Wicked

i've never heard of it...what's it about?

It is a Wizard of Oz tale, from the Wicked Witch of the West's point of view.
It's based on the novel by Gregory Maguire "The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West".

The story is written as a prelude to L. Frank Baum's classic book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It is more heavily influenced by the book than the iconic 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz, which differs from the book in a number of ways. Set in the days prior to Dorothy's arrival from Kansas, Wicked explores the idea that the infamous antagonist we call the Wicked Witch of the West was a misconstrued, victimized person. Her alleged wickedness was merely retaliation against a charlatan wizard's corrupt government.

At Shiz University, the intelligent green-skinned teenager, Elphaba Thropp, meets beautiful and ambitious Galinda Upland (who changes her name to Glinda during the course of the play and later becomes Glinda the Good) when the two become roommates. Their lives intertwine, and throughout the show their friendship struggles to endure extreme personality differences, opposing viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, and of course Elphaba's eventual tragic fall from grace.

Act One
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.


The show starts off with Glinda descending from the sky in a bubble, giving the citizens of Oz good news of the death of The Wicked Witch of the West ("No One Mourns the Wicked"). Glinda reveals the story of the Witch's childhood: ostensibly the daughter of the governor of Munchkinland, she was the product of a tryst between her mother and a traveling salesman, born with green skin because the salesman gave her mother a drink called Green Elixir in order to seduce her. Upon seeing the child's weird color, her father immediately rejected her.

Glinda then takes us back to when she was a student named Galinda Upland, just entering college ("Dear Old Shiz"). Here she first meets the Witch, a green-skinned girl named Elphaba, and her crippled yet spoiled sister, Nessarose. Elphaba's father gives Nessarose a pair of silver shoes as a parting gift, yet Elphaba is given nothing. Madame Morrible arrives to greet the new students. During a confusion with room assignments, Elphaba and Galinda end up rooming with each other, and Madame Morrible discovers that Elphaba has amazing natural magical talent. She tells Elphaba that the girl could end up at the top if she "makes good" ("The Wizard and I").

Galinda is disgruntled, both because of the weirdness of her new roommate and because Elphaba was accepted into the sorcery seminar, even though Galinda was keen on studying it. The rift between them deepens, and Elphaba and Galinda quickly reveal their mutual loathing of each other ("What Is This Feeling?").

Elphaba and Galinda's history class is disrupted when Doctor Dillamond, a kindly Goat ("Animals" starting with a Capital Letter are sentient, speaking beings) and college professor, discovers a derogatory message directed at Animals on the blackboard. Elphaba stays behind after class, and Doctor Dillamond reveals to Elphaba that things in Oz aren't as they seem -- something is causing the Animals of Oz to lose their powers of speech and intelligence ("Something Bad").

Shortly after, a Winkie prince (with a "scandalacious" reputation) named Fiyero shows up at Shiz. He teaches the students his life philosophy, which is all about living only for the moment and having fun ("Dancing Through Life"). The students have a dance at the Ozdust Ballroom. An abnormally tall munchkin named Boq (who is still shorter than everyone else) attempts to ask Galinda to go to the dance with him, but Galinda, whose mind is set on Fiyero, gets him out of her way by convincing him to ask Nessarose to the dance instead. Boq agrees, but only because he has a terrible crush on Galinda and wants to impress her.

Nessarose tells Elphaba of her excitement at being asked on a date and her gratitude towards Galinda, who made it all happen. Suspicious of her roommate's motives, Elphaba confronts Galinda, who suddenly gives her a peaked black hat to wear to the party. Thinking that her roommate means well and might not be so cold-hearted after all, Elphaba takes the hat.

At the dance, Fiyero and Galinda kiss. When Boq sees this, he tries to tell Nessarose the real reason he asked her out, but he doesn't have the heart to do so.

