The Broadway hit musical Wicked has a special connection with Manila audiences, it seems. Why else would Lunchbox Productions and Concertus Manila be bringing it back for a second helping only three years after its first run, as it swings its way through an Asia tour that includes Singapore and Hong Kong, settling down this coming February at Solaire Theatre?
“It’s the Michael Phelps of musicals,” our host Jam jokes during the press launch held in Diamond Hotel, referring to its lion’s share of awards and trophies. It certainly drew rave reviews — and legions of fangirls spontaneously singing Defying Gravity — when it opened here in 2014. But the real draw, especially for young Filipino audiences, may be its strong theme of self-acceptance, along with its catchy Stephen Schwartz score. Before there was Frozen, after all, there was Wicked.
“It’s like when you know you’ve got a hit movie: it’s perfectly rounded, and Wicked is exactly like that,” says Lunchbox executive producer Maria Farrugia. “The costumes are beautiful, the songs are recognizable. You never get tired of watching it.” The international production involves 18 shipping containers and 72 crewmembers to bring the magic to life. Farrugia promised some local tweaks in the play, which celebrates 10 years in London, as it is adjusted to fit the Solaire stage. But yes, there will be witches in flight.
“We find that big brands sell in Manila, and Wicked is a big brand,” adds Farrugia. “Why do people love it? Because it’s got everything: the costumes, the stage and songs that people will be singing the day after the show.” No wonder Manila is ready for a second helping.
Speaking of second helpings, the press were treated to a green-themed lunch at the launch, as several cast members swept into Diamond Hotel’s Grand Ballroom: we dined on pistachio-crusted foie gras, watercress soup with croutons, pesto-marinated salmon and tea panna cotta, all entrees in the green category.
Most appetizing was a showcase of several numbers from the hit musical, sung by West End’s Jacqueline Hughes (Elphaba) and Carly Anderson (Glinda). Sans costumes and makeup, the duo warmed up the crowd with a sumptuous duet on For Good. (The showstopping song had a special resonance here, since it was a favorite of recently departed Concertus Manila head Bambi Rivera-Verzo, who played a key role in bringing hit productions to local shores. Her husband and sisters were present at the press launch.)
Lest we forget, Wicked takes off from Gregory Maguire’s novel, offering a different perspective on The Wizard of Oz — as our hosts told us, “much like tilting the camera to the left, looking behind the scenes” of L. Frank Baum children’s classic. From that vantage point, Elphaba is indeed a green witch of phenomenal powers, though her relative goodness or badness is reexamined in the play, mostly through her growing friendship with “good witch” Glinda. The play advocates empowerment and self-acceptance and wishes for a world where walls don’t exist between people. Talk about perfect for addressing today’s turbulent political scene.
“What I admire about Elphaba is that she is obviously different, yet she’s tough, she takes that on,” says Hughes. “She’s unique, and proud to be different. What is different? Who defines that? I think it’s a matter of accepting, being proud of who you are and being you.”
Anderson adds: “It’s such an honor to have this platform through these roles to deal with subjects of acceptance and discrimination, and to teach people that it’s okay to be different and have different views.”
I couldn’t refrain from asking a semi-political question to the UK-based actresses during the post-launch Q&A: how does the play’s theme of acceptance resonate now, in view of the Brexit?
Anderson had this to say: “Wicked has a huge political theme running through it, especially with the Wizard hiding behind this façade that he is good, while doing all these things that are corrupt, so that’s something a lot of societies are familiar with.”
Both look at this role as a dream come true, green makeup and all. “The green thing just comes with the job,” Hughes said, noting it takes 30 minutes per night to do her wig and makeup. “They have a wonderful team who do it while I just sit there and chat.”
Anderson said being in Wicked is “something I’ve dreamed of since I was 17, when I first saw the play! Every evening onstage doing the show is definitely a ‘pinch me’ moment.”
Manila audiences will soon experience that “pinch me” feeling once again. Get ready for Wicked, my pretties.
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Tickets for Wicked will be available through Ticketworld for opening of Feb. 2, 2017. Call 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph. Presented by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and Concertus Manila.