wicked themes characters

8/6/2019 WICKED Themes Characters

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WIcKed cHaracters

AmandaHarrisonasElphaba.PhotoofAustralianProductionbyJeffBusby.

S

elect fro the 38 ea character greor maure (htt://.ucalchartz.co/

ced-aure.ht) ovel WickeD, the rter ofWickeD, the ucal, decded to focu ther ho

o eht e character, lu a fe other ad the eeble.

elPHaBa(cae lhe), the ree rl ho becoe the wced wtch of the wet.

r: She hails rom Munchkinland.

Quote: Im the other daughter, Elphaba. Im beautiully tragic.

phlooh: Nobody in all o Oz, no Wizard that there is or was, is ever gonna bring me down.

WickeD novelist Gregory Maguire invented the witchs name Elphaba based on the name or the author oThe Wizard of Oz.

L. F(rank) B(aum). L-F-B = Elphaba.

The frst thing you notice about Elphaba is her skin colour an unconventional shade o green. Somewhat stubborn, she is a

strong character o high moral standing and is not araid to stand up or what she believes is right and r ise above any taunts she

may receive. Elphaba is a naturally good judge o character and has a caring nature, revealed through her love o animals and the

support she gives to her sister, Nessarose, a wheelchair user. She is a brilliant student with a rather exceptional git or magic thatshe tries to hide.

Although Elphaba is the eldest daughter o the Governor o Munchkinland, she knows that her green complexion will make it

impossible or her to ever take over the role o Governor. That role will be reserved or her athers avourite her younger sister

Nessarose. Elphabas origins are shrouded in mystery, but we do know that her mother received a strange visitor beore she was

born. At Shiz University, Elphaba was a brilliant student with magical gits that she tried to hide. Because o her green skin, the

students, including her roommate, Galinda, shunned her. Elphabas momentous meeting with The Wizard in the Emerald City set

her on the ateul path whereby she became wicked.

In both the novel and musical, Elphaba is the intense, broody, smart heroine who oten carries a sense o burden o her oddness.

In the musical we meet Elphaba or a moment as a baby and then as a teenager. She would like it i Ozians could accept her,

setting aside their prejudice or her natural hue. Everything changes when she meets Galinda, Fiyero and The Wizard. In her

transition during Deying Gravity, she expresses her new goal and role as someone striving to right the wrongs in Oz.

Aada arro (o la lhaba the

Autrala roducto):

Elphaba is born with emerald green skin and so this

poses many difculties growing up. In her lie she is

aced with ridicule and scorn which causes her to

be very sensitive about being green. She is fercely

intelligent and has a fre inside, qualities that she uses

to protect hersel. She knows a lot about the world and

questions the way things are. This gets her into a lot o

trouble when the Wizard asks her to do something she

fnds abhorrent. She is cast out o society and labelled

The Wicked Witch o the West by the authority o the

land and so she is completely misunderstood. Glinda is

the only riend she ever has, and through this r iendship

they both change or the better. Through Glinda,

Elphaba learns how to love and be loved, and the value

o trust and riendship. Its very exciting to be playing

an amazing, well rounded and exciting character such as

Elphaba. The music is wonderully challenging and completely inspiring.


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meet lhaba for the rt te:

Galinda and all the other students covertly stare at Elphaba. She decides to cut to the chase

eLPhaBaWhat? What are you all looking at? Oh, do I have something in my teeth?

(puts her suitcase down) Alright, fne, we might as well get this over with:

No, Im not seasick; yes, Ive always been green; no, I didnt eat grass as a child

(Elphabas Father wheels on a beautiul young woman in a wheelchair, Nessarose.)

faTher

Elphaba!

eLPhaBa

Oh, and this is my younger sister, Nessarose! As you can see, shes a perectly normal colour.

o read a terve th ida mezel (oral lhaba) about

the character lhaba, o to .ucalchartz.co/record/ezel-terve.ht

C

ostumedesignbySusanHilferty.

PhotoofA

ustralianProductionbyJeffBusby.


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wiCk CAACs Cn...

LucyDurackasGlinda.PhotoofAustralianProductionbyJeffBusby.

glInda/galIndathe blode ho becoe glda the good wtch.

r: Upper Uplands o Gillikan.

Quote: Its good to see me, isnt it?

phlooh: Its all about popular.

Beautiul, popular and privileged, shes a bit o a snob and used to getting everything she wants. Not always as sugary sweet

as her appearance would suggest - she leads the class in making rude remarks about Elphaba and is not araid to use others

to her advantage. She ignores her conscience and is swayed by temptation to join The Wizards administration and elevate

her position in Oz.