Madame Morrible arrives at the ballroom to tell Galinda that Elphaba has insisted her roommate be included in the sorcery seminar. Galinda begins to have second thoughts about her treatment of Elphaba, who soon arrives at the ballroom wearing the black hat and is immediately the laughingstock of the ballroom. Realizing that the hat was just a cruel joke, Elphaba nonetheless steps onto the dance floor, wearing the hat confidently, and begins to dance all alone with no music. Fiyero is struck by Elphaba's bravery and nonchalant attitude, while Galinda feels incredibly guilty for what she did. She goes out to dance alongside Elphaba, with all the students eventually following suit.

After the dance, Galinda has a new affection for Elphaba. Galinda decides to make Elphaba her newest "project" and give her a makeover ("Popular").


The next day, Doctor Dillamond is taken away by Ozian officials as he yells to his students that they're "not being told the whole story." The new history teacher arrives to explain Oz's newest invention, the cage, and unveils a caged Lion cub as the subject of an in-class experiment. Filled with outrage, Elphaba uncontrollably causes the entire class except for Fiyero to go into involuntary gyrations, and the two of them take the Lion cub away. As they set the cub free, Elphaba and Fiyero silently admit that they might have feelings for each other, but Fiyero is embarrassed and leaves. As rain begins to fall, Elphaba takes shelter under a bridge, thinking about how impossible it would be for Fiyero to love her ("I'm Not That Girl"). Madame Morrible eventually finds Elphaba, stops the storm with her magic, and announces that Elphaba has been officially given an audience by the Wizard in the Emerald City.

Galinda and Fiyero come to the train station to see Elphaba off. Galinda tries desperately to impress Fiyero -- whose attention has lately turned to Elphaba -- and declares she will change her name to Glinda in honor of Dr. Dillamond's infamous mispronunciation of her name. Her plan fails, as Fiyero does not seem to care. Once he leaves, Elphaba, feeling bad for Glinda, invites her along to the Emerald City.

After enjoying a day of sightseeing in the Emerald City ("One Short Day"), Elphaba and Glinda meet the Wizard, who immediately introduces his true self to them, saying that he wants to make Elphaba his right hand man, so to speak ("A Sentimental Man"). He suggests that, to prove herself, Elphaba should try to give his monkey servant, Chistery, the ability to fly. Madame Morrible, now the Wizard's press secretary, arrives carrying an ancient and immensely powerful sorcery book called the Grimmerie. Looking through the book, Elphaba proceeds to naturally chant out a levitation spell. To their amazement, Chistery grows wings. The Wizard then shows Elphaba how powerful she really is by revealing a giant cage full of winged monkeys.

To Elphaba's horror, Madame Morrible explains that the Wizard had planned this long ago, and that the winged monkeys were to serve as spies for the Wizard to "report any subversive Animal activity." Elphaba realizes that she has been used by the Wizard, who has no real power of his own.


The Wizard tries to apologize to Elphaba and win the girls over, but he only seems to convince Glinda. Enraged, Elphaba steals the Grimmerie and escapes, but the Wizard and Madame Morrible quickly announce to all of Oz that Elphaba is a "wicked witch" who cannot be trusted. With no chance of turning back, Elphaba enchants a broomstick to levitate. She tries to convince Glinda to come with her, vowing that she now knows her destiny, what she is meant to do, and how she will fight the Wizard with every last ounce of strength ("Defying Gravity"). But Glinda is not strong enough to fight the call of popularity and refuses to join Elphaba against the Wizard. The two part as friends, and Elphaba flies away from the Wizard's castle.
[edit] Act Two

A few years later, the rumors have grown and Elphaba is now known as The Wicked Witch of the West ("No One Mourns the Wicked (reprise)"). Glinda, Fiyero, and Madame Morrible - all now government officials - hold a press conference to celebrate Glinda's surprise engagement to Fiyero ("Thank Goodness").

