Many looking forward to film adaptation of popular musical
By Eva D. Coleman
Lifestyle & Culture Editor
The amount of exposure and number of people looking forward to the “Wicked” movie is astounding. With numerous themes throughout, viewers should notice the many parallels of privilege and good versus evil based on the color of one’s skin that’s rampant in our present lives.
The movie begins with a celebration of the death of the Wicked Witch of the West. Seeing the smiles and joy related to one’s demise, including a burning effigy, historically seems eerily familiar.
From birth, Elphaba, masterfully played by Cynthia Erivo, is seen as sinister and evil, simply based on the color of her skin. Sound familiar, again?
From mistreatment, gasps and more due to the predicament, curse or blessing (whichever you choose) of being green, internal strife becomes evident for Elphaba, yet there are multiple tender moments of good revealed from her character. It’s a sad case of how others treat you for being different, notwithstanding your abilities and talent; yet when they see your life has value, it’s embraced and exploited in a manipulative fashion. Being used and abused is wicked.
Ariana Grande’s character, Galinda, who becomes Glinda, is fair skinned with long, blonde hair. She desires a power and gift that she doesn’t have, however is propelled into an opportunity to gain training and preparedness by the very one people express so much disdain for. Yes, that’s familiar too. She has all the friends, fancy clothes, nice things, gets the guy… fill in the rest. After being forced to share living quarters with Elphaba, she “comes to her rescue” by befriending her as a “project.”
Erivo and Grande’s performances are great. The relevance of the timing of this film with its pink and green connotations is starkly vivid as members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, whose colors are pink and green, are giddy at its release.
There have been special, exclusive screenings for members of the sorority, of which Cynthia Erivo is an honorary member. Nearly 300 members attended a screening hosted by Xfinity/Universal on Nov. 18, 2024 at Regal Marquee theater in Houston, Texas.
Members and many others are still grappling with the recent defeat of one of their most “popular” members, Vice President Kamala Harris, in her bid for President of the United States. “Popular” happens to be a song from the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical “Wicked” and is performed in the film as well.
Many familiar with the musical will no doubt compare it to the film adaptation. The beauty on screen and character development makes the one thought to be “Wicked” not so wicked at all. The wicked ways are actually exposed by all others.
This is part one, with part two scheduled to be released in November 2025. It ends as a cliffhanger, such as sentimentally felt by many in our country. Yes, beyond Oz, something wicked this way comes… We must all wait and see.
