Features

I’ve only seen bits and pieces of Wicked on television and missed it when it toured my city. However, knowing that Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth are in it, I knew it was a winner and between the cast album and feedback from family who saw the show confirmed it. Those of us living outside of New York rarely have the opportunity to see the original cast in the role, so this is as close as it gets.

As with most musical soundtracks, it can be challenging to figure out what’s happening just from the songs alone as action and talking occurs between songs. To overcome this, just do a search the Internet for the show’s synopsis. Here’s a short synopsis of the show as explained on the show’s official Web site:

“Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two unlikely friends end up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch makes for the most spellbinding new musical in years.”

After listening to the music, I’m eager to read the book and find another opportunity to see the show. Thankfully, the CD comes with the song lyrics, so those of us with less than perfect hearing can follow better.

It’s rare that I find a new musical that I want to repeatedly listen to its CD. The last CD that accomplished this came out over a decade ago. Wicked has joined my replay list and it’s wicked good! After listening to this, any questions as to why the show won many Tony Awards are answered.

As soon as the music plays, Chenoweth and the Citizens of Oz sing “No One Mourns the Wicked,” which goes back to the scene we all know about from the original story — the wicked witch is dead. The song jumps at you with its striking minor harmonies and grabs you and takes you on a captivating back story of the witches and other Ozian characters.

In “Dear Old Shiz,”Chenoweth and the students sing about Galinda’s (better known as Glinda, the Good Witch of the North in Wizard of Oz) and Elphaba’s (Wicked Witch of the West) school days in which the two witches end up as roommates. They sing of their first impressions and how they loathe each other in “What Is This Feeling?”

Eventually, they become friends and Glinda gives Elphaba a make over to help her become “Popular.” However, Glinda tells Elphaba, “You’ll be popular, just not as quite as popular as me!” This is the best song on the soundtrack with its sharp lyrics and peppy beat. As the soundtrack progresses you learn more and more of the “true?” story of Oz. It’s delightful soundtrack that is easily worth playing many times.

Title: Wicked (2003 Original Broadway Cast)
Label: Decca
ISBN: B0000TB01Y
Date: December 2003
Format: CD
Cover Price: USD: $18.98 Amazon: $13.49