Apollo Victoria Theatre

HERE IS WHAT WE SAY ABOUT WICKED:

 OK well let me come straight out with this - I don't like Wicked.  Don't stone me for it, but I'm just not the right 'demographic' for this show, I didn't like the Wizard of Oz and I have never felt like painting myself green. 

I kid you not that the lady sitting in the row in front of me was painted green from head to foot and wore the full Elphaba costume, such was her commitment to the evening.  And I'm sure that if there had been the slightest of problems on stage she would have be up and over the footlights in a wave of the wand.  And such is the mighty power that Wicked has over people - and you either buy in to it, or you don't.

If you do, then a night at the Apollo Victoria Theatre will feel like you've died and gone to heaven, or the Land of Oz to be more precise.  Or in fact Oz before Dorothy arrives to be pedantic.  They even flood the outside of the theatre in green light just to get you in the mood.

I saw the show at the Apollo Victoria Theatre with some American friends to get a more balanced view, as I had a sneaking suspicion of what may be coming my way.  They loved it.  Well they would - they're from Kansas.  No, Colorado actually, but I couldn't resist that.  Now my Colorado farmer was more interested in the mechanics of the show and how the hydraulics worked, but the farmer's wife loved it and sat pretty much spellbound (sic) through the whole thing.

And I guess that is why Wicked has become a modern day stage phenomenon, breaking box office records across the world.  It launched on Broadway in 2004 to mixed reviews but created an immediate and very passionate following, tapping in to a central theme that being different (i.e. a Shrek-like green) doesn't make you any less of a person, and that friendship is a precious and wonderful thing.  Here we are several years later and the momentum of the show's popularity continues unabated.

The catchiness of tunes like 'Popular' are undeniable, and 'Defying Gravity' is a highly charged dramatic piece that echoes 'Just a Piece of Sky' from Yentl some 30 years earlier.  The sets are extraordinary and no expense has been spared in this blockbuster of a musical.

But, you either believe in the magic of Oz, or you don't.  The last act feels rushed with neat bows tied into the storyline to explain where the principal characters from the Wizard of Oz came from and why they were made of straw or tin, or whatever.  Add to that some pretty implausible plot changes (apart from the talking goat) and this juggernaut of a musical comes to a halt just as Dorothy arrives, and voila! now you know why the Wicked Witch of the West was so wicked.

But let's be clear on this.  A musical milestone was created when Wicked opened on Broadway.  It sets a new benchmark of production quality and it talks powerfully to many people who feel its central message strongly.  So strongly that they'll walk through central London in the rush hour dressed as a witch, and its July - now that's powerful!

Audience
There is no content that would offend in this show, but for younger children under 10 it may feel loud and would lose their attention in parts. 

Theatre
The Apollo Victoria Theatre goes all out to make it a 'Wicked' night from the moment you arrive.  The stalls are particularly accessible, but seats on the left and right extremes do miss some of the action.  Mid to rear centre stall of mid dress circle are recommended.  Painting yourself green for the night is purely at the patron's discretion, but you won't be alone if you do.