Wicked is back, and L.A. loves it! The Broadway musical, which first played here nine years ago and then returned for a record-breaking run two years later, has checked into the Pantages yet again. This time, the cast is headed by Chandra Lee Schwartz (as Glinda) and Emma Raver-Lampman (as Elphaba). Note: Lampman is the standby for Emma Hunter, but she played the role on opening night.
It almost doesn’t matter who is performing in Wicked, so popular is the show. (The sold-out house at the Pantages started cheering lustily the minute the orchestra struck up.) It’s nice to report, though, that both leads light up the stage all night long, thanks to their electrifying singing, clowning, dancing and emoting. They are backed up by some equally gifted supporting actors, notably Kim Zimmer as Madam Morrible and Tim Kazurinsky as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Actually, the entire cast of Wicked deserves praise of the highest order; this may be a third-generation touring company, but there is nothing stale or tired about it. On the contrary, the show seemed as fresh and vital as it could be. Credit director Joe Mantello with not only keeping Wicked’s standards up but getting maximum energy and enthusiasm out of the cast.
Much of the show’s enduring success–at present there are nine international road shows and two concurrent N. American tours–must be attributed to Stephen Schwartz’s captivating score and Winnie Holzman’s sprightly book. When you have a team like that and back up their contributions with the know-how and razzle-dazzle of such Broadway vets as set designer Eugene Lee, costumer Susan Hilferty, and lighting specialist Kenneth Posner–well, that’s the ticket to success. America may not have invented the musical comedy, but practitioners like these sure have perfected it.
