Wicked Good

The huge Broadway hit, "Wicked", opened recently in London and we went to see it last week. And what an entertaining show it was. We both gave it 5 stars in our 0 - to - 5 star system.

The premise of the story is that it's about the life of the Wicked Witch of the West (from the "Wizard of Oz") before the events of that story. It is based on the book "Wicked; The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West". The story line is very well-done and is filled with subtle and clever references to the "Wizard of Oz" story.

In addition, the events depicted in the early life of the Wicked Witch are very well done and, of course, the quality of the music, singing and dancing are absolutely first rate. Idena Menzel, who plays the Wicked Witch in London (and won a Tony for the role on Broadway) was fantastic. The Good Witch, Glinda, also figures in the story (the two witches are school friends as young girls) and is played very well by Helen Dallimore. The sets and staging were up to the highest standards of the British stage -- a great all-around production.

No pictures are allowed in theaters, so the graphic above is from the program.

By the way, our London theater total is now at 76; we love the half-price ticket booth!