Galinda couldnt have had a happier upbringing in the Upper Uplands. She was the ideal o golden girlhood perectly

dressed and poised to which everyone else aspired. At Shiz University, rooming with the artichoke-coloured and bad-

tempered Elphaba, challenged Glindas good will. However, the two eventually became riends then enemies. Glinda

(who changed her name in deerence to Doctor Dillamond, who always mispronounced it) joined orces with The Wizard

and Madame Morrible, who unilaterally declared Elphaba to be wicked. Ultimately, Glinda saw the truth about Elphaba.

Both the novel and musical introduce Glinda as her younger sel, Galinda Upland o the Upper Uplands, a blatantly

sel-centered young blonde. Gregory Maguire dissociated her rom an archetypal good to make her a pretentious

goodie goodie. The musicals writers juxtaposed the two women who were superfcially bad (or misft) and good but

underneath, were nearly the opposite, until Glinda evolves as a person.

UCy UACk (o la galda/glda

the Autrala roducto):

Galinda, later to become Glinda the Good, has

led a sheltered and lovely lie where she is the most

special, pretty and popular person she knows, and

Im sure has been told this by all around her. Shebelieves in good and people respond to her in a

very strong way without her having to do much. I

think its important to remember that she is always

trying to do good, she just sometimes has a strange

way o going about it. She initially has a tendency to

get carried away with the un, rivilous, privileged

and shallow liestyle she is able to live and doesnt

yet understand true goodness. She arrives at Shiz

having never had to think much about where her

actions might leave her or those around her. Glinda

eels a strange sense o loathing toward Elphaba

when she frst meets her, I think partly due to jealousy o the

attention Elphaba gets and also or the act that Elphaba has real magical powers whilst, apart rom important social powers,

Glinda does not, I also think its perhaps a subconcious thing as it is a time o change in the conciousness o Glinda, she is

beginning a journey o sel discovery, responsibility and what it really means to be good. Through her amazing r iendship

with Elphaba, she opens hersel up to a lot more o what lie has to oer, the good and the bad and she eventually harnesses

her natural git o popularity to take responsiblilty and really look ater the citizens o Oz as best she can. Glinda is an

extremely multi aceted and well written character, making her a constant joy to play as there is always something new to

learn about her and Im always kept happily challenged.


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Co

stumedesignbySusanHilferty.

PhotoofA

ustralianProductionbyJeffBusby.

meet galda for the rt te:

SoMeBodY iN The CroWd

Look! Its Glinda!Glinda, resplendent and beautiul in her white gown and tiara,

descends rom on high on a mechanical creation that spews soap

bubbles as the Celebrants point and cheer.

VarioUS faNaTiCS

Is it really her? It is, its her! Glinda! We love yeeew, Glindaaaaa!

GLiNda

Its good to see me, isnt it?

FAnAiCs

(shrieks) Yes!

GLiNda

No need to respond; that was rhetorical. (She smiles down at them)

o read a terve th krt Cheoeth (oral glda) about

the character glda, o to .ucalchartz.co/record/cheoeth


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tHe WIzard

r: Unclear. The Wizard came to Oz in a great balloon rom another world. He is oten heard to mutter Kansas under

his breath.

Quote: Everyone deserves a chance to y.

phlooh: Where Im rom we believe all sorts o things that arent true. We call it history.

Elevated with little qualifcation or exper ience to the revered position o The Wonderul Wizard o Oz, The Wizard craves

admiration and glory. Calculating and manipulative, his politics might be more accurately described as smoke and mirrors. He stirs

up ear amongst the citizens o Oz, who look to him or security and hold him in higher regard than he deserves.

Not a lot is known o The Wizards lie beore he came to Oz by hot-air balloon, but once here, he certainly made an impression.

The Wizard added showbiz panache to the Emerald City and started restricting Animal rights. Crossing paths with Elphaba was the

beginning o The Wizards downall. Exploiting The Grimmerieand Elphabas magic powers, he tricked her into giving his monkey

servant, Chistery, wings.

B nwn (o la he wzard theAutrala roducto):

This is the third time I have played the Wizard I

played it twice in Wizard of Oz.

WickeD is a dierent show with more light and

shade, and because o this, the character itsel has

many colours. He is a lovable wizard but theres

more to him than weve ever seen beore.

In WickeD, the Wizard has much more bi-play

with Glinda and Elphaba, and that helps to defne

the character o the wizard much more than how

he has been seen in previous productions.

lhaba eet he wzard for the rt te:

(Elphaba and Glinda walk down a hallway. They

round a corner and stop dead in their tracks, seeing

AN ENORMOUS HEAD, on a jewelled encrusted

throne.)

A

I .. am .. Oz. The Great and Terrible. Who are you, and why do you seek me?

