MUSICAL: WICKED

Can 4.5 million people be wrong? Well, poorly elected governmental officials and war atrocities aside, surely they’re generally onto something. Since opening in 2003 on Broadway that many bums have filled seats at stage spectacular Wicked, the warts and all back-story of Oz before Dorothy dropped in. Emerald-hued Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West, before the moniker) and Glinda (the Good Witch, who perhaps never really earnt the title at all) meet as teens at a magical boarding school, where talking goats teach history and balls with dashing rich dukes abound. But trouble is afoot in Oz – the Wizard seems a tad corrupt, animals are being vilified, munchkins’ rights cut down (ahem). What is needed is a fallguy; someone to unite the people against. Enter Elphaba, the strange, the unusual, the powerful, “an artichoke who gets steamed up,” about social injustice. But she doesn’t fall easily. She flies, forcing everyone to show their true colours. This is pure, unbridled entertainment. It’s everything a musical should be – popsy, familiar, crammed with eye-candy and with just a sweet an aftertaste. Those 4.5 million are right. This is so, so good.

Until Nov 22, Capitol Theatre, Haymarket, $99.90-119.90 1300 723 038 or ticketmaster.com.au