Magic and Marvels in Wicked's Film Adaptation

Join us for an episode brimming with passion and excitement as we, Tim and LJ discuss the eagerly anticipated film adaptation of "Wicked." With theatre community buzz and high hopes, we explore the casting choices that promise to bring fresh energy to this beloved story. From the fascinating blend of Cynthia Erivo's powerhouse talent to Ariana Grande's unexpected authenticity as Glinda, our discussion is a whirlwind of curiosity and enthusiasm. We even touch on the challenges faced by actors portraying university-aged roles, pondering how this might shape the film's portrayal of character dynamics.

Our conversation doesn't stop at casting alone. Michelle Yeoh's portrayal of Madame Morrible has us reimagining the character beyond the traditional villain trope, while a newcomer steps into the shoes of Nessa Rose, sparking intrigue for part two of the adaptation. There's an electric sense of nostalgia as we plan our front-row cinema experience, determined to catch every detail of the movie's magic. The anticipation is palpable, and we can't help but draw parallels between "Wicked" and other epic franchises, dreaming of its potential to captivate audiences for years to come.

Reflecting on the film's debut, we delve into the standout performances and cinematic choices that left a lasting impression. Peter Dinklage's unique role, Ariana's engaging take on Glinda, and Jonathan Bailey's charming Fiyero all contribute to a rich tapestry of storytelling. We celebrate the film's thoughtful production design, which enhances the realism and emotional depth of the narrative, and can't resist praising the clever nods to "The Wizard of Oz." As we gear up for multiple rewatch sessions, the delight of discovering new layers in the film's storytelling and performances promises to keep us captivated until the release of the eagerly awaited sequel.

End of MLL

Merchandise
Musical lyrical Lingo merchandise

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Transcript

Discussing Musical Films and Expectations

Speaker 1 0:26

Hello and welcome to Musical Lyrical Lingo. We're your hosts, Tim and LJ.

Speaker 2 0:30

Today and every week we will be discussing musicals, but specifically what they taught us. It's Cynthia, she's in the room with us.

Speaker 1 0:43

Special guest this week. Oh, wouldn't it be a dream.

Speaker 2 0:46

Could you imagine?

Speaker 1 0:47

Wouldn't it be a dream. Time to just check in that we're okay, uh we've tried this three times to make sure we're recording tonight um yeah, we are definitely.

Speaker 2 0:58

Yeah, yeah, we're all good because I'm not recording again.

Speaker 1 1:00

Oh diva, we've only done that once in our in our whole podcasting um which is pretty good.

Speaker 2 1:06

let's not jinx it, let's move on Jinx touch wood.

Speaker 1 1:10

Can we just first of all apologise for the last episode, which could possibly be our worst episode we've ever done. That is, our In Heights episode. I feel I need to get that out there for our viewers. I listened back and went well, but can kiss the Irish Podcasting Awards nomination goodbye. Can't we? Because we're not winning, can't we Because?

Speaker 2 1:33

we're not winning that are we. I mean, it was a fun, funny episode. At least if we don't win. That's what I'm blaming it on. Okay, you're blaming it on the one episode.

Speaker 1 1:45

I just was like who?

Speaker 2 1:46

are we and?

Speaker 1 1:47

what are we doing?

Speaker 2 1:48

I know it did feel like we were a little bit like amateurish.

Speaker 1 1:53

I think the fact that we couldn't speak Spanish and then we tried to. I just don't know why, why we bothered.

Speaker 2 2:01

I think we were very ambitious. I was very ambitious.

Speaker 1 2:05

Yes, Well, anyway, there'll be none of that this week. Yeah, for anybody who was a bit confused by my singing and the chat about Cynthia Erivo, because we have already done an episode on the musical Wicked, but it is very much Wicked time people.

Speaker 2 2:22

It is, and I think it would be remiss of us not to acknowledge it. So we are recording this before we have seen it, the day before we go and see it. So we are recording this before we have seen it.

Speaker 1 2:31

The day before we go and see it.

Speaker 2 2:34

And we are going to see it together and just shout out to our little wee crew who none are able to come with us.

