‘Wicked’ works its familiar magic at Ovens Auditorium

Every year, someone somewhere reprises the 1939 musical classic “The Wizard of Oz.” High school drama departments and community theaters flock to this production of a young girl, her dog and a host of allegorical friends skipping down a golden path to find answers from a godlike creature who is not at all what he presents himself to be.

Author Winnie Holzman, who adapted Gregory Maguire’s book, used his brilliant idea of delving into less-explored characters to see how evil was born, good was glorified, and wizardry won over an entire village of little people. She and composer Stephen Schwartz created a narrative about these struggles akin to today’s political, racial and religious climate. For the next several weeks, the show makes its home in Charlotte.

Upon entry, you don’t expect to see an oversized mechanical dragon (which truly resembles an angry pterodactyl) hanging high above the stage. Ovens Auditorium is just right for a set layered with decor: curtains that project an illuminated cloth map, a huge floating metal bubble, the inner workings of a clock with all its gears and meters.

Lighting designer Kenneth Posner adds sparkle and shimmer to some scenes while creating somber moods with rich pink and purple sunsets in others. From the beginning, projections by Elaine J. McCarthy blend so well that they’re hardly noticeable and add life.

The show is full of contrasts, primarily between Glinda (Amanda Jane Cooper), who later calls herself Glinda the Good, and future adversary Elphaba (Emily Koch), who eventually becomes the Wicked Witch of the West.

Born an outcast whose skin color is different from everyone else’s, Elphaba is a brilliant student and activist who wears her passion on her sleeve. Her ardor for justice doesn’t stop with humanity; it spills over to all living things, especially Dr. Dillamond (Chad Jennings), her favorite professor at Shiz University – and the only animal on the faculty – who is being mistreated. It is here that her integrity, dedication and selflessness are all tested.

An earnest effort was made for the challenging songs and routines performed by the cast. As the night progressed, many fell into a comfortable rhythm, especially with Elphaba’s rendition of “Defying Gravity” to close the first act.

Glinda is a vintage version of Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde” but also has a quick wit and comedic conscience the audience absolutely adores.

Shallow but sensitive, she befriends Elphaba and subtly Glindafies her to change her eremitic persona. The two sister-like students confide in and cheer for the other but find themselves on opposing ends of the political spectrum. When handsome newcomer Fiyero (Jake Boyd) is thrust into a one-sided romance with one and ends up finding true love with the other, the girls are driven further apart.

“Wicked” is a textbook lesson on trust, decisions, unintended consequences and ideals that will most likely leave you questioning your own moral compass.

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 2:02 PM with the headline "‘Wicked’ works its familiar magic at Ovens Auditorium."