Since it debuted on Broadway in 2003, it seems everyone, including me, has been eagerly awaiting Wicked to tour Canada. Every time I was told of an announcement of the next Broadway season I waited with baited breath to hear one word, and time and time again was let down. I even tried to see it in San Francisco, only to discover that the only nights I could see it, the theatre was dark.

So it was with a great deal of anticipation that I joined a packed Jubilee Auditorium for the opening night of Wicked. Having waited for this moment for years, after all this anticipation, I really really liked it, even if I didn’t love it in the way I expected to.

Wicked is essentially the story of The Wicked Witch of the West, her development from school and overlapping with the story told in The Wizard of Oz. Elphaba, being born with green skin, is essentially shunned everywhere including at school. Glinda being the popular girl is among those treating Elphaba poorly, until a change of heart leads to the two becoming friends.

There is a lot to the story – themes of being an outcast, acceptance, political corruption, and how rumors and myths can quickly spin out of control.  The sets are impressive. Natalie Daradich is brilliant as Glinda, and Anne Brummel is equally stellar as Elphaba. There is just enough of Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, who originated the roles, to pay tribute without being a copy.  Jody Gleb as Madame Morrible and Don Amendolia as The Wizard also tackle their roles with gusto. There are several clever jokes and references to the original Wizard as well, and the audience learns how the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion come to be.

Musically the cast is strong, although I’ve always felt the lyrics to the show weren’t its strong suit. Popular and For Good received a warm response from me, while Defying Gravity stood out as the best song in the show.

The general consensus among people I’ve spoken to since, is that they loved the show, though your own enjoyment of Wicked will depend on your personal preference. It lacks the spectacle of Phantom or Lion King but the story and dialogue is well written. Just as I will always be fond of The Phantom of the Opera because my father took me to it as a teenager, I am sure that this run will leave a lasting impression on kids who will long treasure that memory, and on those who are attending their first show.

It is definitely worth seeing at least once. The large scale shows like Wicked, Phantom and The Lion King only seem to arrive sporadically, so best to check it out now while it flies through Alberta.