There’s no place like ‘Wicked: One Wonderful Night”

By Antonio Machado Copy Editor Somewhere over at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California, on Nov. 6, the cast of “Wicked” held a prerecorded live music special to celebrate the phenomenon that was the first film and build anticipation for the soon-to-be cultural behemoth “Wicked: For Good.” “Wicked: One Wonderful Night,” which featured cast interviews and skits, brand-new song arrangements performed live, exclusive behind-the-scenes looks into both “Wicked” films, and exclusive snippets of new music featured in the upcoming film, was an absolutely spectacular showcase of why people are so drawn to the world of Oz. There has been an incredible amount of rumor, speculation, innuendo, and “outuendo” about whether or not the leading ladies actually sang live on set, but Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who star in the film as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, reminded audiences that they were cast in their once-in-a-lifetime roles because they are once-in-a-lifetime talents. Accompanied by a 37-piece live orchestra led by Stephen Oremus, Grande came down in a bubble and immediately dropped the house down with a performance of “No One Mourns the Wicked.” The special reimagined and combined the magic of “Wicked” on the screen and “Wicked” on stage to create a “thrillifying” experience for fans across the globe. Grandiose dance ensembles were accompanied by the stupendously talented cast. Set against the backdrop of a gorgeous Emerald City-themed set with costume changes galore, every aspect of “Wicked: One Wonderful Night” served to create an unforgettable experience. Alongside Jeff Goldblum, who plays the Wizard, Erivo took to the stage to perform a stripped-down jazz standard rendition of “The Wizard and I” - that is until the dancers come in and we are transported back to the confines of Shiz. In between performances were a combination of prerecorded sketch comedy skits and interviews. Most of them were incredibly corny filler, at times infuriatingly so, but they at least gave some perspective into cast dynamics. The mockumentary-style interview where the cast were asked things they had stolen from set was a definite highlight, mostly due to Goldblum’s off-kilter, kooky style of comedy. The audition tape fake-out was particularly annoying, although it did elicit a giggle. Notably, these comedic bits are not what audiences came for - they were watching for the music, and the music was delivered tenfold. A medley of “What Is This Feeling?” “Dear Old Shiz,” and concepts of “Sentimental Man” absolutely stopped the show. It’s insane how Erivo and Grande sound both exactly like the studio version and simultaneously much better than it - star doesn’t begin to describe how brightly they shine in this. In an interview with Evan Ross Katz for his podcast, “Shut Up Evan,” Grande detailed that the “Wicked” team wanted to approach the press tour for the second film differently, focusing more on fan experience, which is why they chose to hold a concert. So naturally, Grande used the opportunity to makeover a 4-year-old fan, Remington, in her performance of “Popular.” It’s hard to gauge who, between Remington and Grande, was funnier, but their combined charm made for a beautiful cushion for what was to come. Grande and Erivo performed their rendition of the musical’s closing track, “For Good,” at the Gershwin Theater in New York City. And, with an unexpected twister of fate, they were joined by Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, the originators of their respective roles. In the absence of People’s Sexiest Man Alive, Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero), ensemble cast members Bowen Yang (Pfannee), Ethan Slater (Boq), and Marissa Bode (Nessarose) all took to the stage to “scandalociously” perform “Dancing Through Life,” and they rocked it! Before previews of the new upcoming original ballads “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble” played, Michelle Yeoh (Madame Morrible) presented Grande as she performed a never-before-seen arrangement of “Thank Goodness,” one of Glinda’s most important solos from the second act. Without ever missing a single note, Erivo flew above audiences as she sang “Defying Gravity.” She would’ve easily brought the house down were it not for the closing number, “Get Happy / Happy Days Are Here Again,” one of the most important duets in gay history and one that Grande and Erivo absolutely demolished. “Wicked: One Wonderful Night” was first and foremost an opportunity for the fans to witness the immense talent of the movie’s cast live, but it also serves as an undeniable Emmy Award contender and a great way to spend an evening. So if you care to find me, look to your local AMC Nov. 21 when “Wicked: For Good” releases in theaters. Rating: B+ Thank goodness!