A

Oh, is that you, Elphaba? I didnt realise

AND WITH AN ODD, MECHANISED SOUND, THE HEAD dissolves, and out rom behind the head steps THE WIZARD.

o read ore about Joel gre (the oral wzard) ad lrc to he wzard o,o to .ucalchartz.co/record/re.ht

wiCk CAACs Cn...

BertNewtonasTheWizard.PhotoofAustralianProductionbyJeffBusby

.

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RobMillsasFiyero.PhotoofAustralian

ProductionbyJeffBusby.

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FIyero, a hadoe rce, fello tudet,ad love teret.

r:Winkie Country.

Quote: I happen to be genuinely sel-absorbed and

deeply shallow.

phlooh: Dancing through lie, skimming the

surace, gliding where tur is smooth. Lies more painless

or the brainless. Why think too hard when its so soothing

dancing through lie

Fiyero is a handsome Winkie prince without a care in the world, except or himsel and having un. Hes had it easy in lie, usually

gets what he wants and can get away with anything. On the surace hes very shallow but Elphaba reveals a much deeper, thoughtul

side, allowing him to realise what he truly wants in lie.

The Winkies inhabit one o the regions o Oz (as in Frank Baums original). When he came to Shiz University, Fiyero brought his

scandalous reputation or being a pleasure-loving playboy always getting booted out o schools. However, his lie is changed by anuneasy riendship with Elphaba, then his reluctant alliance with The Wizard and tentative engagement to Glinda. Ultimately, when it

comes to choosing between Glinda and Elphaba, Fiyero gets serious and makes a risky decision.

B mis (o la Fero the Autrala roducto):

Fiyero is the young charming prince (as in most airy tales), however he goes through a great character change throughout the

show, as with all the wonderul characters o Oz. A young careree Millsy certainly can relate to the character, in the beginning,

Fiyeros Dancing Through Lie is all about cruising through lie and not taking chances. Those who dont try, never look oolish

epitomises his state o mind. As time passes, Fiyeros emotional change is one any young person can relate to - including mysel,

developing greater maturity and fnding out what is most important to you in lie, and we see him standing up or the things he

believes in.

madame morrIBle, the headtre at

shz Uvert.r: Unknown Madame Morribles origins are

shrouded in lies and secrecy.

Quote: Weather is my specialty.

phlooh: Never apologise or talent! Talent is a git!

And that is my special talent, encouraging talent.

When we frst meet her, Madame Morrible is the

Headmistress at Shiz University. There, shes an eccentric but

likeable mother-fgure to the students. She teaches sorcery

to Galinda and Elphaba. However, Madame Morrible makes

a startling career move when she becomes The Wizards

press secretary. She amasses great power, which, o course, she abuses mightily. Part o Madame Morribles diabolical propagandisingincludes labelling Elphaba wicked.

In the musical, her talents in sorcery are rather limited, although she recognises talent in others. She doesnt inuence the ate o the

three witches in the musical in the same way as she does in the novel. She pursues her connections with Ozs chie. Her misuse o

power is her undoing. Morrible is the only classic villain in this musical tale. Carol Kane who played Madame Morrible on Broadway,

bows at the end o a WickeD perormance.

mAggi kikpAiCk (o la madae morrble the Autrala roducto):

Playing Madame Morrible is probably one o the more complex roles in musical theatre where roles/characters tend to be one

dimensional. Morrible is not all that she seems; we frst see her as a airly pleasant, bossy Headmistress, Head o Sorcery, at Shiz

University. She hersel has limited powers but is desperate to fnd other people with powers that she can manipulate, so in that regard,

she is a manipulative person, highly ambitious and seeking great power or hersel and or The Wizard. So when Elphaba comes along

with her extraordinary power, she is determined to harness it to use it or her own good or evil. Morrible is terribly limited in her

own magical powers, she can control the weather but, thats about it and perhaps a ew spells in the groomery. She changes rom

being a relatively pleasant person in the beginning to becoming quieter, stronger and not so much evil as highly manipulative o

Glinda in the Second Act, leading to her down all.MaggieKirkpatrickasMadameMorrible.PhotoofAustralianProduc

tionbyJeffBusby.


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wiCk CAACs Cn...

34RodneyDobsonasDoctorD

illamond.PhotoofAustralianProductionbyJeffBusby.

Jam

esSmithasBoq.PhotoofAustralianProductionbyJe

ffBusby.

Boq, a uuuall tall much th ee ol forgalda/glda.

r: Munchkinland.

Quote: I know Im just a mere Munchkin. But even a

Munchkin has eelings.

phlooh: I lost my heart to Glinda the frst time I

saw her.

