“Wicked: Part One” premiered on Nov. 22, 2024. It follows the plot of the Wicked musical that debuted in October 2003. Jon M. Chu, the movie’s director, called upon Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater, Jeff Goldblum, and other celebrities to help capture the essence of the original musical. They play Elphaba, Glinda, Madame Morrible, Boq Woodman, and the Wizard of Oz, respectively.
Somehow, I forgot the movie was a musical, and the music completely caught me off guard at the beginning. The ensemble was phenomenal.
The musical transition from Oz to Shiz felt magical, although I feel that “Dear Old Shiz” did not need to be a song. Still, seeing the change was impressive, as well as a majority of this movie’s visual effects.
“Defying Gravity” is the final song in the movie and ends the musical’s first act. Yes, the two-hour and 40-minute movie was only the first act of the original musical. While I don’t like that we have to wait a year for the next part, the director made a strong choice when ending the movie with a well-known favorite.
The orchestration in “Defying Gravity” was outstanding. I wish I could be in the room with the ensemble and the conductor, following along and taking notes with a score in hand. Listening from the theater seats, I could feel everything in my chest in the best way possible.
The power of the brass, the fluttering of the winds, and the melodic strings combined with the beautiful harmonies of Erivo and Grande together felt like I was ascending in the air.
The percussion of this song stole the show. The glockenspiel provided a recognizable motif weaving in and out of the music throughout the song (This motif can also be recognized in the strings later). The timpani provided a grand finale for the movie, alongside the lower brass and strings sections. The unpitched percussion, such as the drum kit, provided a solid base for the entire orchestra to follow.
Since I can’t talk about all the songs individually, I’m going to rank them based on instrumentation, [vocal] ensemble, and relevance to the story. All songs will show ratings and explanations, some short and some a little longer.
Being in the theater felt like a surreal experience. As much as I want to watch the musical, I may have to refrain from watching it until next year. For this to be the first time I see “Wicked,” I’m ecstatic to see what comes next.
Jayden Gaskins is a junior in PCA orchestra, PCA theatre, and the Convergence Media program at RNE. He is a writer for The Saber's online publication and a co-host for The Saber's new podcast, "The Saber's Edge," where they take on different areas to see what goes on throughout the school, and even outside of it. He is also in the symphonic South Carolina Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, RNE's interact club, National Honor Society, and Student Government. When he isn't busy, Jayden enjoys composing and listening to music, writing, playing instruments, and taking pictures of nature. In the future, he hopes to go to school for music or drama to pursue a career in education or performance.