Speaker 1 2:41

Yeah, so this is hilarious. Lauren sent out a message on our like friend chat going so who's free on the 22nd to go and see wicked? Yeah, and one by one, they all came back going um no, I'm at a wedding. Yeah, no, I'm already going with other friends. Uh, no, uh, not that interested, lauren, go on your own I know at least you know who your friends are, because who is the one friend who came back?

Speaker 2 3:10

And, in fairness, you were the one that I probably thought was going to be a hassle, as in to try and get, because I'm flaky. I know Flaky. Yeah, I'm trying to get a date that's sitted and I just I don't think I could have waited until Saturday If I was free. It'd be different if I wasn't free.

Speaker 1 3:31

I, I was free. No, it'd be different if I wasn't free. I'd be like oh shucks, I have to go. Yeah, because it has been a bit of a struggle already thus far, because obviously it has been out in America now, the film obviously we're talking about um. So on social media, on YouTube, on other platforms, you've started to see wits wee bits and pieces and it's like don't see too much, in a way that the trailers, as fantastic as they are, it almost is too much of a trailer for me. Do you know what I mean? Like, I love seeing very little, like very little, especially for something like this. However, I'm I'm nervous on on this wicked eve is that what it's called wicked eve, the eve before wicked?

Speaker 2 4:16

I am nervous because I I want so, so, so much for it to be so amazing that I'm very scared that I might be upset well, I am trusting, 1000%, trusting the theatre community which we are a part of and love, and there's been so many premieres LA London, all over, where there have been lots of theatre influencers who have managed to get to go and they have come out either crying, loving it saying it's going to be amazing and I don't think there's enough money in the world to pay off theatre lovers.

Speaker 2 4:56

So I think we're going to be okay.

Speaker 1 4:57

Yeah, I think so too, and I think because I have fallen down a rabbit hole. The only thing I have been watching has been loads of interviews, particularly. I mean, god bless them, they are going to be so sick of talking about this movie, and then sure they have to do exactly the same thing next year.

Speaker 2 5:18

But do you think there'll be as much of a press?

Speaker 1 5:23

tour. Like in an ideal world, the first part is going to be so epic and so fantastic and so well received yeah, that there there'll be so much hype for the second one. Yeah, like that's, that's what I hope for them, um, although it'll be so weird for them next year when they come around to doing press on a film that they shot yeah, over like over a year ago A, while, yeah, ages ago.

Speaker 1 5:49

That might be a bit weird, no, but what I was going to say was I. There are lots of people involved in this film adaptation that I really trust, Like I really trust Cynthia Erivo. Yes, I rate her talent and I also rate her Understanding.

Speaker 1 6:10

Yeah and she's not going, not gonna. I don't think she will ever put herself out there for something that she's not behind 100%. Do you know what I mean? The same for I don't really know Ariana Grande very well, but the same for Jonathan Bailey. I think he only does good things. Do you know what I mean and how they have credited the film and the director and what the director has done with this film? I'm going oh well, if they're impressed and they don't have to say things like that in interviews. Do you know?

Speaker 2 6:49

what I mean.

Speaker 1 6:49

They don't need to go out of the way to go, but you don't understand, like what the director has done is isn't John. John M Cheek yeah, and I think he seems to be a very special person from from what I'm getting from all those interviews and stuff like that. So I hope it hasn't been built up too much in my head that that was the problem. I know, like listening to all of these interviews and going, oh, I just hope I haven't built it like it hasn't been built up too much.

Speaker 2 7:18

I'm getting slightly concerned now, just as it's getting closer is. I know that they were live singing.

Speaker 1 7:25

Yeah.

Speaker 2 7:26

Which I think it kind of had to be too, but I think from our no, we haven't done it yet, but you know, um lame is and the live singing and it was really, but I think that was more the direction of really close, close-ups, yeah to prove that they were singing live rather than I think you're singing live and you need to have close-ups because I'm like, oh, I hope, but that's the problem, isn't it?

Speaker 1 7:48

with, um, musical film adaptations, it has to be the right director, absolutely, who gets it. And I think, from the sounds of it, what's his name? Again, john john m2. Yeah, he gets musicals. Yeah, and I'm not so sure, tom, sure Tom. Cooper did with regards to the Les Mis stuff, I have seen the video of Cynthia Erivo doing a bit of Defying Gravity where she's flying and she's singing live Right, I haven't.