He attends Shiz University, where he alls hopelessly in

love with Galinda. Galinda barely knows he exists. Socially

ambitious Munchkins married into height. As a avour or

Galinda, or whom he would do anything, Boq escorts

Elphabas wheelchair-bound sister, Nessarose, to the

Ozdust ballroom dance. Nessarose mistakenly thinks Boq is

in love with her. When Nessarose becomes the Governor

o Munchkinland, she retains Boq as a manservant. His lie

is utterly changed when Elphaba comes back to visit. Boq,

along with Fiyero and the lion cub, provide one o the

signifcant links back to the original story oThe Wizard of Oz.

JAms smi (o la the Boq the Autrala roducto):

Boq is a quirky munchkin who is absolutely in love with Galinda, unortunately or him, she doesnt eel the same way, so she

tries to set him up with Nessarose (Elphabas sister). Nessa ends up alling in love with him and enslaves him when she becomes the

governor o Munchkinland. Boq has two sides; in the frst act he is a happy, easy-going, lovable, riendly character, this changes in

the second act where he becomes bitter and angry and resentul. For me, being able to play these two dierent emotions with the

one character is both challenging and un.

doctor dIllamond, a rofeor at shz Uvert ho a tal goat, ad oeoelhaba befred.

r: Doctor Dillamond is a goat, but he is an Animal a sentient being not unlike you or I.

Quote: Something bad is happening in Oz.

phlooh: Animals should be seen and not heard not.

Doctor Dillamond is a respected historian at Shiz University. He is a passionate civil rights deender, yet even he alls beore the

repressive policies o The Wizard who has convinced the people o Oz that allowing animals to talk and enjoy social equality is a

national danger.

Doctor Dillamond is WickeDs main Animal representative and its most passionate civil rights deender. Unlike most o the other

Animals represented in the production (an Antelope midwie, a Rat waiter and Monkey servants), Doctor Dillamond occupies

a position o authority as a respected historian at Shiz University. Yet, even he alls beore the

repressive policies o The Wizard, who has convinced Ozians that allowing Animals to

talk and enjoy social equality is a national danger. The best way to bring olks

together, The Wizard says ominously, is to give them a really good enemy.

In Gregory Maguires novel, this political tragedy is elaborated more ully,

and the parallel between Animal subjugation in Oz and the reality

o human persecution is more pronounced. However, in

WickeD, the Animal subplot is extremely important;

it supplies Elphaba with her motivation to oppose The

Wizard and it gives the antasy world o Oz a gritty and

thought-provoking new dimension.

ny Bsn (o la octor

llaod the Autrala roducto):

Doctor Dillamond shares a passion or knowledge and

truth with Elphaba, and in WickeD, triggers her journey

to protect animal rights. However, he becomes oppressed

by the powers that be and represents the oppressed in the

modern world.


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nessarose, the wtch vald ter.

r: Munchkinland.

Quote: You (Elphaba) y around Oz trying to rescue

Animals youve never even met and not once have

you ever thought to use your power to rescue me.

phlooh: Alone and loveless here, with just the girl

in the mirror. Just her and me the Wicked Witch o

the East! We deserve each other

Nessarose Thropp is Elphabas sister. Gregory Maguire

named her ater Virginia Wool s sister Vanessa, known

as Nessa. She is the tragically beautiul daughter

o the Governor o Munchkinland. Because her older

sister, Elphaba, was born green, her mother chewed

too many milk owers to ensure a dermatologically correct second baby. Unortunately, Nessarose was born with deormed legs.

Still, Nessarose is her athers avourite; he gives her beautiul silver slippers when she goes to Shiz. At school, Nessarose becomes

convinced that Boq loves her because Galinda tells Boq to pay attention to her. Later in lie, when she becomes the cruel and

reclusive Governor o Munchkinland, Nessarose crosses paths with her sister, now the Wicked Witch o the West. She learns the

power oThe Grimmerieand becomes The Wicked Witch o the East who is killed when Dorothys house rom Kansas alls

on her.

pe mcnaee (o la nearoe the Autrala roducto):

Nessarose is the wheelchair-bound younger sister o Elphaba. Her journey in WickeD is an extreme one, beginning as a shy,

sweet girl constantly battling with sympathy or her sister and rustration at Elphabas embarrassing and extreme behaviour. Nessa

alls in love with the munchkin character Boq, who leads her to believe he also loves her. However, she soon learns that he is only

trying to prove his loyalty and love to Glinda. By the time Nessa comes to understand that Boq is actually in love with Glinda, her

bitterness and rage overcomes her and she loses the two people she loves the most.

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PennyMcNameeasNessarose.PhotoofAus

tralianProductionbyJeffBusby.

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