Philly Welcomes Back Wicked

One of Wicked's key song titles tells us that "No One Mourns the Wicked", and there's certainly little to mourn with this ongoing touring production. While some Broadway blockbusters decide to cut corners when they take the show on the road, Wicked remains the theatrical spectacle that earned it several well-deserved Tony Awards.

The towering sets by Eugene Lee, the lavish costumes by Susan Hilferty and amazing lighting by Kenneth Posner, and the flying monkeys, OZ are among the elements that will delight of the thousands of Philadelphians who will line up to catch this musical that has already extended to September 9^th.

The story is as familiar as any teenage girl will gleefully relate: "Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of OZ; one born green who is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and popular. Wickedtells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Witches of Oz."

Victoria Matlock, who understudied the role, now returns in this tour to wear the green in the leading role of Elphaba. Ms. Matlock, who is strikingly tall and a bit "green giant-ish" at times, handles the role with great insight and quiet comedic timing. She blends beautifully in her duets with both Glinda and Fiyero.  Her solo powerhouse songs such as "Defying Gravity" and "No Good Deed" are a bit restrained, though her diction is near perfect.  Still, she makes this complex role her own.

As Glinda, Christina DeCicco plays the over-the-top blonde bimbo as well as any of her predecessors. Ms. DeCicco captures all the emotions of the character, from the ditsy, self-absorbed debutante personality right to the pain of lost love, lost friend.

Clifton Hall plays the rich college preppy who turns out to be the prince who falls under the spell of Elphaba, but pretty one-dimensionally with little depth. Hall's pop tenor voice does the role justice and he possess an attractive stage presence which pleases the crowd.

The supporting principal cast is exceptionally good. Barbara Tirrell is as "Cruella DeVille" as they get as the backstabbing Madame Morrible. Continuing with the tour as the Wizard, P.J. Benjamin 's "song and dance" delivery is delightful and Deedee Magno-Hall, who plays Elphaba's wheel-chair bound sister Nessarose, blossoms beautifully as she not only finds her legs but a lovely voice.

Wicked's creative team of Stephen Schwartz (composer/lyricist), Winnie Holzman (writer of the book for Wicked) take this familiar story and put a clever spin on it to turn out a musical spectacle that possesses the heart, the brains and the courage to become and remain a magical place for young and old that will continue on as long as that yellow brick road to Oz.

Wicked plays at the Academy of Music, Philadelphia Pa through September 9^th. For tickets and more information visits: www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway or call 215.893.1955.

Photos - 1) Wicked composite courtesy of FrontRowKing.com; 2) and 3) Courtesy of the Kimmel Center - Victoria Matlock and Christina DeCicco