……BY BILLY SUTER……
HAVING years ago been wowed by the London stage production of Wicked and long loved the musical’s soundtrack, I was among millions worldwide who had been long anticipating the release of the movie version.
Now the wait is over and I am glad to report that not only are most of my expectations of the stage-to-screen transition exceeded, but the film has been receiving mostly good to glowing reviews, with leads Cythia Erivo and Ariana Grande deservedly winning some of the loudest applause – and both being tipped for Oscar contention.
The film has now officially been named as the most profitable movie adaptation of a Broadway musical, overtaking previous record-holder Mamma Mia. Box-office figures, as reported this week, have surpassed $635 million globally, with $424 million coming from domestic sales.
Additionally, reports Playbill, last week saw the stage production of Wicked leading the pack in what was the highest-grossing Christmas week on Broadway since 2018, handily beating even the last pre-pandemic figure from 2019. Playbill reports that the 33 currently running shows brought in a whopping $55.8 million with 306 180 theatregoers paying an average ticket price of $182.32.
Adds Playbill: “Wicked was the highest-grossing show of the week with more than $5 million. Yes, you read that correctly. And that performance doesn’t make it just top of the list of Broadway’s top grossers last week. That figure makes the show the first in Broadway history to bring in $5 million in one week, beating The Lion King‘s previous $4.3million record take earlier this year by around $700 000.”
Playbill adds that “even with a rapturously received movie adaptation available in cinemas (for as little as $16 a ticket), 17 334 people packed into New York’s Gershwin Theatre last week to see Wicked on stage at a gravity-defying average ticket price of $290.61″.
The Wicked movie, a prequel to 1939’s The Wizard of Oz, was produced at an estimated cost of $150million and raked $112million-plus in its opening weekend in the US and Canada – reportedly, the biggest box-office launch of all-time for a Broadway adaptation.
The importance of being true oneself and not letting being different stop one’s progress and plans is at the core of the movie which has kept all the show’s terrific songs intact. There is also a surprise number, as well as guest appearances by former stars of the West End and Broadway stage productions of Wicked.
I was blown away by how wonderful, vocally and as an actress, Erivo is as green witch Elphaba – she won a Tony Award for her Celie in The Colour Purple musical – and was also very impressed with Ariane Grande’s vocal prowess and keen sense of comedy as the hair-tossing, eye-flickering Glinda.
If there is any grumble it is with the film’s length. I personally enjoyed every second of the two hours and 40-minute running time, but there are bound to be many less-fanatical Wicked fans who will find it a bit excessive. Even more so when they discover that the movie concludes with a “To Be Continued”. Part two is only due in late-November. The film was split into two parts to avoid having to cut plot points and to expand the story of the characters’ journeys and the relationships between them.
Director Jon Chu, who proved his worth with musicals by giving us the film version of In the Heights, has done a superb job with his interpretation and expansion of the stage version of Wicked. His movie is fluid and fantastical, a visual feast and, with all those terrific songs, a huge aural treat.
I am a big fan and will certainly see it again.
(Thanks to Suncoast Cinecentre for tickets to review this film).
.....SoSuterBill..... 