Anyone who is into musical theatre will have heard of or even seen the musical of Wicked on the stage either on the West End where it currently plays at the Apollo Victoria Theatre or its runs on Broadway and regional theatres around the world.
It tells an untold story of the Wicked Witch of the West when she was just Elphaba and Galinda who becomes the Good Witch of the North. We see the two start as enemies and slowly become friends at Shiz University, long before Dorothy and Toto landed in Oz. The novel that the musical was based on was published by Gregory Maguire in 1995 and based on the original Wonderful Wizard of Oz books by L. Frank Baum and the 1939 film.
The film adaptation of Wicked has been in the works since 2012 and was finally released by Universal in November this year. Actors Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have made headlines for their stunning performances, live vocals and sweet friendship. They have been a part of a few viral moments in the press such as Ariana holding onto Cynthia’s nail and a reporter asking them about ‘holding space for Defying Gravity’, the song at the end of the film.
The film has just received 4 Golden Globe nominations including for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in their roles.
Wicked (2024)
As a musical fan myself, I was very excited to finally see Wicked brought to life on screen. I went to see the film twice with different people as I felt a need to watch it again and take in the spectacle. The production design, visual effects, costumes, props, acting and singing were all outstanding and really put other films to shame with the quality and imagination that went into the creation.
I particularly loved the inclusion of visual effects in the promo of the film with the Visual Effects Supervisor, Pablo Helman and other department members being included in interviews as well as blue screens being visible in promo released for the film. There was a lot of practical and special effects which are to be commended. As someone who has worked on visual effects it was great to see it mentioned when many other films try to hide their use of CGI or VFX.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were perfectly cast for their roles and embodied Elphaba and Galinda with all their mannerisms and tone. Galinda had a great amount of snark and humour as well as being snooty and well-liked. Elphaba was quiet but stood up for the animals and her sister. She takes pride in her talents but feels Galinda and Fiyero are over the top. I love that Elphaba comes from the initials of the author: LFB ( El-ph-buh).
There were so many references to the Wizard of Oz film such as Galinda giving Elphaba her iconic black witch’s hat and cloak. Nessarose wears special silver shoes. The iconic ruby red slippers that Dorothy wears are silver in the original books and Galinda has some red slippers in her closet. When in the Emerald City with the Wizard, Galinda (now Glinda) suggests the Brick Road should be yellow as it is in the Wizard of Oz. We see Glinda visit the Munchkins at the beginning which is actually after the events of the Wizard of Oz film when the Witch has melted.
The songs were a highlight of the film and both Ariana and Cynthia sang live. All of the songs were really amazing with elaborate dance routines and montages and a host of background artists. My favourite songs include: What is This Feeling? where Galinda and Elphaba sing about their loathing for each other after being put in the same room at Shiz; The Wizard and I: Elphaba’s big solo number where she hopes that her life will turn around when meeting the Wizard and of course the finale number, Defying Gravity where Elphaba sings about becoming her true self and not letting anything hold her back anymore featuring Glinda trying to persuade her to stay and prove her innocence.
I am excited to hear the songs in Wicked: Part Two. I have seen the full play on the West End but I don’t remember the songs or much of the story. Hopefully, it will be as magical as the first film.
The ensemble cast all did a great job rounding out the film and I am glad to see people from musical theatre backgrounds get a chance such as Ethan Slater and having wheelchair users play Nessarose both as a child and as the older version was a win for disabled actors. Nessarose becomes the Wicked Witch of the East so I am interested to see how she turns ‘wicked’ as her character is sweet and caring in the first film.
Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero is a character I look forward to seeing more of in the sequel. He has strong charisma and in the film manages to have chemistry with basically every character regardless of gender which was great to see even in a PG as being not just heterosexual shouldn’t be something relegated to more adult themed films.
Overall, I loved the film of Wicked and seeing it on the big screen was a great way to watch it. Next year, hopefully they will be showing double bills with the sequel as it would be great to watch them back to back especially as they were shot in succession. Until then, I will be listening to the soundtrack.
Hard to pick just one but favourite authors are Alice Oseman, Rick Riordan and John Green. Would read anything that they write. My favourite new book is Wolfsong by TJ Klune and my favourite older book is Love Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur. The book I’m reading The Pairing by Casey McQuiston.
The book I wish I had written Solitaire by Alice Oseman.
The book I couldn’t finish Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. The book I’m ashamed I haven’t read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
My favourite film The Day After Tomorrow.
My favourite play Prima Facie starring Jodie Comer.
The box set I’m hooked on Last one was Manifest but currently waiting for the next one.
My favourite TV series Heartstopper, Outnumbered or Doctor Who.
