Photo Credits: Betty Smart ‘26
By Aspen Pearson ’28
Staff Writer
“Wicked,” starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-Butera, is a movie adaptation of the classic 2003 Broadway show of the same name, which is itself an adaptation of a 1995 book by Gregory Macguire. It follows the story of Elphaba and how she comes to be known as the Wicked Witch of the West. It explores the concepts of good and “wicked” and what makes someone such a thing. The film’s release was also accompanied by a wild press tour, which generated the viral meme of “holding space” for Defying Gravity, a phrase used in an interview conducted by Mount Holyoke College alum Tracy E. Gilchrist FP ’04 with the film’s two leads. The interview talks about the power of the song’s lyrics, but left many confused about what exactly “holding space” means, and the clip has been edited and recreated countless times online. Wicked currently sits as the highest grossing movie musical of all time, grossing $214.3 million by the end of November.
While the visuals did not achieve the same brightness of color as 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz,” which shares the same fictional setting as Wicked, the colors used were still bold and fantastical. Even though it looked duller, it worked better for the story they were creating, since it was a darker storyline. The cinematography added to the Broadway charm and helped push the story forward. The way the filmmakers chose to do the lighting for Erivo’s character added so many layers of depth to her, from the way her character’s green skin shifted tone based on colors in the scene, to the bold light they used to convey her power. Director Jon M. Chu went above and beyond with the care he put into her story.
Erivo’s depiction of Elphaba was really what sold the entire movie. No word defines her voice other than “powerhouse.” It was rich, emotional and commanding even towards the end. The most amazing part was the fact that Erivo and co-star Grande-Butera both sang all of their songs live on set. Erivos acting was equally as showstopping, and as a viewer, it was easy to root for her. The costumes made for Elphaba were fantastic as well, with many spins on her classic witch outfit, which really helped Erivo shine.
Many fans expected Grande-Butera’s popstar reputation to get in the way of her portrayal of Glinda the Good Witch, but she embodied her character and gave a strong performance. There was so much love and heart she managed to express, even through her character’s selfish exterior. Her soprano singing was impressive, and her performance of the number “Popular” was one of the highlights of the movie. Her acting was clever and funny, and really brought light into the story, which was a perfect contrast with Erivo’s serious performance.
While not one of the two main characters, Jonathan Bailey as Prince Fiyero stole parts of the show. He was equally endearing and alluring. Bailey was able to switch between shallow and self absorbed into caring and thoughtful throughout the film. He added a lot of the charm into the production, and did an amazing job with performances such as in the song “Dancing Through Life.”
There’s still time to catch the magic of “Wicked,” now showing at Tower Theaters in the Village Commons, which offers a student ticket discount for $9.75. Whether you're “holding space” for Defying Gravity, or you’re there to relive the Broadway hit, “Wicked” is a must see. With part two coming out next year, you won't want to miss it!
Leah Dutcher ’28 contributed fact-checking.