Speaker 1 8:26

Yeah, I mean, this is the problem like I went oh yeah, oh and it was too late. It was on the screen and I could not look and like and I came up in a couple of the interviews of like nobody. Nobody's heard anything like like this. Like she was singing live whilst being flung around and she sounded amazing.

Speaker 2 8:46

She did sound amazing there's an interview that they did there with Kelly Clarkson and Illy clarkson haven't watched that one yet. That's the one interview you haven't seen well, she said, she turned around and she's like you're, you're singing live and you're also moving and performing at the same time.

Speaker 2 9:02

And I was like kelly, you're a singer like yeah, but kelly hasn't done musical theater I I know, but I was also like, and I think that that did remind me, that people don't realise how incredibly talented performers like musical theatre performers are, because they are doing so many things at once and the stamina that they have, but, like Ariana Grande did say well, we're all singers. Like this is what we do or we've. All you know come from musical theatre and we've got that training and that really core working hard looking after your body, understanding what it is, in order to move, to make the sound come out.

Speaker 1 9:42

Yeah.

Speaker 2 9:42

You know yeah.

Speaker 1 9:43

And that was my other. That was one of my other like question marks, when they announced that this, that the wicked, was being made into film and then they announced the casting, like ariana, ariana grande was a big question mark for me. When I heard she was playing glinda, however, I calmed myself down a wee bit, like I'm looking forward to seeing what, yes, what she gives. Yeah, because, yeah, they just have all talked about how special it is, um, how, transformative yeah themselves yeah, like they're.

Speaker 1 10:16

So. Oh listen, there hasn't been an interview that I've watched where the two of them haven't cried I'm like going. Okay, they're very weepy.

Speaker 2 10:24

Yes, yeah, very weepy yeah um, but yeah, no, they.

Speaker 1 10:28

There seems to be a bit of a bond there. Um, um, what else was I gonna say there? There was something I was gonna say, yeah, I can't remember now, um, but yeah, no, it seemed, yes, that's what it was that they. They passed comments somebody. I can't remember about how they've dived a wee bit deeper into the characters. Yes, yes. So I'm looking forward to seeing that, and I think the director, john, has delved into the book a wee bit more as well?

Speaker 2 11:01

I think there is, yeah.

Speaker 1 11:02

And I love the book and there's so much in the book that you don't see in the musical. Do you know what I mean? So yeah, I'm looking forward to it.

Speaker 2 11:16

I think, yeah, it'll be a real mix of um what, what people love from the musical and then maybe what people felt were missing from the book and what you can't do on stage they'll be able to translate them onto screen.

Speaker 1 11:22

So yeah, um, what are you looking forward to most? Are there parts that you're like I can't wait to see how they do this or that?

Speaker 2 11:31

oh, I think, I think it's I. I assume we're all in the understanding that it finishes with defying gravity. Well, who knows?

Speaker 1 11:39

who knows, that's the one, one of the things I'm looking forward to to work on, like where do they finish this movie?

Anticipation and Reflection on Wicked

Speaker 2 11:46

apparently, the last 21 minutes are like mental okay, because obviously I love no good day, but like we're not going to be able to see that, so I it's too far into it wouldn't be. But what I think I'm, I think I think I'd be really intrigued to see how they um make sure that Glinda and Elphaba become firm friends rather than enemies. Do you know, in the stage version that sometimes feels a bit rushed. Do you know what I'm trying to say.

Speaker 2 12:20

So, I'm intrigued to see how you get that these two people love each other and how it's a real struggle whenever Defying Gravity comes and you feel like, oh, my goodness, um Elphaba has had to go in this direction. Yeah, so that's what I'm excited for, and I'm excited to see um dancing through life, because so am I yeah, are you. I love that song but think that in the wrong hands it's a terrible song.

Speaker 1 12:48

But in the right hand. Yeah, fantastic. And those two, both cynthia and ariana, have just like waxed lyrical about how amazing jonathan bailey's been yeah, I love him, yeah, um so lots of people like he got a bit of um. There's been a few people who have mentioned like it's a bit old.

Speaker 2 13:06

It's a bit old well, this is another thing that I was going to say, is it?

Speaker 1 13:10

I don't get it this is.

