What’s it about?

A young outsider is shunned because of her green skin but ends up displaying magical powers and ends up being accepted to university. There she’s shunned but develops a friendship with a popular girl and follows a conscience that leads her to clash with the land’s head of state – the Wizard of Oz. Yes, it’s the origin tale of the wicked witch of the west.

What did we think?

As a big fan of both the novel (except the ending) and the stage musical, I approached the film adaptation with some trepidation. There were questions over casting, how Oz could be bought to life in the modern screen world, whether there would be changes from the hugely popular broadway version, and of course how the singing would measure up to the legendary Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. But it’s with joy in my heart and a smile on my face I report I needn’t have worried.

This new journey into Wicked world is a true joy for fans. Director Jon M Chu has captured the wild colour and fantasy of Frank Baum’s whimsical world in a series of backdrops and sets that simply bounce off the screen. The adaptation is pretty faithful to the stage production with a small addition that will steal the breaths of diehard fans.

The vocals are amazing, the plot and pacing are nearly perfect, and the cast is incredible. And not just the stars Cynthia Orivo and Ariana Grande but the supporting cast is incredible as well. Jonathan Bailey is so charismatic you never feel the slight disdain for a spoilt brat you should feel during the musical.

It’s not quite perfect – while most script additions added to the story, Defying Gravity took almost 15 minutes to get through which was simply too long – but for the dreamers, musical aficionados and Wicked fans, you will leave with an unbearably large grin and an urge to listen to the songs the entire trip home.