Fiyero is no longer the carefree enthusiast he used to be, and hates what is happening to Elphaba's public reputation. He reluctantly accepts his engagement to Glinda, but abruptly leaves halfway through the ceremony, making Glinda's happiness and glee abruptly succumb to feelings of sadness and discontent. Still, Glinda wears a smile on her face and continues to sing how, ironic as it may be, she "couldn't be happier."
Elphaba (Eden Espinosa) arrives at the governor's mansion seeking refuge from her sister, Nessarose (Jenna Leigh Green). Broadway company. (Photo by Joan Marcus)
Elphaba (Eden Espinosa) arrives at the governor's mansion seeking refuge from her sister, Nessarose (Jenna Leigh Green). Broadway company. (Photo by Joan Marcus)

In the Munchkinland governor's mansion, Nessarose, in an attempt to keep Boq with her, has made him her personal servant. Elphaba appears, seeking refuge. Nessarose is furious with Elphaba for abandoning her, when she had depended on Elphaba for her entire life. Elphaba notices the jeweled shoes Nessarose is wearing, and casts a spell on them. As the shoes glow ruby, Nessarose takes her first steps out of her wheelchair. Thrilled, she calls for Boq, who sees that she no longer needs his assistance and announces that he is leaving once and for all so he may tell Glinda his true feelings for her. In a rage, Nessarose steals the Grimmerie and attempts to cast a spell on Boq so that he will lose his heart to her. But Nessarose is unfamiliar with magic, and Boq's heart instead starts to shrink. Elphaba, desperate to save his life, casts another spell on him so that he is able to live without a heart. Nessarose reflects on just how tyrannical she has become ("The Wicked Witch of the East*"). Elphaba leaves, once again leaving Nessarose alone. Boq wakes up, and Nessa is horrified to see that he is now entirely made of tin. As the horrified Tin Woodsman runs out, Nessarose puts all of the blame on her sister.

Elphaba shows up at the Wizard's chamber to free the flying monkeys. The Wizard attempts to make peace with Elphaba. He urges her to forget her worries and stay to achieve her dreams and become a celebrity, working together with the Wizard to perhaps set things right ("Wonderful"). Elphaba is willing to accept his proposition if he sets the monkeys free. The Wizard happily agrees, but amongst all of the flying monkeys, Elphaba discovers Dr. Dillamond, completely reverted into a simple goat, with his powers of speech and intelligence almost all gone.

Remembering what she stands for, Elphaba rejects the Wizard's offer and tries to escape, but is quickly caught by the royal guards. Fiyero bursts in and gets rid of the guards. He decides that he loves Elphaba and is leaving with her. Glinda sees this, and all of her initial joy at seeing her friend turns to hatred and heartbreak as they run off together. Acting upon her emotions, Glinda suggests to Madame Morrible that they spread a rumor about Nessarose as bait to capture Elphaba. The evil secretary thinks it is a good idea, but decides to take it a step further, saying "a change in the weather" might just be the thing to draw Elphaba from hiding. Glinda retreats to her bedchamber, heartbroken that the two people closest to her in her life have just betrayed her ("I'm Not That Girl," reprise).
Elphaba (Julia Murney) and Fiyero (Sebastian Arcelus) confirm their newfound love. National touring company. (Photo by Joan Marcus)
Elphaba (Julia Murney) and Fiyero (Sebastian Arcelus) confirm their newfound love. National touring company. (Photo by Joan Marcus)

Hidden away in the Great Gillikin Forest, Elphaba and Fiyero confirm their newfound love ("As Long As You're Mine"). However, before they can run off to Fiyero's abandoned "extra" castle in Kiamo Ko, Elphaba hears a wailing in the distance. Instinct tells her that her sister is in danger, and Elphaba sees a house flying through the sky. Elphaba flies off to her sister, leaving Fiyero alone in the forest. The sky goes dark, the wind picks up, and it all suddenly ends with the sound of a loud crash.

In Munchkinland, at the site of the fallen house, Glinda calls down the yellow brick road, bidding Dorothy farewell. Glinda mourns the death of Nessarose, but is quickly interrupted by Elphaba, who is angry that Glinda has given away Nessarose's shoes. Elphaba and Glinda spar verbally and physically when the Wizard's guards arrive and take hold of Elphaba. Fiyero arrives, allowing Elphaba to escape before surrendering himself. Glinda finally accepts that Fiyero loves Elphaba, but despite her protests, the guards take Fiyero, hang him up on poles, and carry him off into a cornfield to be tortured until he tells the guards where Elphaba went.

