The world has gone 'Wicked' crazy. The reviews are in – Jon M. Chu's musical film is a runaway hit. . . But it wouldn't exist if not for the iconic, timeless stage show of the same name, a new tour of which has been making its way around Australia since August, 2023.
For more than a year now, the multi-talented Sheridan Adams and Courtney Monsma have enthralled audiences as Elphaba and Glinda respectively – telling the untold story of the witches of Oz in a dizzying, delightful production of epic proportions.
The show's next stop is Perth, where it will take over Crown Theatre.
The story of 'Wicked' follows a young Elphaba Thropp – a character most would know as The Wicked Witch Of The West, from 'The Wizard Of Oz' – as she navigates a challenging and judgemental world and comes across people who will shift the trajectory of her life. One of those people is Glinda Upland, a headstrong, popular student at Shiz University.
The pair, like chalk and cheese at first, lament about their loathing for each other. . . But it's not long before they find they have more in common than was initially evident. Eventually, they realise they've each been changed 'For Good'.
“I was always drawn to [Glinda], but what grounds me in her is her complexity. Until I got the role, I didn't truly discover that, and I think when I found my own interpretation of her, I learned to love her more,” Courtney Monsma describes of her bubbly on-stage counterpart, over the phone.
Image © Hugh Stewart
She reflects on similarities and differences she has to Glinda: “I think when Glinda has comfortability or excitement, she really expresses that. So I think I have that as Courtney – a genuine bubbly nature, it's something that's part of me. Her drive is to always help people and to keep everyone okay, and keep everything fine. Ultimately, that's her drive throughout the whole show, but something that I, to this day, struggle with, is the confidence that she has.”
“She has this amazing confidence about herself, and who she is, and she's quite self-assured.”
'Wicked' has had a place in Sheridan Adams' heart, for years. Elphaba is a character she's always been drawn to, but not just for the epic musical numbers.
Backstage during 'Wicked''s Melbourne season, Sheridan tells me more.
“My Elphaba is very acting-based. I think it's lovely, everyone can have a pretty voice, but I love sitting down at the theatre and watching someone tell a story, so I knew that's where I wanted to begin and all those vocal choices and everything comes from just my natural instinct. And trying to find the truth as an actor.
“I love being able to play with her shift and her entire transformation.”
The dedicated 'Wicked' fanbase has followed and adored the show ever since its debut in 2003. The roles of Glinda and Elphaba were originated by the talented Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, and over the years, many other wildly gifted actresses have stepped into their shoes. . . Bringing with them unique interpretations and interesting musical twists on the songs throughout.
A quick YouTube search with the right keywords will reveal compilations of moments like 'the Fiyero riff' and 'the 'Defying Gravity' battle cry'. There was immense pressure for both Sheridan and Courtney when it came to fans' expectations of these and the rest of the music.
“I have grown up watching Elphabas online, and I know that people have opinions – as humans, I think we just tend to compare,” Sheridan describes. “I knew that there was that behind ['Defying Gravity'], and that's what could happen, but when it comes to rehearsals and performing, I feel like the pressure of that came when we opened. When it came to rehearsing, it's a gorgeous sing, but it's the climax of Elphaba's entire journey, and I think, as an acting piece, that's what I was exploring in the rehearsal room.”
Image © Jeff Busby
“The pressure's massive, and I feel like now, a year in, I've gotten to the point where it's actually the song that I look forward to the most.”
Like Sheridan, Courtney believes there's no use trying to emulate previous iterations of the roles. Her approach, particularly in the show-stopping 'Popular', was to take inspiration in the vein of comedy, to bring her Glinda to life.
“Emulating what someone else did is not what anyone can do really, it's all about your own interpretation. I just needed to learn to trust my instincts,” she says. “I've taken a lot of inspiration, depending on when the show is being put on, from things comedically that I find funny in real life, and timing, and other actors' timing, and movies that are different to 'Wicked'. Interpreting that timing into 'Wicked' is a really clever little trick that I've done!”
Courtney and Sheridan have now shared the stage for quite some time. Their admiration for each other off the stage is clear.
“[Courtney] is so hilarious,” Sheridan laughs. At the time of writing, 'Popular' is Sheridan's favourite Glinda moment – though she assures me it changes. “It's just so subtle, the choices that she makes with a prop, or she'll do the same physical bit, but she'll do it with a different energy or a different intention. It's unpredictable, but also predictable? She's playing Glinda, she's not taking advantage of the moment, she's still staying professional. . . But she's also just being hilarious, and I love being able to connect with her and play with her.”
Courtney shares the same wide-eyed appreciation for Sheridan's work as Elphaba.
“'No Good Deed' is just epic,” she says. “I'm side stage at that moment and I peek through a little hole in the curtain and watch her. It's just a moment where everyone's so busy backstage doing their thing, and then on stage there's just this epic moment the audience are relishing in – it's just so amazing. Since day one it's been my favourite that she's sung. But I love everything she does.”
There's no questioning the impact of 'Wicked'. Its story is universal – with themes of struggling to fit in, enduring blind judgement from others, and learning to be a good person. It has resonated with audiences across the world.
Part of the genius of 'Wicked' is its presentation of two strong, wildly different lead characters, with whom everyone is able to easily identify. Some people are a 'Glinda', some people are an 'Elphaba'. . . But most, you'll find, are healthy helpings of both.
Image © Jeff Busby
“Anything that you can relate to your real life, or any experience where you can go into a theatre and learn something, is super important,” Courtney muses on the impact of the story. “It's just going to continually be relevant. It's a really beautiful thing that I'm still learning from it, and I do the same thing every day. To be refreshed on having more of an open mind to things, and also celebrating differences, and adversity, it's just so important.”
“Hopefully people always leave the theatre feeling like they've learnt something, or that they can be a little kinder or a little wiser, or thought-provoked.”
The timelessness of 'Wicked' stems primarily from its relatable characters, but there's also a relevance to the darker elements of the show's plot. The citizens of Oz are driven, by those in power, to fear Elphaba. . . Simply because of her outward appearance and her willingness to fight for what's right.
“There's a reason that it's been so successful for 20 years, and I think also that reason sometimes makes me really sad,” Sheridan reflects. “I think, as humans, we really see history repeating itself. We have people in the world who really, really want power, who are very corrupt, we have people who are constantly silenced, we have people fighting to have their voices heard.”
“I was having this conversation today about how I see people out there and they have certain beliefs, but they don't know why. And it might be fed to them through the internet, or through their echo chamber, or they grow up in that environment, and they don't question it, but they cause harm.
“I like to think that if those people come and see 'Wicked', they see Elphaba, and they're on Elphaba's side, and I'd like to think maybe they can be on people's side in real-life who are real-life Elphabas.”
Real-life Elphabas and Glindas will be flocking to Perth's Crown Theatre next: it begins its run this December, running through summer.
It's clear the final Australian state of the tour means a lot to Sheridan and Courtney – so it's a perfect place to end what has been a wickedly triumphant run of an iconic show.
“Hi everyone in Perth, I love you, and I'm so excited to be there and bring this story to them,” Sheridan exclaims. “My partner is from Perth, so it's like a second home. I'm excited to be by the beach, and see the sunsets, and also be at the Crown Theatre. . . I've heard it's just a bit of an icon of the city of Perth.”
“The last time I was there was when I wrapped on 'Frozen' which was before I booked this,” Courtney adds. “It's going to be a really cool full-circle moment.”
'Wicked' plays Perth's Crown Theatre from 15 December.
