Wicked

November 29 – December 5

When it’s all about the spectacle of big, splashy production numbers, this prequel to The Wizard of Oz is thrilling, whether we’re in Munchkinland, the Emerald City or the campus of Shiz University, where a young Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch of the North first cross paths. As we’ve seen from the director’s previous films including Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights, Chu is uniquely adept at presenting an enormous song-and-dance extravaganza without getting lost in it. His sense of pacing and perspective draw us in and center us within the swirling fantasy.

It’s the connection between Cynthia Erivo and Adriana Grande that gives the film its emotional heft. Erivo does do much with her eyes to convey Elphaba’s sadness and loneliness and, eventually, her hope and determination. There’s a directness about her screen presence that’s immediate and engaging, and of course she can sing the hell out of these demanding songs. Grande meets her note for note and once again displays her comic chops, but it’s the little choices that make her portrayal of the perfect Galinda feel human: a jerky perkiness that’s slightly dorky. As undeniably crowd-pleasing as Wicked is in its big moments, these smaller and more intimate details are just as magical.

Wicked is a near-perfect adaptation of the musical; instead of adding new elements, screenwriters Winnie Holzman (who wrote the original book for the stage) and Dana Fox let the story breathe, taking their time with each scene and song. It begins in the same fashion as the stage musical, albeit with an enticing twist that sets the stage for what’s to come in Part Two. Wicked doesn’t just defy gravity – it defies some incredibly high expectations, too. Director Jon M. Chu unwinds Wicked with tremendous insight into what fans love about it in the first place. As the future Good Witch of the South and Wicked Witch of the West, respectively, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo deliver masterful and passionate performances that make them the perfect Elphaba and Glinda for this generation of musical fans.