The lights dim. The curtain rises. The music beckons. The stage is set. Opening up to the land of Oz. With the scene playing out with a puddle and a witch’s hat.
Wicked recently came to theaters and was a huge success with it reaching close to $500 million dollars in the box office and a $150 Million budget. Students saw, heard, and experienced it for themselves.
“My favorite part of the movie was ‘I’m Not That Girl’ because she killed it; it is the song where she and Fio bump wrists after they saved the baby lion and she is like he could be that boy, but I am not that girl. And I thought visually was really interesting with the lighting design, which throughout the entire movie, I was really into the lighting design. I was super hyped about their use of color and shadows and it was fascinating, Technically this movie was outstanding,” senior Natalie Neufeld said.
Students reasoning for seeing the movie differs from wanting to see the acting cast, or more importantly, Ariana Grande, or the idea of hanging out with friends and family and seeing the film.
“I saw [Wicked] with my mom. I went to see this movie because I saw clips of it on TikTok and Ariana Grande and I was intrigued because she is a queen,” senior Adah Hodge said.
“Wicked,” comes to life on the big screen, keeping true to the story. But within that original and remade story, the viewers see the best and the worst parts of the film.
“It was very long – it was like three hours, and I felt like it was just getting to the actual plotline when it ended. It was a whole lot of plot filler and how it ended with a cliffhanger,” junior Dayali Sanchez said.
The “Wicked” production, on the surface, seems like a childish film, and the film’s description proves that. Underneath the childish wonder of the land of Oz, however, are meaningful and underlying messages throughout the film.
“I mean it is a lot about staying true to yourself the most emotional scene was probably them dancing, and the end where they are connected and do not want to leave each other, but the movie is about staying true to yourself – like Elphaba knows what she wants and is dedicated to her passion, and really caring,” senior Mara Oswald said.
The curtain closes. The lights come on. The music fades out. Well deserved for its enjoyment from the crowd of Newton High and is most likely going to skyrocket when the second part of the movie comes out.
“Do not be mean – it is not cool,” Hodge said.