My favourite piece of music The Chain by Fleetwood Mac.
The last film that made me cry We Live in Time starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield.
The lyric I’d wish I’d written Made it out alive, but I think I lost it Said that I was fine, said it from the coffin Remember how I died when you started walking? That’s my life, that’s my life I’ll put up a fight, taking out my earrings Don’t you know the vibe? Don’t you know the feeling? You should spend the night, catch me on your ceiling That’s your prize, that’s your prize
– Gracie Abrams ‘That’s So True’
The instrument I play Piano and previously violin.
The instrument I wish I’d learnt Guitar.
If I could own one painting Yellow Chair by Vincent Van Gogh.
The place I feel happiest On holiday either sun or snow.
The movie I’m looking forward to Avengers: Doomsday.
I wasted an evening watching… Wolfs with George Clooney and Brad Pitt.
The film I walked out on Never happened as an adult but there are a few horrors I haven’t enjoyed.
My guiltiest cultural pleasure Élite – Spanish drama that could rival Riverdale.
Overrated It Ends with Us (film and book).
Underrated My Lady Jane on Amazon Prime. First series was amazing but it didn’t get a second.
As the nights get shorter and we settle into the autumn season, I want to reflect on a film, television programme and play that I enjoyed in September. I must confess that I have not been attending the cinema as regularly as I did earlier in the year but with more to watch on the television and the end of summer lull, there have been slim pickings for my tastes.
However, before the awards season films get started, there have been some gems and I have picked one from each medium to review. My choices are quite varied, all different genres and all I enjoyed for different reasons. Back to Black is a feature length drama chronicling the life and career of Amy Winehouse. It was released in cinemas earlier in the year and was recently added to Netflix in the UK. Starring Marisa Abela (Industry) as Winehouse along with Jack O’Connell (Skins), Eddie Marsan (Sherlock Holmes) and Lesley Manville (The Crown).
Nightsleeper is a six part thriller series that was shown on BBC and still available on BBC IPlayer. It stars Joe Cole (Gangs of London), Alexandra Roach (No Offence) and Sharon Rooney (Barbie) among the talented cast.
Prima Facie, Jodie Comer’s hit one-woman play was on the West End and Broadway in 2022/23 earning her multiple accolades and was recorded for National Theatre Live. It arrived back in cinemas for a limited engagement mid-September where I saw it for the first time.
Film
Back to Black (2024)
This film was met with some controversy by those who knew Amy as it depicted her desire to have a family but those featured generally approved of the story. As opposed to Amy (2015), this film is a dramatised and condensed version of Amy’s rise to success and her up and down relationship with her partner, Blake, her father and addiction. It tells a specific journey through her first record deal and debut album, Frank (2003) and her record-breaking second and final album, Back to Black (2006). We see a focus on her relationship with her grandmother, Cynthia who is her style and singing inspiration; her father, Mitch one of her cheerleaders who turned a blind eye to her addictions and her partner and then husband, Blake.
At the beginning of the film, we see Amy as she is before success: more innocent with a bland boyfriend and living in the utility room at her mother’s house. Her mother, while shown as a supportive parent takes a back seat in the film which seems to suggest that they are not very close due to her limited screen time. This could have been her objections to the film or simply as the relationship was not as interesting or dramatic as Amy’s other relationships.
We see Amy land a record deal with her friend’s help. Her father is very encouraging but Amy is unhappy with the label trying to market her as a pop icon. As she states she is not a Spice Girl. We see snippets of her in LA recording the album but more of the affect it has on her. Her relationship with Blake is shown more in depth from their meeting in a pub playing pool to Amy making her feelings known. Their relationship starts out sweet with a date at London Zoo and spending summer days drinking on Primrose Hill. We see him introduce her to drugs including Class As which she previously would have declined.
After a fight with Blake and subsequent split, we see her record Back to Black with the eponymous song about Blake going back to his ex-girlfriend while Amy didn’t have anyone, especially with her grandmother passing away. She is now sporting her iconic beehive and thick winged eyeliner credited to her love of 1960s bands. Amy is enjoying success and this is of course when Blake comes back and the two wed in Miami. She performs at Glastonbury and at the Grammy’s via web link but after Blake’s arrest and imprisonment, her personal life is once again suffering. The last few years of Amy’s life are not shown but we hear of Blake’s new girlfriend and baby.
Having done more research since watching the film, while it was approved by Amy’s family, critics felt it was a very sanitised version of her life and showed Blake and Mitch in a better light than in real life. We didn’t see much of her friends either apart from one innocent trip to Camden Market even though many of her friends were in the music business. We also did not hear of her other relationships apart from Blake and her boyfriend at the beginning.
