your First Match in the MOBA Universe
- W PREDICTION. W cryptocurrency
- Understanding the Constant Rain in Pacific Drive: A Reddit Discussion
- Team Fight Tactics (TFT) Patch 14.23 Notes: What to Expect from Set 13 Release
- Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Review: History Repeats
- POPCAT PREDICTION. POPCAT cryptocurrency
- Clash Royale: The Perils of Firecrackers and Cringe Decks
2024-11-22 02:54