In the castle at Kiamo Ko, Elphaba, enraged and disillusioned, desperately tries to cast any spell she can to save Fiyero's life. Thinking she has failed yet again, she begins to accept her reputation as "wicked" ("No Good Deed"). Elsewhere in Oz, angry mobs led by Boq and the Cowardly Lion from the history class at Shiz prepare to have a witchhunt and save Dorothy, whom Elphaba has captured ("March of the Witch Hunters"). Glinda, troubled, leaves the scene as Morrible encourages the witch hunters.

Elphaba is becoming increasingly frustrated with Dorothy, who cannot stop crying and will not give up Nessarose's shoes. Glinda shows up to persuade her to let Dorothy go. Elphaba is stubborn, but after receiving a note from one of her monkeys regarding Fiyero, emotionally collapses as she admits that she will surrender because she has failed, and that all her attempts at good and in following her heart are no match for a corrupt world.
Elphaba (Kristy Cates) and Glinda (Stacie Morgain Lewis) say goodbye to each other, affirming their true, deep, friendship. Chicago company. (Photo by Joan Marcus)
Elphaba (Kristy Cates) and Glinda (Stacie Morgain Lewis) say goodbye to each other, affirming their true, deep, friendship. Chicago company. (Photo by Joan Marcus)

She begs Glinda to take charge now, and to leave her in peace so that Glinda can carry on doing good. At this final parting, the two friends say goodbye and affirm their true, deep, friendship ("For Good").

Elphaba and Glinda embrace, but they are quickly interrupted by the mob that is coming after Elphaba. Elphaba tells Glinda to hide, takes a bucket and pulls a curtain across the stage. The audience sees the scene from Glinda's point of view, as the silhouette of Dorothy runs in and throws the bucket of water at Elphaba. With a piercing shriek, Elphaba descends to the floor in a cloud of steam and the room goes dark. Chistery finally opens the curtain and Glinda, not quite sure what has just happened, sees that nothing of Elphaba remains but the hat that Glinda had given her. She cries over the death of her friend, and Chistery hands to her a little green bottle that Elphaba had always carried with her.

Glinda returns to the Wizard's palace, just after he finished his business with Dorothy and her comrades. She shows the Wizard the green bottle, stating that it was Elphaba's mother's, and Glinda had only seen it one other place, which was in a dormitory at college. The Wizard soon realizes that Elphaba was his daughter as the audience realizes he was the mysterious lover who had an affair with Elphaba's mother.

Glinda asks the Wizard to leave Oz, and the Wizard agrees. Madame Morrible tries to dissuade Glinda from doing anything to her. Glinda has her taken into the prisons of the Emerald City. Glinda gets into her bubble and then sets off to face the citizens of Oz, who are now celebrating the death of the Witch as they were at the beginning of the show.

During the finale, Fiyero, now in the form of a certain Scarecrow, knocks on the ground at Kiamo Ko, and opens a trap door. Elphaba, very much alive, emerges from the trap door and embraces her straw-stuffed love. Although their reunion is joyous, Elphaba only wishes that Glinda could know that they are alive.

Fiyero insists that she can never know, and in order for them to be safe, he and Elphaba must leave Oz forever. Glinda, far away, addresses the citizens of Oz from her bubble, proclaiming that she would like to be "Glinda the Good" as she helps them through the difficult times that Oz will go through. Elphaba and Fiyero then leave Oz, beginning a new adventure together as the citizens of Oz sing the final lines ("Finale")

That is SO different from the book....!!! I had no idea.

I've seen it at the Orange County Performing Arts Center and I thought it was the most phenominal musical I have ever seen. At the end of the 1st act I got goosebumps and how powerful the image was of Alphaba flying in the air. I have seen quite a few musicals and this has to be my favorite so far.

hey can you tell me an example in the book of where elphaba is either being stubborn or misunderstood?? thanks!!