‘Wicked’ elicits erupt-tastic response at Smith Center

By John Katsilometes

Friday, Oct. 10, 2014 | 7:01 p.m.

At the end of Thursday’s matinee performance of “Wicked” at the Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall, the show’s cast was greeted by the requisite standing ovation.

This was another sellout performance, another standing ovation, for a production that typically sells every seat. And the audience members in those seats stand at the end, not out of duty, but because standing is the best way to salute a show that is this great.

But there was an even higher level of adoration for the second of what will be a month’s worth of shows ending Nov. 9.

When co-stars Emma Hunton and Chandra Lee Schwartz, who play the symbiotically characterized roles of witches Elphaba and Glinda, rushed forward for their final bows, the audience exploded.

This was not just polite applause or the touring Broadway production’s version of a dignified golf clap. This was a roaring, rock-star response.

Reams have been written about this show, which even hardened theater experts claim might be the best musical to be produced so far this century. Or, to put it in a more restrained way, the past couple of decades.

The show benefits from universally loved source material — “The Wizard of Oz” story in book and film form. The images used are entirely familiar: The primary characters, the hat, the broom, those ruby-red shoes.

But “Wicked” turns that story of Dorothy and her fanciful visit to the Land of Oz entirely on its head. One day, I’ll take in a performance of “Wicked,” then watch the 1939 film classic to see how it all matches. Maybe I’ll dial up Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” during the film, too, for full sensory overload.

But “Wicked” is not just a sidecar to the original.

This is a slyly written, cleverly executed story that repeatedly but deftly hints to the great movie.

Many of Glinda’s lines are funny on multiple levels: “Let the little girl go and that poor little dog, Dodo,” and, as she waves toward the unseen characters walking down the yellow brick road, “That’s right, you just take that one road, the whole time. ... Oh, I hope they don’t get lost. I’m so bad at giving directions.”

Invented words and terms are sprinkled throughout — the banner reading “Congratulotions!” at Glinda’s ill-fated announcement of her engagement to Fiyero. She also comes with “outuendo,” “disrespectation,” “clandestinedly” and “scandalacious.” From Madame Morrible, portrayed by soap opera legend Kim Zimmer, it’s “braverism,” “differentiations” and “thrillifying.”

One of the treats in the touring cast is the actor who plays Oz: Tim Kazurinsky. He was a member of the “Saturday Night Live” cast from 1981-1984, the years when Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo grew to stars on the show.

Kazurinsky appeared as Dr. Jack Badofsky on “Weekend Update,” reciting a series of invented medical conditions: “If you are bitten by Elmer Fudd, you can suffer ‘Waybies,’ and I was once bitten by my former girlfriend and got ‘Ex-Rabies.’” So, somehow it is fitting that Kazurinsky is a key player in this story.

It’s also right that, at the show’s close, the Oz inhabitants sing, “No one mourns the wicked!” That’s right. It’s only joy, from Las Vegas to Oz and everywhere else, for the wonderful story of these sisters.

As Glinda says, just take that one road ...

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