My (Very Jewish) Review of Wicked: Part One

Wicked fans, rejoicify! The long-awaited film adaptation is finally here, and holy Shiz it’s good. Actually, it’s perfect.

My mom took me to see Wicked on Broadway in 2005, and we flew to London the following year to see it with the original Elphaba (and tribe member), Idina Menzel. So as a long-time fan of the musical, I understood the gravity of adapting this beloved show for the big screen. The fans deserved a masterpiece—would they mess it up?

After two hours and forty minutes of wide-eyed captivation, I’m thrilled to report that Director Jon M. Chu understood the assignment. In every single frame you can feel just how much they wanted to get it right. Whether in front of the camera or behind, everyone understood how special this story is…because it’s special to them too.

Every aspect of the movie blew me away—the immersive sets, the costumes, the choreography, the cast. Sweet Oz…the cast! To every person who had a hand in making this film—congratulotions. I can hardly be mad we have to wait a year for Part Two.

Some of my highlights:

• What can I possibly say about Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba? She was born to play this role and we, the audience, have been changed for good.

• Ariana Grande is a delightful surprise—she honors the Galinda we’ve always known while making the character her own in lovable (and hilarious) ways.

• Every supporting cast member is perfectly fit, with my personal favorites being Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero and Bowen Yang as Pfannee. Don’t miss those cameos in the Emerald City!  (Hint: there’s more than just the two.)

• Can we talk about the Shiz ensemble choreography with the textbooks in “What Is This Feeling?” It’s a bop that will surely take over the internet with viral recreations, and I’m here for it.

• The chilling dance scene in the Ozdust Ballroom is a pinnacle moment for anyone who’s ever felt they didn’t fit in (hi, it’s me). Elphaba’s raw vulnerability is heart-wrenching, and made all the more poignant by Galinda’s bold solidarity. The birth of their friendship is a monumental payoff worth waiting for.

• “Popular” had me laughing uncontrollably—what a fantastic portrayal of this iconic song. And that little surprise at the end? I loved it.

The author’s collection of Wicked memorabilia from 2005 and 2006/Leah Grossman personal archives

Sharing Wicked with my nine-year-old son was a special kind of l’dor vador (from generation to generation). My mom introduced me to the musical twenty years ago, and now it was my turn to pass it on. We listened to the original cast recording in the weeks leading up to the movie, and every time he asked, “Mom, can we put on Wicked music?” I knew I was doing at least one thing right as a parent. I’m thrilled he loved it and wholeheartedly approve of his takeaways:

Favorite Character: Elphaba

Favorite Song: “Defying Gravity”

Chanukah Request: a LEGO set of the Emerald City train (Your move, LEGO.)

I’m not a cryer, but during an intense moment in “Defying Gravity” the floodgates opened and I sobbed for a full hour. What was it, exactly, that got me? Was it the beauty of Erivo’s vocals? The stunning visuals of the scene? The satisfying confirmation that this movie musical has been realized to perfection? I’m sure all of that contributed to my highly emotional state. But deep down I knew it was something else too.

The connection between Wicked’s themes and the Jewish people are undeniable, and we’ve certainly been aware of those parallels since the story’s inception. The wizard’s oppressive propaganda, the intentional marginalization of the animals, Elphaba’s portrayal as the outcast—a scapegoat painted as the villain who ultimately must fight for her survival…it’s eerily reminiscent of our past. But this time it struck a different chord than it did all those years ago at the Gershwin. This time it carried the weight of our agonizing lived experience since October 7th, our pain blasted front and center across the screen. This time it felt personal in a way it never did before.

History professor Dr. Dillamond says, “We animals are now being blamed for everything that goes wrong.” Sound familiar? (As he was forcefully removed from his classroom, I found it impossible not to think of Columbia University professor Shai Davidai.) And then we have Elphaba, who responds to this injustice with, “Are we all just gonna sit here in silence?” For most people that’s a resounding yes, as we’ve learned quite definitively over the past year. But not for Elphaba. She’s the antihero with moral clarity and the guts to stand up for what’s right, even in the face of extreme adversity. She’s our Lizzy, Noa, Debra, and Aliza. She’s our Jonah, Montana, Yechiel, and Zach, and all the others who’ve chosen to take a stand instead of the easy way out. I was always a fan of the green girl, and now that rings true more than ever. Such braverism, indeed.

So what did I think of Wicked: Part One, the eternal representation of the show that cemented my love of musical theater and left an indelible mark on my formative years?

It’s all I ever wanted and I couldn’t be happier. Thank goodness.

Same time next year, Ozians?

*Author’s note: This was written on opening weekend. Three weeks later, I’m proud to say I’ve never been more right about anything in my life than my prediction that the Shiz textbook choreography would break the internet. Excuse me while I go study Christopher Scott’s tutorial and learn the moves myself…