Review: Wickedly good performance at the Sunderland Empire
The Sunderland Empire is the self-proclaimed West End of the North East. This was my fourth trip of the year and I am starting to believe the hype.
Wednesday night's performance of Wicked was truly spell-binding. Having been lucky enough to watch it once before at the Apollo Theatre in London, I had high expectations and was not left disappointed.
The cast were fantastic, the orchestra, led by Matthew J. Loughran, lived up to the high bar that had been set by my previous experience. The first-rate set, lighting and special effects truly transported you to Oz.
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I arrived at the theatre in the spitting rain just 15 minutes before showtime and the performance I witnessed made me forget all about the dreary weather outside. Two and a half hours (plus a 20 minute interval) of story-telling primarily through song flew by.
Other than a couple of occasions where the sound crew were ever so slightly late turning on microphones in the first half of the show, there was little to critique.
The laughs were frequent, and often came at the expense of Glinda (played by Sarah O’Connor), specifically at her character's delusion and narcissism. It should be noted that Ms. O'Connor's comedic timing was excellent and the audience were sometimes laughing at her comments, rather than simply the entitled Glinda.
Away from the light-heartedness, there were also serious themes throughout the performance. The acceptance and celebration of difference, or sometimes the lack of it in the world, was touched upon more than once.
What was particularly impressive about this musical was that the main characters could act. This may seem like a low bar for a theatre production, but at some shows I have been to, there is great singing and dancing, but the acting feels forced and sometimes even cringe-worthy.
Of course, some productions avoid this, such as certain Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals where there is virtually no speaking and only singing! Yet, even in a show like this, one could not escape the occasional cheesy moment, for example when Elphaba (played by Laura Pick) says that for the first time in her life, she feels truly "wicked".
While avoiding spoilers, the highlight of the show for me was certainly the enthralling performance of Defying Gravity at the conclusion of the first act. The vocals that are required for this number (while the Wicked Witch is 'flying' in the air) are second to none. One tiny gripe: I wish that the production team had made the vast cloak of Elphaba more visible. It was there, taking up much of the stage, but somewhat difficult to see from my position, presumably due to the lighting at that moment.
If you don't like musicals, don't go to this as it was the headline songs that gave me real goosebumps as I watched in awe. The duets performed by the two protagonists (if that is the right word to describe them...) were truly outstanding. The harmonies were impressive, with sublime accompaniment.
The passion from the orchestra was real, especially their conductor. During one scene in the second act, where a mirrored wardrobe acts as a prop on stage, I could see the reflection of Mr. Loughran as he purposefully waved his baton; his loyal drummers and trombonists played along to match his energy.
The end of the show resulted in one of the more immediate standing ovations that I have witnessed at a musical. A lot of those who weren't on their feet to applaud the ensemble were standing to celebrate the brilliance of the main duo, Elphaba and Glinda, as they appeared at the end of the curtain call, followed by the embrace of a hug.
If you've not seen the show before, treat yourself to a day out at the North East's West End. I got the coach from Middlesbrough bus station up to Sunderland Interchange in under 40 minutes for just a few quid. If you have seen the show before, do it again anyway. I saw it in the London just under five years ago, and seeing it on Wednesday night unlocked so many memories that I didn't know I had.
The production will run at the Sunderland Empire until Sunday October 20. Potential viewers are advised to check midweek performances for best availability, specifically Wednesdays at 2.30pm.