As a seasoned musical theater enthusiast who’s seen my fair share of productions and adaptations, I must say that the journey of “Wicked” has been nothing short of enchanting. The recent interview with Stephen Schwartz sheds light on the meticulous process behind the film adaptation, especially in regards to Ariana Grande‘s portrayal of Glinda.
As a movie critic, I found myself intrigued by the revelation from “Wicked” composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, he shared that Ariana Grande was approached for a unique take on “Popular” in the film adaptation. However, the Grammy-winning artist firmly declined, insisting her portrayal of Glinda must steer clear of any echoes of her own music background. Consequently, she had no interest in transforming any of the “Wicked” songs into pop hits.
In a bid to bring something fresh to the film’s music, Schwartz and his team proposed updating the beat of “Popular”. They suggested perhaps adding a hint of hip-hop flavor to it. However, Ariana firmly declined this idea, stating, “Definitely not! I want to portray Glinda, not Ariana Grande playing Glinda.
Ariana Grande initially hesitated about altering the ending of “Popular.” However, the movie’s creators decided to change some octaves in the final part of the song to showcase Grande’s extraordinary vocal range at its best.
Schwartz shared an idea he had for a unique vocal finale. At first, Ariana seemed unsure, but he convinced her that if it were intended for the original production, this is how it should sound. After understanding that the new piece of music stayed true to the character, she agreed.
Grandé’s interpretation of “Popular” has garnered praise, with the performance largely sticking close to the original Broadway version. When discussing it with The Times, “Wicked” director Jon M. Chi initially proposed making “Popular” more grandiose in terms of its visual scope, but producer Mark Platt disagreed and vetoed the idea.
Initially, I envisioned a scenario where Glinda and Elphaba ventured into a massive closet filled with pink, leading them to turn corner after corner. However, producer Marc Platt suggested we might want to avoid such fantastical elements since, in the storyline, Glinda doesn’t possess magic powers, which could potentially confuse viewers.
“Okay, what if all the bags we’ve been seeing this whole time were actually her closet, and you just didn’t know it yet?” Chu continued. “So then it became an extremely huge technical feat to make this closet come to life — grown men in small spaces pulling doors and making things open at the right time, gadgets that unfold remotely with batteries and cords. That mirror is a very heavy piece of machinery, because it has to bend backwards so she can walk on it. That was always scary; even in rehearsals, I was always hesitant. If she steps on those lights, she cuts her foot.”
The movie “Wicked” is currently showing across the country, courtesy of Universal. For more insights into the production of its hit segment, “Popular”, visit the Los Angeles Times’ website.
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2024-11-27 00:18