For just over 20 years, Norway has avoided the witches in the musical “Wicked”, but now they are here with double power. First on the screen: The film version has its world premiere and will be shown in 140 Norwegian cinemas this weekend. So on stage: Folketeateret in Oslo has launched the first Norwegian “Wicked” production, premiering in March next year. Massive marketing of the film version has colored the feeds of 12-year-old girls – and many of the rest of us – pink and green lately. The film is called “film magic in its purest form” and has been given a roll of 6. The fact that one of the biggest pop stars of our time, Ariana Grande, has a leading role also helps the interest. Ariana has been crying all over the internet for several weeks and told how “Wicked” changed her life. Will it change yours? The “Wicked” phenomenon: a mega musical Wicked means evil. How does evil arise? Lyricist Winnie Holzman and composer Stephen Schwartz contributed to the philosophical discussion with the musical “Wicked”. The show premiered in 2003. According to the Broadway League, only “The Lion King” has recorded more than “Wicked” on Broadway in the last 25 years. SUCCESS: Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel on Broadway. The performance is bigger than “Les Misérables”, “Mamma Mia” and “Beauty and the Beast”, to name a few names on the same street. Photo: JOAN MARCUS / AP “Wicked” has sold over 12 million tickets in London’s West End and has been played all over the world, including Stockholm and Copenhagen – but not here in Norway. Before now. Connoisseurs describe the play as a favorite show of the industry itself: demanding musically, with a playful and different narrative. It’s the first part of “Wicked” in theaters now, part two is coming in November 2025. With a budget of 145 million dollars, director Jon M. Chu has had enough money to spend in the set workshop and sewing room, not to mention in the fields . 9 million poppies were planted to recreate the wonderland of Oz. HIGH BUDGET: A combination of physical scenery and computer animation was used in Oz. Here perhaps most of the latter, on the way to the Emerald City where the Wizard lives. Photo: Universal Pictures But wait…Oz? Heard the name before? Yep – the story in “Wicked” is linked to another classic. It’s just that in this story everything is different. What is it about? “Wicked” is thus the prequel to “The Wizard of Oz”, an American musical and adventure film from 1939. In the original story you meet two witches, one good (“Glinda the good”) and one evil (“The wicked witch of the west». From the movie “The Wizard of Oz”. Photo: MGM / Wikimedia Commons In “Wicked” we learn how it came to be and that the two once had a unique bond. You wouldn’t believe that when they meet for the first time. One wears pink clothes and is popular, the other is green and a bit quirky. Glinda and Elphaba involuntarily become roommates when they start university Shiz. Elphaba is the lone wolf type who always responds sharply, because she expects to be bullied anyway (growing up with green skin has not been easy). Glinda in pink, on the other hand, is very popular and appears to be a mixture of narcissist and benevolent poser. Despite the difference in status, poor personal chemistry and different skin colour, a very special relationship eventually develops between them. FINDING THE TONE: A lot of friction at the start, but then Glinda and Elphaba simply become great friends. For so long. Photo: Universal Pictures But in the middle of a beautiful story about friendship, we know that evil will grow in Elphaba. When someone becomes “evil” on the road, was it perhaps to achieve something good? It is not black and white, let alone pink and green, what and who are really the bad guys and the good guys in Oz. Seeing the world from the “villain’s” perspective felt new and different when “Wicked” came out twenty years ago. Since so much of the story is based on the relationship between Glinda and Elphaba, a lot rests on those who play the main characters. Casting the right actors was crucial for “Wicked” to make the transition to the big screen. How did it go? Well, from the two women who landed “the most coveted roles in Hollywood” there has been an awful lot of crying so far. Why does Wicked evoke such strong emotions? Ariana Grande (Glinda) has been sniffing her way through the extensive launch with her (also tearful) new best friend Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba). The two have gotten several matching tattoos and keep hands at a distance. BESTISER: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have laughed and cried together in countless TV interviews ahead of the launch. Photo: Universal Pictures Reviewers internationally and here at home have praised them to the skies. So where are all the tears coming from? According to Ariana herself: from the child she once was. At the age of nine, she played “The Wizard of Oz” in the children’s theater group at home in Boca Raton, Florida. When Ariana was 10, she saw “Wicked” on Broadway with the original cast and was blown away by Kristin Chenoweth (Glinda) and Idina Menzel (Elphaba). In the podcast “Two sentimental men”, she describes it as “life before and after Wicked”. THE START OF EVERYTHING: Ariana Grande’s first step on the way to pop stardom was precisely a musical. The Broadway debut “13 – The Musical” happened in 2008, when she was 16 years old. Photo: Jim Spellman / Getty Images About fifteen years later, Ariana Grande was on fire to say the least when rumors began to circulate about a Hollywood film version of her life’s biggest cultural experience. As a popular talk show guest, Ariana Grande has entertained with her ability to imitate the voices of other big stars. She is known for having an effortless singing style, it sounds light and airy. Nevertheless, several were skeptical. A pop star with smooth hits and a huge Instagram – could she cope with the acting and the particularly demanding vocals? IT’S GOOD TO SEE ME, ISN’T IT?: Ariana’s comedic timing suits the role of sweet/insufferable Glinda. Photo: Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures The person in Norway who knows the result best (so far) is Trine Bariås, Glinda’s Norwegian voice (“Wicked” comes in both original and dubbed versions in cinemas). Trine saw the musical in London as a fifteen-year-old, with exactly the same effect as what Ariana has described: – Right then and there I knew that this is what I want to do, she