MyVillage

Apollo Victoria Theatre

 average from 3 reviews

Apollo Victoria Theatre

17 Wilton Road
London
SW1V 1LG
tel.: 08704000751

Events

     (93) See all»

Wicked (West End)

   Theatre
times: 26 May - 23 Dec 2020 Mon - Sat 7:30 PM; 28 May 2020 - 04 Apr 2020 Wed, Sat 2:30 PM; 30 Oct 2020 2:30 PM; 22 - 23 Dec 2020 2:30 PM; 26 Dec 2020 - 04 Apr 2020 Mon - Wed, Fri, Sat 7:30 PM; 30 Dec 2020 2:30 PM
prices: 15.00 - 60.00

Apollo Victoria Theatre


Review: Wicked

Oh My Oz you have to see this show. This is the best musical theatre for acting, story, set and costumes that I have seen all year. You will not be disappointed; you will be absolutely blown away.

“It’s based on the Wizard of Oz” enthused my friend excitedly as we made our way to Victoria on Halloween night. Mentally reacquainting myself with the film – pinafore dresses (check), tin men and cowardly lions (check), flying monkeys (eeek – check), I soon found out that Wicked in fact tells the other half of the tale.

Based on the excellent Gregory Maguire’s novel, Wicked tells the story of Elphaba, the ‘wicked’ witch of the west. But he tells it from the point of view that she was never really wicked but circumstances were twisted to make it appear so. Such as Elphaba rescues a frightened lion cub from being caged and frees it; later on the lion reappears accusing her of making him cowardly, when she was only just trying to help. Subtle references to the film make for many amusing moments and the storyline is so clever that it is ten out of ten for twisty plotting. Happily the flying monkeys are just as satisfactory alarming as they were in the film!

The actors are incredibly strong in their roles; particularly the leads Idina Menzel (Elphaba) and Helen Dallimore (Glinda). It was great to see Nigel Planer take such obvious delight in playing the Wizard and Miriam Margolyes suitably wicked as Madame Morrible. In fact the whole performance from chorus line upwards is flawless and spectacular, admirably accompanied by the orchestra.

Special mention to the set design and costumes - the set design is amazing; industrial and magical with some great props (the way the wizard appears especially). The costumes are beautiful; in fact most of the chorus looked like they had just stepped out of the clothes shop Monsoon with an added cloak or two.

The film and the musical bring the story of Oz together in a complimentary full circle. It is a wonderful and enthralling show, simply fantastical, as the inhabitants of Oz might say. Go see.
Review by Mandy Carter, MyVillage

Read our interview with Adam Garcia and Helen Dallimore

 

Reviews

     (3) See all»     Write a review
Sydney Bevan   11-06-2008

it was soo great to see wicked it was by far the best theatre production i have seen ever and i have been to many theatre productions. i loved the songs ans the atmoshere when the songs were sung. it was soo great because me and my mates were chuffed to get a tshirt and mug free lol for some reason.it was brilliant, worth every penny and the best theatre production ever!!!

pianomusic   03-11-2007

As a group, Total Vocal had the privilige of front of house seats at the musical Wicked! Total Vocal is an organisation, passionately devoted to the art of singing. In essence, Wicked is a musical that endeavours to provide a background to the story of the Wizard of Oz. ???How this is going to work???? one might speculate upon as they head theatre-wards. The obvious comes to mind but surely, for a musical that has received such a massive following, there must be a few surprises in store you ask yourself!In actual fact, what this tour de force does is turns the concepts of the Wizard of Oz around, questions the original psychological inference that it was built upon and re-examines ones earlier perceptions of the black and the white Witches of Oz. More gently thought provoking than radical, the story encourages the audience to look deeper than the ???black and white??? exterior that initially presents itself and is a common denominator used for many scenes. The simple, yet skilful use of lighting and of colour throughout does more than enough to further coerce the mind into delving deeper and asking such questions as it bathes in a wash of green!As the lights went down, the cast took to the stage and it was immediately evident that we were in for an exceptional performance as Kerry Ellis who plays Elphaba, the green witch, received rapturous applause from the audience. Alongside Elphaba, we are presented with Glinda, the white witch who is cleverly the opposite in every way to her emerald tinted adversary. In contrast to Elphaba???s dark hair and plain appearance, Glinda is blonde, beautiful and radiant. Where Elphaba is either laughed at or petrifies at every corner, Glinda has a magnetism and charm that finds her never short of admirers and friends. ???But are they so different???? we are soon asking ourselves. Have we fallen into the trap and judged too soon? Well predictably so! The two find themselves at loggerheads as Elphaba???s magical prowess is soon noticed by the principal of the school and, much to Glinda???s displeasure, she is invited to be personally tutored by Madame Morrible, the principal of the school who is played so well by Susie Blake. The story continues with Elphaba and Glinda becoming unlikely allies. Throw in a common love interest - and hence a soupcon of rivalry, a sprinkle of politics and a handful of compassion and you have the foundations of the story.The Ozdust ball, with its wonderfully striking black and white costumes is, arguably, the finest visual treat of the whole show, but not only this, it is also a pivotal point in the story. Here, we arrive at the point where Glinda realises that Elphaba cares what people think of her far more than she allows people to see. In that short scene, Glinda dances Elphaba???s awkward and peculiar dance with her, painfully aware of the stares of incredulity from those who, to this point, have held her in such high esteem. At this point, and during the poignant scene that follows we, the audience, see the fusion between the pair that allows the story to move forth......................as the review is rather long, the rest can be read at http://totalvocal.co.uk/Forum/index.php?topic=67.0

kalee15   15-07-2007

Amazing Show1st Showing = 17th February 20072nd Showing = 24th March 20073rd Showing = 14th July 2007After seeing the show the first time, i knew it would not be the end! So i had to go again! Only as i keep going back i get the same feeling again and want to come back. Having Kerry Ellis as the leading part of Elphaba is probably the best thing the show has ever done. Helen Dallimore who was Glinda made the show all that more enjoyable, however has left the show on th 14th July. She will be missed. The whole cast of wicked all look so happy and the songs are just great!I will be seeing the show again some time soon :]

 

Find a Job



Keywords:

i.e. Job title, company

Location:

e.g. London or SW1



[Advanced Search]