‘Wicked’ was thrill-ifying.

Hop onto your broom and fly as quickly as possible to see the emerald-green glittering ‘Wicked’ at QPAC’s Lyric Theatre. It’s a stunning production with flawless performances, packed full of laughter and powerful storytelling that will leave you thinking about the power of friendship, reputation, and the notion of truth.

For those unfamiliar with this multi-award-winning show, it’s a prequel to ‘The Wizard of Oz’, telling the tale of how schoolmates Glinda and green-skinned Elphaba came to be known as the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Produced in Australia by John Frost for Crossroads Live Australia, Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone, the show is based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman.

The Australian cast was exceptional. Together, Courtney Monsma as Glinda and Sheridan Adams as Elphaba, were truly unlimited. Their vocals were pristine, their chemistry palpable and their comedic timing superb. Monsma shone throughout, especially bright in ‘Popular’, with her hilarious mannerisms complemented by delightful choreography. Adams shone equally brightly, making ‘Defying Gravity’ her own and impressing with her vocal dynamics in each song. Their duet ‘For Good’ elicited goosebumps. Stunning in its simplicity, the stand-still blocking was a powerful contrast to the elaborate choreography in their previous duets.

Ainsley Melham as Fiyero did not disappoint. Oozing charisma and holding his own against the impressive vocals of his female counterparts, Melham was convincing as the tortured lover, trying to decide between two paths. Comically on point and with impeccable dance skills, he brought a beautiful depth to the character. His duet with Elphaba, ‘As Long As You’re Mine’, was mesmerising, the fire in their chemistry augmented by the smoke effects and simple blocking.

The star power continued through the supporting characters, with the opening night audience cheering as soon as Robyn Nevin’s Madame Morrible and Todd McKenney’s Wizard appeared on stage. These accomplished comedic actors were decidedly human in their wickedness, stealing scenes and laughs whenever they appeared on stage.

Equally convincing in their doomed roles were Adam Murphy as Dr Dillamond, Shewit Belay as Nessarose and Kurtis Papadinis as Boq. There was literally no weakest link in this fantastic cast; everyone seemingly born to play the characters they portrayed.

And what a wonderful production for the ensemble and swings, made up of Christian Ambesi, Conor Bann-Murray, Brittany Carter, Olivia Castagna, Eli Cooper, Matt Cranleigh, Joseph Donovan, Sage Douglas, Bayley John Edmends, Todd Jacobsson, Matt Holly, Rohan Khanna, Andrew Kroenert, Elisha Zion Lee, Jordan Malone, Emily Monsma, Matilda Moran, Jackson Reedman, Amelia Sanzo, Edward Smith, Ksenia Teliatnikova, Lucas Van Rhijn, Jessica Vellucci, Mietta White and Jun Woodfield. With intricate partner-work choreography in the larger numbers, scaffolding and wire-work for the flying monkeys, plus opportunities for solo lines in the ensemble songs, the entire cast was used to their fullest potential. ‘One Short Day’ was one of many numbers that showed how formidable the ensemble was in this production.

The entire creative team should be commended for the overall quality of the show. Direction by Joe Mantello, musical staging by Wayne Cilento, stunning set design by Eugene Lee, evocative lighting design by Kenneth Posner, and spot-on sound design by Tony Meola – each was a piece of the puzzle that transported us to the Emerald City and throughout the magical land of Oz that so many of us remember from the original story.

Projection design by Elaine J Maccarthy was particularly well-used as a flashback to the Wicked Witch of the West scenes of the 1939 film. The set transitions were remarkable: each scene flowed perfectly to the next, fully complementing the singing and dancing on stage, with excellent dance arrangement by James Lynn Abbott.

Exquisite costume design by Susan Hilferty, flamboyant hair and wig design by Tom Watson, detailed makeup design by Joe Dulude II and special effects by Chic Silber were unparalleled. The story was completely brought to life, fully immersing the audience in the experience of Oz.

Everyone deserves a chance to fly into the world of Oz and experience this “thrillifying” story; you will be changed for good.

‘Wicked’ performs until Sunday, 24 November at QPAC’s Lyrics Theatre. For more information visit the ‘Wicked’ website here.

Photos by ByB’rit Creative