says. CLASS TRIP IN 2005: Trine still drinks her coffee from the Wicked cup from London. Photo: Privat Today she is a musical artist and dubs films, including her dream role in “Wicked” (and just like Ariana, she is moved to tears by talking about the play). How does pop star Grande sound in her new role? – Ariana has done absolutely fantastic. She has a large register and the fact that she has taken lots of singing lessons to get back into the classical groove, you can really hear, says Trine. Trine BariåsMusical artist and singerPhoto: Charlotte Brænna – She makes an interpretation inspired by Kristin Chenoweth’s original, but also with herself. It is important that the role lives, and that you give it something that is present, she believes. As one of several achievements, Trine points out that Ariana has added an extra “whistle note” (sickly high note) in the opening number “No one mourns the wicked”. Ariana and co-star Cynthia Erivo (who demonstrates an equally impressive singing voice) unusually chose to sing live on the film set, to get the extra nerve. – So the film set was also a sound studio. The raw and emotional moments you see in the film are what actually happened, says director Jon M. Cho in a promo interview. – It was like being at the world’s best concert, with the best seats. IMPRESSED: Jon M. Cho was impressed with Ariana and Cynthia. Photo: AP Since the Superbowl in February, they have been on every possible red carpet, in crazy dresses inspired by the Wicked universe. STUNNING: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande at the pre-premiere in London. Photo: Scott A Garfitt / AP It’s glam and promo, and obviously hugely emotional. The tears that flow have gone viral. Ariana’s wet face is a lot about the recording taking her back to the child she once was, she says herself. On the credits of the film her full name is written: Ariana Grande-Butero. This is the first time in her career that she uses her father’s name, she explains in an interview, followed by even more crying. Cynthia Erivo has said in several interviews that playing the green/outcast Elphaba brought back memories of growing up as “different”. And that the film feels frighteningly current. MAGIC REBEL: Cynthia Onyedinmanasu Chinasaokwu Erivo is a musical and film actor + artist. She is to be praised for her Elphaba interpretation. Photo: Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures Since the “Wicked” musical premiered on Broadway 20 years ago, reality has done its part to keep the theme relevant. What is the underlying message in “Wicked”? When the talking animals of Oz are caged and forbidden to speak, Elphaba is the only one who resists. – Elphaba stands up to abuse and thinks for herself. She is labeled as evil, says Atle Halstensen. Atle Halstensen Musical director at Folketeatret Photo: Fredrik Arff He has translated the “Wicked” script into Norwegian (both for the film version and stage). He believes the content can be interpreted as a social analysis, including by leaders who push the boundaries of truth. – The Wizard of Oz says, for example, “I haven’t lied, I’ve only said what you want to hear”. – The story plays with currents in time in a clever way. In a fantasy world, it puts into words things we are in the middle of today: xenophobia, populism, being respected for being different, he rambles on. Atle Halstensen is the artistic director of the musical production company Scenekvelder, which is staging “Wicked” in 2025. He has owned the rights for six to seven years, but wanted to wait until the film had introduced the universe to a Norwegian audience. Now the only question is whether we, the Norwegian audience, will be saved. “Wicked” as the new “Frost”? Will Ariana’s tears, great singing performances and a lavish launch turn “Wicked” into a cultural phenomenon? Thoughts go to another musical success of the last decade: “Frost”. (Before you click at an angle about me comparing “the best musical in the world” to a cartoon – yes, there are differences! But two strong female leads and magical powers in a musical setting are key ingredients in both places.) “Frost” (2013) and the sequel “Frost 2” (2019) is among the highest-grossing animated films in history (around NOK 27 billion in total, according to Filmweb). The Frost Empire has moved in a lot more. Lunch boxes, hair clips, toys, glittering dresses… At the time of writing, the Wicked collections are being rolled out in H&M and Lego stores. AIM ON THE WISHLISTS: “Wicked” has entered into 400 so-called “brand partnerships” linked to the launch. The people I have spoken to in this case sing in the film (Trine) and sell tickets to the show (Atle). No wonder they hope Wicked will become a mega-cultural phenomenon. What do those who have seen the film think? Aftenposten’s reviewer May Synnøve Rogne (rolled the dice 5) rather against no. – “Wicked” targets a slightly narrower and older target group. But Ariana Grande has a large fan base, and I’m guessing young girls will go to the cinema, like with the Barbie movie, she says. May Synnøve RogneFilm reviewer in AftenpostenPhoto: Aftenposten And adds: – I hope that all kinds of people have the sense to go and see, because this is a spectacular cinema film! The Film Police’s Marte Hedenstad also recommends “Wicked” to absolutely everyone (rolled a 6). She is completely on board with the parallel to “Frost”. – No one at Disney will say it, but I and many people with me believe that Elsa is inspired by Elphaba, she says. (The first Elphaba from Broadway, Idina Menzel, also has the voice of Elsa in “Frost”.) Marte Hedenstad Film reviewer at news Filmpolitiet Photo: Henriette Dæhli, news Marte thinks “Wicked” will be a hit at the cinema. She is more uncertain about whether it will become an equally large epidemic. Much because of the age limit of 9 years (as opposed to 6 years on “Frost”). – Kindergarten children who refuse to take off their Elsa dress and kids who have to hear “Let it go” over and over and over again… You don’t get that with “Wicked”. On behalf of all parents of toddlers in the last decade: Phew. Hey! Set “Wicked”? Or should you? Have had “Defying Gravity” on my mind since the screening. But now the music is out, so it’s just a matter of unleashing your inner musical artist! Please let me know about other things you want to read about. Read the Film Police’s review of “Wicked” here! More from the world of film:
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The film “Wicked” with Ariana Grande premieres