Speaker 2 13:11

This is the only bugbear I have with wicked itself. They're meant to be university age and they never see that way stage version as well. So I wonder, do they address it like could they just be master students or something? I think ariana looks the right age, but yes, I would agree that cynthia and jonathan probably do.

Speaker 1 13:32

Don't look yeah, but do you not think she looks young, like the any stills I've seen of cynthia's alphabet? She does like when she's greenified and like she does look younger than cynthia.

Speaker 1 13:45

Looks at cynthia oh, yes, no, I think she looks that age, but I still think they don't look 18 yeah, and they're meant to be 18, yeah so they don't look that age, but I don't think it's going to be a like Ben Platt and Dear Evan Hansen issue no, no, no with regards to the film, yeah yeah, no, I'm looking forward to Dancing Through Life 2. I'm looking forward to seeing what, how they do, dr Dillaman yes, okay, yeah, and. I am also looking forward to seeing Michelle yeah, oh terrible with names oh, we should really have had the names in front of us yeah um, I'm looking forward to seeing the betrayal of Madame Marble, because in the musical it's quite hammy, isn't it?

Speaker 1 14:32

That character and how it's approached like it's very much a whoo ha, ha ha, michelle Yeoh. Yeah, michelle Yeoh is playing Madame Morville in the film and in the musical. It's often quite like whoo ha, ha, ha, ha ha ha. I'm the Panto villain a bit.

Speaker 2 14:48

Yeah, and also people can miss that. She is the villain.

Speaker 1 14:53

Yeah.

Speaker 2 14:54

You know, until way into the second half. Some people are like we didn't realise that she was working with him from the beginning.

Speaker 1 15:02

Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 2 15:03

So I'm like, yes, we'll wonder, will there be any side eyes and stuff? Yeah, I am excited.

Speaker 1 15:08

And, excitingly, the girl who's playing nessa rose is a complete unknown. Yes, um, now I don't know if we'll see a huge amount of her. Apparently she kind of comes into her own obviously in the plot wise in the second one and they've, like they've mentioned in interviews, just wait till you see her in part two.

Speaker 2 15:29

You know, but it'd be nice to be introduced to someone new yeah, I'm just looking forward to it later will be a really good book. He looks yeah. Yeah, you know, actually you're like yes, I love him. Like especially originated um spongebob musical as well.

Speaker 1 15:43

But we could be talking this time tomorrow night going travesty, it was terrible.

Speaker 2 15:50

No, I don't think I know I'm excited, so we're going. I'm bringing the kids along too, and they're so excited yeah aaron did see the trailer for the first time and was like, oh yeah, that looks good is he not bothered and then I was like well, do you want to come? Yeah um, and he was like no he's, he is in pain, he's minute.

Speaker 1 16:07

He's in pain. He's not even here right now. He's in bed sleeping. We'll give him that Poor.

Speaker 2 16:11

Aaron, yeah, so the fact that he turned around and was like that's good, that still gives me hope. I think we'll be fine.

Speaker 1 16:19

We won't have For Good in part one, will we? It's a part two song, is it?

Speaker 2 16:25

No, no, no, we won't have For Good.

Speaker 1 16:27

No.

Speaker 2 16:27

No, it's part two.

Speaker 1 16:29

But see, the problem is, it's been so long since I've seen Wicked.

Speaker 2 16:34

Oh see, I was really fortunate to see it not that long ago.

Speaker 1 16:36

Oh, really Okay, and I oh yeah, you went to Dublin, that's right. No, I haven't seen it in a long time. And also, I have purposely not listened to the cast recording. Yeah, either because I just want to go and be like oh yeah, no, I remember it. Now I am. I am a wee bit bubbly inside, like with excitement yeah, no, I think.

Speaker 2 17:02

What is this feeling? So? Sudden, and you, yes, um I'm very excited we'll have to stop ourselves from singing. I haven't told you where our tickets are. We're front row. No, we're not, we are because they were the only seats left, oh for. God's sake, now I'm going to have a bloody neck injury as well, but they're in the nice seats so you can recline them.

Speaker 1 17:23

I'll have to. I'll be lying down, I'll be flat.

Speaker 2 17:26

Well, you see next time. I'm joking. Thank you, don flat. Well, you see next time.

Speaker 1 17:28

I'm joking, thank you. Look at appointments, thanks. Thanks for booking the tickets. Lauren really appreciate it. Listen, I need to get my hair and my beard trimmed. All right, I am not going to see cynthia without looking prim and proper. Do you know what I mean? Dancing through?

