For those of you who have been living under a rock and are unaware of the plot I'll give you a brief run-down. Wicked is the prequel to the much loved classic 'The Wizard of Oz'. The story centres around the two witches, G(a)linda and Elphaba, who at first glance could not be more different. They wind up sharing a room at Shiz University and strike up an unlikely bond - from there we are taken on a journey of love, heartbreak and everything in between.
The casting for this tour could not be more on point. Nikki Davis Jones takes on the role of green girl Elphaba with ease. She brings a lot of spunk to the character and belts out each song more impressively than the last. No Good Deed and the show's 11 o'clock number Defying Gravity were particularity notable. Emily Tierney excels playing the show's other female protagonist - G(a)linda. Humorous from the outset, Tierney really puts her own stamp on the coveted role and, with equally good vocals as her counterpart, these two woman make a killer team. Local boy George Ure gave a spirited performance as lovable munchkin Boq. Ure's portrayal really made you feel for his character and you could tell the audience was lapping up that Scottish accent.
Touring productions are known for being scaled down but this was not the case with Wicked. Everything you would have expected to see from the West End set was present and correct which contributed to bringing the world of Oz alive. The costumes were almost like pieces of art, each one different with quirks that made you feel like you were in another time and place.
I myself am no stranger to Oz, clocking up 8 London viewings, but being in my home town surrounded with excited newbies and repeat attenders alike was thirillifying, and I don't think I was alone in that thought. Although Wicked is sold out in Glasgow you can catch it on two other Scottish dates, all information can be found here.
