Fun
Commercial
Ambitious
Clever
Entertaining
See it if
You want a clever, ambitious and modern take on a story so integrated into American culture that it's become part of the national DNA.
Don’t see it if
You want memorable songs or lyrics; unlike the terrific visual and conceptual spectacle, most of the score is instantly forgettable.
Revisiting the show several times over the years, it's striking not only how well-maintained this production is — apparently there are daily notes and frequent rehearsals to keep it fresh — but also how well-constructed and intelligent a vehicle it is. Visual and verbal puns, quick theatre in-jokes (the most subtle: Glinda’s second act Evita pose) and layers of physical detail all still work. It's a fine-tuned machine not unlike that referred to in the set design, the mechanical gears and pulleys that underlie the mysteries of Oz.
Though much of the music may still seem a fairly bland wash of similar melodies, the lyrics and book have aged well, revealing unnoticed complexities, but it’s the show’s contribution to the culture and its positive effects — especially to young girls — that is undeniable. A celebration of uniqueness and talent, it shows that it may not be easy being green, but it’s more than ok to be different.
For that, and the amount of employment it provides the theatrical community and district — no stars here, which in a way is as it should be — we wish it a healthy life and an even longer run.
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