Speaker 2 17:43

life. But yes, so I mean, if we're, if we are dancing and we're really getting into it, everybody behind us is going to be able to see us.

Speaker 1 17:54

So everybody's going to see me crying.

Speaker 2 17:55

Yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 1 17:57

Because I think I might cry just as the titles come up at the beginning.

Speaker 2 18:01

Oh, really yeah.

Speaker 1 18:03

Do you know? It feels like we've been waiting for this film for forever.

Speaker 2 18:08

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, we have it's because we know from our research it's been. It was meant to be a film first and then yeah it was like no, no, let's make it stage.

Speaker 1 18:21

So it has been a long time where um and all the sets are like proper sets, like they built everything, and I just love all of that, like I'm going. If you've put that amount of effort and money into it, it has to be good, right it will be good.

Speaker 2 18:38

It will be good bring it on right, so we are going to end this chat now that's all you're getting, and then the next time you hear our voices, maybe we'll do a wee snippet directly after we've watched it, okay, and we'll insert that, and then the next time you properly hear us talking will be we will have seen it.

Speaker 1 19:00

It's like christmas it is like it's it's wicked eve it is I just hope, having built it up now, that the second part of this episode isn't us being a bit of a downer, because we are, are very. We are two very critical people.

Speaker 2 19:17

Well, that is true, that is true, but no, no.

Speaker 1 19:23

No.

Speaker 2 19:24

It'll be great.

Speaker 1 19:25

Well, let's find out in three, two, one. Well, I can't breathe. So, I'm a bit dumbstruck, to be quite honest, with you at the moment, like I find it very difficult to still did like talk yes, I'm so glad that you had the brilliant idea of talking about this like a few hours after we've seen it we couldn't have talked about it straight away?

Speaker 2 19:52

no, um, also, it was very late well, this is the thing.

Speaker 1 19:56

I went home and made a cup of tea and went to sit down and it was after midnight and I went. I need to be in my bed, like, but that is credit to the film. Yes, in that I did not realise what time of the night it was and you know how long of a film it was yeah, I and you know how long of a film.

Speaker 2 20:13

it was I did not see that time going. We went with the kids and they did notice the length.

Speaker 1 20:17

Did they so? I will say that Not proper musical theatre fans then are they.

Speaker 2 20:22

Maybe, for Maybe the 20 to 9 showing on a Friday night wasn't the best for children.

Speaker 1 20:31

Yeah.

Speaker 2 20:31

But that was a choice, so that's okay children.

Speaker 1 20:37

Yeah, that's, that was a choice, so that's okay. The other thing that um is in the movie's favor is the fact that on a friday evening at that time, I stayed awake yeah I thought I did not close my eyes once no, there was nothing that because I kind of said before going if I can get through this without nodding off, it'll be a positive, because every Friday night in life that's me, I'm out for the count. So it was fabulous, right.

Speaker 2 21:05

It really was great. Everything that we were concerned about, I think, was addressed like we knew. It does end with Divine Gravity. If you do not want to know was addressed like we knew, let's first of all. It does end with Defying Gravity if you do not want to know spoilers.

Speaker 1 21:18

Oh, hold on.

Speaker 2 21:19

Yes, we need to say this right now if you do not want to know spoilers, please don't listen don't listen, stop now yeah, because I don't think we can review this properly without mentioning spoilers. We're going to have to talk about it.

Speaker 1 21:32

So if you haven't seen the film yet, stop listening now and come back to us yes, do when, when you've seen it, you've seen the wonders that await you yeah for those people clear off see you later. Bye, enjoy yourself, but do come back, yeah, okay, now can we talk yes, okay, great talk. We probably should have said that at the beginning of the episode. People are like they've ruined it for us.

Speaker 2 22:01

We felt like it would take a natural break at where the musical takes the break of Defying Gravity. And it did and it worked well.

Speaker 1 22:06

Now.

Speaker 2 22:07

I think it will only work well if you understand that and you've seen the musical. I think if you were going straight in blind last night you'll be like why did they build that all up and then you have to wait?

