Wicked is a standing production in London, United Kingdom and Coming into it’s 8th year at the Apollo Victoria Theatre the show continues to be a fun and huge musical that pays homage to, and poke fun at, the classic Oz tale – Reviewed by RuddleMatthew at TQSMagazine.co.uk.

Wicked is boldly epic in both plot and presentation: beginning at the end with the Wicked Witch of the West’s death, we flashback to her (Elphaba) birth, school days, and first meeting with Glinda as the musical tracks her rise and fall, revealing the ‘truth’ behind her wicked ways (no prizes for guessing all is not as we’ve been lead to believe).

Louise Dearman (Elphaba) and Gina Beck (Glinda) are the musicals true MVPs and they shine brightest whenever together on stage (‘What is this Feeling?’ showing off both their talents).  While Dearman’s vocals are powerful and soaring, and her Elphaba passionate and defiant, Beck’s vocals (and portrayal of Glinda) are light and fun. Dearman inhabits Elphaba so thoroughly, while Beck’s Glinda is so charmingly air-headed, that the strength of the characters carries the musical alone.

The songs in the first half are universally excellent, giving insight into characters’ personality and emotions while working to the story’s emotional beats, from fist-pumping solos to fun duets. However the songs in the second half do suffer compared to the first, never finding one as fun as ‘Popular’ or with the playful harmonies of ‘What is this Feeling?’ or as strong as ‘Defying Gravity’ (although ‘No Good Deed’ comes close).

But by this point the characters’ actions have come to a head and the plot itself catches up with the Wizard of Oz; seeing the reinterpretations and ‘behind-the-scenes’ moments is thrilling and the less memorable music doesn’t detract from the anticipation in seeing Elphaba and Glinda will resolve their differences.

Read the complete review {Via TQSMagazine.co.uk}

BUY Wicked Apollo Victoria Theatre Tickets for Shows in London.

Wicked West End musical at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, is pleased to announce that the tickets to this smash hit musical are on sale until Saturday 2 November 2013.

From 29 October 2012, Wicked will star: Louise Dearman (Elphaba), Gina Beck (Glinda), Ben Freeman (Fiyero), Louise Plowright (Madame Morrible), Keith Bartlett (The Wizard), Christopher Howell (Doctor Dillamond), Sam Lupton (Boq), Katie Rowley Jones (Nessarose), Hayley Gallivan (Standby Elphaba) and Lucy van Gasse (Standby Glinda).

Wicked is now the 18th longest-running West End musical of all time and recently celebrated its landmark 2500th performance (8 September 2012) and 6th Birthday (27 September 2012). The Olivier and Evening Standard Award-winning London production of the global musical phenomenon has already been seen by almost 5 million theatregoers since its West End premiere in 2006.

Based on the acclaimed novel by Gregory Maguire that re-imagined the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two girls who first meet as sorcery students. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Wicked is based on the best-selling novel, ‘Wicked – The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’, by Gregory Maguire. Wicked is produced by: Marc Platt, Universal Pictures Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. UK Executive Producer: Michael McCabe.

Buy Wicked Apollo Victoria Theatre Tickets Online at discounted prices, Get $10 OFF on Orders of $350 or more by using code AFF$10.

Wicked will welcome Keith Bartlett to the role of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from Monday 30 July at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre.

Keith Bartlett Will Join Wicked at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre

Desmond Barrit will play his final performance as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz on Saturday 7 July. From Monday 9 July until Saturday 28 July, Christopher Howell will play the role.

An acclaimed classical actor, Keith Bartlett will make his West End musical debut in Wicked. He previously starred in Stephen Schwartz’s musical Godspell, as John The Baptist, in Basingstoke in 1998. His many celebrated appearances with the RSC include Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3 and Richard III, as part of ‘The Histories’ season at Stratford-upon-Avon and The Roundhouse, The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest and Pericles. His numerous other theatre credits include, for Headlong: Romeo & Juliet; for Shakespeare’s Globe: King James Bible recital and A New World: A Life of Thomas Paine; for the Donmar Warehouse: A Lie of the Mind, The Front Page and Glengarry Glen Ross; for The National Theatre: Mary Stuart, The Crucible, Piano and Murmuring Judges, and, for Cheek by Jowl: Macbeth, Philoctetes, Twelfth Night, The Tempest and The Cid. His television and film appearances include: Silent Witness, New Tricks, The Bill and Truly Madly Deeply.

Based on the novel by Gregory Maquire, Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman and is directed by Joe Mantello.

Wicked, the smash hit West End musical now in its sixth spellbinding year at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre, is selling tickets until Saturday 27 April 2013. Buy Wicked London GL Tickets Online.

Wicked has increased its booking period by 6 months – tickets are now on sale to 30 April 2011.

Wicked opened at the Apollo Victoria Theatre 27 Sep 2006, following previews from 7 Sep – to reasonable notices from the popular press: THE EVENING STANDARD says, “Remarkable kaleidoscope of magical shocks, surprises and sensations. Wicked works like a dream.”THE INDEPENDENT says, “I enjoyed very little. ” THE GUARDIAN says, “Efficient, knowing and highly professional but more like a piece of industrial product than something that genuinely touches the heart or mind.” THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, “Witty, enjoyable” THE TIMES says, “Songs bang out, along with iffy lyrics and not-so-witty dialogue.”

The London production has been seen by over 2.5 million people and taken in excess of £90 million at the UK Box Office.

There is a new full cast from 29 March 2010, including Rachel Tucker (Elphaba) and Louise Dearman (Glinda), Lewis Bradley (Fiyero to 8 May, then Lee Mead takes over), Julie Legrand (Madame Morrible), Clive Carter (The Wizard), Cassandra Compton (Nessarose), Julian Forsyth (Doctor Dillamond), George Ure (Boq).

Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman.

It is directed by Joe Mantello, scenic design by Eugene Lee, costumes by Susan Hilferty, lighting by Kenneth Posner, sound by Tony Meola, orchestrations by William David Brohn, musical staging by Wayne Cilento and is directed by Joe Mantello.

Two girls meet in the land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, feisty and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very, very popular. Wicked is the story of these two unlikely friends and how they end up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.

Book Tickets to Wicked in Apollo Victoria Theatre, London.