Earlier this week, I watched the theater fill with “Wicked” fans of all ages, genders and races: kids in pink and green, men in shimmery shoes and themed shirts, women in matching merch, tiaras or black hats.
Part 2 of “Wicked,” the musical adapted from Gregory Maguire’s novel of the same name that reimagines “The Wizard of Oz” and humanizes the story’s iconic witches, Elphaba and Glinda, is finally in theaters.
When the lights dimmed and a pre-recorded video of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo welcomed us back to the world of Oz, everyone clapped, filling the theater with a palpable anticipation. However, a lingering question hovered in the space between their message and the opening sequence: Would Part 2 do this much-loved story justice?
The answer is yes. The film is nothing less than spectacular in scope and theme. It’s obvious that it was intentionally crafted to continue telling the story while simultaneously celebrating both the legacy of the Stephen Schwartz-composed musical and the impact it has had on fans since Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked: Part 1” was released last November, democratizing the story for a larger, global audience.
“Part 1” is the musical’s first act and explains the backstories of Elphaba (Erivo) and Glinda (Grande). It shows how the green girl, who is to become the Wicked Witch of the West, befriends the blonde girl, who is to become the Good Witch of the North.