Speaker 1 22:21

I think that that that will jar with some people, just in my opinion not so people who have gone in and gone not realized this is a two-hander yes, okay. Yeah, I'm not understanding why they I mean, they're living under a rock somewhere, aren't they? If they don't know that that film is going to be done in two parts?

Speaker 2 22:36

yes, because, well, no, not that I think. Naturally, you would probably think they should just stop before they get to the Emerald City and then open the second part with being in a brand new city. Do you know what I mean?

Speaker 1 22:52

yeah, but the way they have done, like the last 25 minutes of the movie are being in a brand new city. Do you know what I mean?

Speaker 1 22:54

yeah, but the way they have done to find that, like the last 25 minutes of the movie are sensational yeah and that those last number of last number of minutes and then to have that big to be continued, flash up on the screen. It it was epic, like it was epic. Um, I was having a wee look online and somebody had described it in three words and I thought those are the best three words to describe this film.

Speaker 2 23:21

And it was epic, bold and wondrous yeah, I love it like those are, those are perfect.

Speaker 1 23:29

The decisions I made were bold. Yeah, the performances were bold, mm-hmm. Even just taking it on as a piece, do you know what I mean? And what they did with it was bold, 100%. No stones being left uncovered. No corner has been cut. Yeah, like it is all perfect.

Speaker 2 23:54

Yeah, it was amazing. I have a little video I'm going to have to edit it of our reactions, but obviously it was in um cinema and we are um breaking the law well, no no, because she recorded us, recorded us.

Speaker 2 24:10

I didn't record the thing, I recorded our reaction, so it's it's bright and then it's dark, and then it's bright and then it's dark. But if anything, the video, or like the little snippet, will show how you and me are different, yet the same. You can see how we're watching it intently, but then you're way more expressive and I'm just yeah yeah, of course I am darling. I'm just like I really watched the whole thing and like just got sucked into it.

Speaker 1 24:43

Yeah.

Speaker 2 24:43

And I didn't think I would, because I've seen it you know, I've seen the stage version. Obviously I have a good love for Wizard of Oz. I know the story, know the song track Inside Out, but I didn't think I would be as sucked into it as.

Speaker 1 24:57

I was yes, and at times I kind of thought the film shows a lot of areas where the musical's lacking.

Speaker 2 25:07

Yeah, and that was great.

Speaker 1 25:08

And I was like wow, because you know I was a bit unsure when they originally came back and said, oh, this is actually now going to be two films and I thought, why are you doing that?

Speaker 1 25:24

Like two films a year apart, what's the sense in that? But having seen part one now, the amount of time that was given to developing the characters, developing that whole the whole background story, or the shift and the changes that were happening at that time, which you know I'm talking about, like the animals and you know taking the animal's voice away, and that's obviously a main part of the storyline and why Elphaba then becomes the Wicked Witch of the West and of course it's present in the musical, but not, yes, it it's kind of mentioned and then we move on. Do you know what I mean? Whereas you could see it like that, I think we both clocked each other. You know, um, something happens at the beginning in shiz university, when elphaba's just arrived and you know, a bit of like, the plaster on the walls of the university crumbles off to show, like, uh, an older picture of, like, the animal professors or the animals that were present in the past and that had just been plastered over, and I was like oh yeah, interesting choice.

Reflecting on Wicked Film Adaptation

Speaker 2 26:44

and then obviously, as the story goes on, that's really delved into even the fact that there's more characters in dr dillaman that are played as animals loved that yeah loved that, and I think then that definitely gives you a better understanding of why she um wants to release the animal in in the class because it did. It's not jarring. It's definitely not a jarring moment in the musical, but you can totally understand. She was raised by animals more. She has that sympathy towards them because they're slightly they're being outcasted now. And she's obviously being outcasted because of the colour of her skin, so it just makes more sense.

Speaker 1 27:24

Yeah.

Speaker 2 27:25

And yeah, there was a real connection. I kind of would just talk same when we're talking about Dr Dillamond. I thought he was great.

Speaker 1 27:32

It was perfect. As I said, it was all perfect, but, yeah, really brilliant.

Speaker 2 27:37

I think Peter Dinklage is that how you say his last name. He is a fantastic, wonderful actor and it was a shame that we don't see him and we only hear him because he's obviously played a goat, but absolutely beautiful and even just the light touch of his song was great. I just yeah, there was a real. You were almost like it was kind of heart-wrenching whenever they came to take him away. You were like no, oh, my goodness. Like we can't have that.