Despite these criticisms, I think the film overall was very powerful and gave a side to Amy that many people may have forgotten or not known: her drive and what it took for her to perform. I thought Marisa Abela gave a great performance as Amy. She had great expressions and she portrayed the script that was given well. It was a good drama that highlighted important events of Amy’s life, whether some things were embellished, I am not too sure.
I think fans would like the film and as a film fan, I did enjoy it especially as the actors picked were all very good. It captured a particular moment in music history and it was interesting to see Camden back in the 2000s. I give it 4/5.
Television
Nightsleeper (2024)
I have watched many BBC dramas over the years but Nightsleeper definitely is one of the best I have seen. I actually watched it twice in the space of a week as I needed my family to watch it so we could talk about it. This is not usual for me as I rarely even re-watch films I have enjoyed never mind a six hour long show.
What kept me hooked was the real time jeopardy as the show is set over one evening with one hour being one episode. We have a modern day issue, cyberhacking with a old plot line – will the train stop in time? – and cliffhangers to keep you on the edge of your seat at the end of every episode. I binged four episodes in a row as when I reached the end of the episode, I just had to watch on to find out what would happen.
The show has multiple settings flicking between a train and the National Centre for Cyber Security as well as Victoria Station. The train in question is a night sleeper service between Glasgow and London which is meant to take around six hours from midnight to 6am. At first, we see the characters board the train with a chase through the carriage for a stolen bag. The train is delayed and before its first stop we see that a device has been fitted to take remote control. Former police officer, Joe takes charge and using a satellite phone contacts Abby at the NCCS in Victoria. She delays getting on her holiday flight and with her friend heads back to the office.
After the majority of the passengers disembark at the first stop, the train takes off on its own with a dozen still on board. It’s then a race against the clock to divert the train and find the group behind the hacking. Just when you think you have something figured out, another spanner is thrown in the works and it could be anyone behind it.
I think there was a great array of British talent in the cast with a mix of English, Scottish, Welsh and others in lead roles. We see a chemistry between Joe and Abby despite not sharing a screen and everyone gelled well together. I had a soft spot for Tobi representing younger people and he held his own with his peers. I thought the actor playing Mouse, the only child in the show did well acting with more experienced adults and being the centre of some intense scenes.
Criticisms I have heard for the show are about the cheesy dialogue which I felt in the last episode but overall I thought was natural and the way British people interact with each other, particularly in an unusual situation. No one gave away their roles in the hacking but on my second viewing you can see how the camera work gives clues by cutting to those to whom the dialogue alludes.
If you like typical BBC thrillers or dramas, I would definitely recommend this one and it was better watched at night but start it early as it may be one to binge. I give it 5/5.
Theatre
National Theatre Live: Prima Facie (2022)
This play was on my watchlist for a while simply because of Jodie Comer and her acting talent. I am not sure why I wasn’t aware of it the first time round but when I heard it was coming back to cinemas, I made sure to book a ticket. I vaguely knew that she was a lawyer but I didn’t even know it was a one-woman outing.
The set was really different from anything I have seen on the stage before with a giant wall of folders and minimal staging with two tables, a few chairs and a suitcase of props. Jodie is known for her accent and drama work but the humour she managed to inject into essentially a two hour monologue was not something I expected.
I must confess that the first section confused me as I was not anticipating the continuous stream of dialogue and she was using a lot of legal language but once the story got started I was captivated. There was a short interlude perhaps 45 minutes from the end but no real interval so the play really drew me in. It tells the story of Tess, a successful criminal barrister from the North who has managed to make it into the boys club in London. She frequently defends her male clients accused of sexual assault and is good at her job. She thinks little of the affect her work has on the victims until she starts a dalliance with a colleague. After a tryst at work and one successful date, Tess finds herself becoming a victim of assault from her colleague. Everything she knows goes out of the window and she switches to the place of prosecution and witness.
Even though Jodie was the only actor on stage, she had such a strong presence that I sometimes forgot that she was the only person we ever see. Her continuous monologuing while acting out scenarios painted the picture of all the characters in Tess’ life including her mother, her university friends, her work friends and the police.
The use of the stage was really interesting with Jodie changing costume multiple times and manipulating the furniture to create different spaces. In the darkest part of the story, rain falls on Tess as it does in the story and then a counter adds up the days between the assault and the court case – over 2 years in total. Jodie’s awards for this role were very well deserved and even remembering the amount of dialogue would be a feat but she lent a brevity and seriousness to the role at the appropriate times. While the subject matter is serious, there were funny moments, often conveyed with physical comedy.
If you like theatre or drama in general, I would recommend this show. It may be released on streaming at some point but seeing it on the big screen was a special event. I would give it 5/5.
