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Wicked: Part 1 - London Premiere
- Rick Baster
- Nov 18, 2024
- 2 min read
I'm still shivering, but my heart is racing. Traveling to London for the premiere of "Wicked: Part 1" has been one of the most intense experiences of my life. The cold was infernal, and the typical London rain didn't let up for a second. The moment I arrived in the city, the trip began magically: stumbling upon the Wicked Christmas tree right in the middle of St. Pancras station was the first sign that London had completely surrendered to the Emerald City.
Seeing Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande up close was a dream; they exude an energy that transcends the screen and you can tell how much this project means to them.
About the film... I'm speechless. As a huge fan of musicals, I've been waiting for something like this for years: a production of this caliber that respects the original material so much but feels so new and fresh. It's a visual marvel from beginning to end. The production design of Shiz and the Emerald City is out of this world, but what truly blows your mind is the chemistry between the cast. Cynthia is the definitive Elphaba, and Ariana as Glinda is an absolute revelation; her voice and comedic timing are flawless.
It had been a long time since I felt this kind of excitement in a movie theater watching a musical. The songs we all love sound bigger than ever, and Jon M. Chu's direction gives it an epic scale that keeps you glued to your seat. It's left a huge mark on me; it's one of those movies I know I'll watch hundreds of times and that will always reveal something new. It was worth every drop of rain and every degree below zero to be among the first to see this masterpiece. The Wicked phenomenon is here, and I'm not ready for it to end! 🫧💎
