When adapting a musical — that’s based on a book that’s based on a movie that’s based on a book — comparisons are inevitable, and the Wicked movie is no exception. Full of beloved characters and a moving story, Wicked the Musical has been on Broadway for 21 years for a reason. But that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. The Wicked movie inevitably made changes, including these improvements:
‘Wicked’ Movie Has More Diverse Main Casting
It’s no secret Elphaba is ostracized and becomes an outcast because of the color of her skin. However, on Broadway, Elphaba is usually played by a white actress. There haven’t been enough women of color — especially Black women — who have played the iconic role. It makes no sense, because who better to play a character affected by colorism?
So thank Oz the Wicked movie cast Cynthia Erivo. She follows in the footsteps of Saycon Sengbloh, the first Black actress to play Elphaba on Broadway, and Alexia Khadime, the West End’s current Elphaba and the only Black actress to play Elphaba full-time anywhere.
Another diverse casting choice the movie got right that no other stage iteration has — yet, hopefully — is hiring an actual wheelchair user to play Nessarose. We couldn’t be happier for Marissa Bode to make history.
There are arguments for why Elphaba’s younger sister hasn’t been played by a wheelchair user yet, but now that millions of people have seen Bode as Nessarose, we know there are actresses who use wheelchairs who are more than capable of taking on this role. From here on out, it will be tough to justify casting a non-wheelchair user to play Nessarose in Wicked stage productions full-time.
Why Elphaba is at Shiz University
Whether you’ve seen the movie or the Broadway musical, Elphaba attends Shiz University. How and why she does is a different story, though. In the musical, Elphaba is enrolled at Shiz to take care of/watch over her sister. But in the movie, Elphaba was never supposed to attend Shiz.
When Elphaba is at Shiz on move-in day, she’s there to send Nessa off and say goodbye. However, that changes when 1: their father asks Elphaba to stay until Nessarose is all settled, and 2: when Madame Morrible witnesses Elphaba’s magic and decides to teach the green witch in her special sorcery seminar. In the Wicked movie, Madame Morrible literally has to persuade Gov. Thropp to let Elphaba enroll at Shiz.
The movie’s reasoning makes much more sense. Why would her father spend money and send Elphaba to a university when he wouldn’t even hold her as a baby or raise her? He doesn’t like Elphaba, and he doesn’t seem to care enough to let her pursue a higher education.
Boq and Nessarose
Boq and Nessarose aren’t too different in the movie and stage adaptations, but little things in the movie make both of them stronger and more likable characters. Though his role in Part One was minimal compared to what’s expected in Wicked: Part Two, Boq is established as the awkward, geeky guy who’s in love with the popular blonde girl who couldn’t care less about him.
In Wicked the Musical, Boq is more pathetically and hopelessly in love with Glinda. When Glinda first sees Fiyero in the musical, Boq does everything he can to get in between the two. He literally shoves himself in between Fiyero and Glinda because he wants Glinda. Boq doesn’t do that in the movie. He’s just clumsy while staring at Glinda instead.
In the movie version of “Dancing Through Life,” Glinda gets Boq to invite Nessa to the Ozdust Ballroom, and Boq says, “I would do anything for you.” That response is a bit much considering they aren’t even friends. In the stage musical, Boq says, “I would do anything for you, Miss Galinda.” It has the same kind of obsessive energy but with more desperation. It’s generally nice and polite to use “Miss” or “Mister,” but Glinda is a classmate who hardly knows him and clearly doesn’t care about him. (Glinda calls Boq “Biq” in both the film and stage adaptation.)
The best thing about Nessa that the Broadway musical lacks is her sense of independence. In the movie, we learn right away that she wants to be and is capable of being independent. She doesn’t need anyone to push her wheelchair or to be babysat. Nessa’s assertive independence is so refreshing and empowering, especially because this is the first time the character is being portrayed by a wheelchair user. It’s good to see that though Nessa may not have all of the same capabilities or ways of doing things as everyone else, she’s fine on her own. If she needs anything, she can ask herself.
‘Wicked’ Movie Gives Animals More Significance
The musical adaptation has just two different animals on stage: Doctor Dillamond, the goat professor. and flying monkeys. The film has more animals, but both stories revolve around Elphaba’s desire to help them. By simply expanding the role and presence of animals, the movie not only deepens that storyline but contributes to the world-building of Oz.
The most important animal addition to the Wicked film is Dulcibear, the nanny bear who raises Elphaba. A governor’s daughter having a nanny isn’t strange, but it’s clear Dulcibear pretty much raised Elphaba herself. By making Elphaba’s maternal figure — and eventually only parental figure — a bear, the Wicked movie establishes a strong bond between Elphaba and animals right away. When Elphaba is born, she’s crying — as babies do — but the second Dulcibear holds and comforts her, she stops. The bond literally began on day one.
The movie also features more animal faculty and staff while all we see on stage at Shiz is Doctor Dillamond. ”Something Bad” in the Broadway musical is just Doctor Dillamond and Elphaba singing in an empty classroom. In the movie, it begins with Doctor Dillamond warning his animal colleagues. Then the scene transitions into a conversation with Elphaba. Also, when Elphaba uses her powers on move-in day at Shiz, a portrait of the Wizard falls from a wall and shatters, exposing old artwork of prominent Ozian animals. This further demonstrates how animals once had a large role in Ozian society but are now being erased by the Wizard.
Wizomania
In the Broadway musical, Wizomania is a short section of “One Short Day” featuring a show within the show. In the movie, Wizomania is a bigger part of “One Short Day” that tells the magical history of Oz, the Grimmerie, and the Wizard. This extended version offers a better understanding of magic in Oz and explains how the Wizard became revered. Considering we all know the Wizard is a sham with no magical powers, knowing that history is important. It also fills some plot holes and helps us better understand this world.
Wicked is now in theaters.