Speaker 1 28:08

Completely brutal. I also liked the, the references to the Wizard of Oz already straight away. I love that wee bit. You know where the wizard's talking about. I've built this wee path but I can't decide on the colour. Like that's cool. I love that you actually see the four of them walking up the yellow brick road on like a flash forward, isn't it? Um? And I loved the, the involvement of the hot air balloon yes, in towards the end of the film.

Speaker 1 28:44

Yes, I thought that's so clever uh-huh however, it's now burnt to pieces, so how is the wizard going to escape?

Speaker 2 28:52

eventually. So I also love that all of his. You know you could see his past just in the background there to see that he is a fraud and how he's hidden these things in his big castle and then obviously, yep, she tries to use the hot air balloon to get out, but it's wrecked. But then I think we have to remember and I hope this is what they do in part two is there is a good time chunk that we don't always understand in the musical.

Speaker 2 29:22

Yeah almost years have passed. Yeah, um, from defying gravity to whenever um the you know. The next song opens.

Speaker 1 29:32

And I think the relationship between Elphaba and Glinda, you know they loathe each other and then they love each other suddenly in the musical, whereas you see that arc and that process much clearer and with much more heart, like that was one of my highlights of last night, you know, seeing that moment where actually Glinda switched from being a bit of a mean girl to oh no, actually I like this girl and that was one of my concerns, or one of those things that I was really intrigued because, having seen the musical quite recently, I had forgotten that glinda does the dance with her.

Speaker 2 30:17

But I I liked how they elongated that section yeah and it there was, as you said, much more heart and meaning and you didn't think that galinda slash glinda was um, was doing it just to kind of get favor or anything like that. You know, it felt like a switch in her character too. Um, absolutely loved her performance.

Speaker 1 30:36

Let's talk about ariana let's talk about her like beyond anything I thought I would see she has done so much work for that role.

Speaker 2 30:47

She was clearly a fan, as we know um. I know her mainly because the kids would have watched her in silly, silly, silly young programs yeah and she always played somebody a little bit ditzy and I hated that character that she played and I hoped that she wasn't going to do that for glinda, so I was a little bit more reserved yeah, but within what was it like six minutes or something?

Praise for Wicked Film Adaptation

Speaker 1 31:11

you turned around to me and you're like nah yeah, like you were completely. You were like yes, and I was like yeah, because she didn't play the funny for funny no it. She was glinda and she just really cleverly peppered, yes, in the funny moments, but it wasn't like here it comes. Folks like she, just like you, truly believe that's what the way she was as a person and how she acted yeah, um and cj turned around and she said I liked her because I think as well, they obviously know.

Speaker 2 31:44

And she was like, no, I was a little bit concerned about how she was going to play it. So it was good then that the kids had a nice response to her. Um, character development of glinda there.

Speaker 1 31:53

So and vocally she was. She was brilliant. I loved the, the alternative ending to popular and the key changes. I thought that was really, really brilliant. In fact, there was a. They were very brave, bold again with the changes they made to musically, yes, and I, but at no point did I think, oh, they've just done that to change it up, to put their stamp on it, as people would say, like it all was natural, it all worked, it all added to it uh, cynthia arrivo um amazing her eyes are the most powerful eyes in the world, aren't they?

Speaker 2 32:36

she did perform. Through her eyes, she is an actress. The only thing I didn't like was her performance of um, I'm not that girl. That was the only thing I was why do you not like it?

Speaker 2 32:50

I I understand what they were doing, especially with with her songs. There they kind of were pulling back a little bit because you don't need to perform to the gods. But to me that was the only one where I kind of wasn't emerged and I kind of came out of that bubble a little bit. I'm not a lover of that song anyway.

Speaker 1 33:14

So that probably could, could have been.

Speaker 2 33:17

I thought it was too. They tried to slow it down too much. This is just me okay so I didn't love her. Um calmness of it, I still think that I like when there's more of a. I'm gutted that I am not that girl I felt she was just a little bit too subdued in it, but still vocally amazing.

Speaker 1 33:36

That was just my opinion of their yeah, your opinion of it, yeah.

Speaker 2 33:40

That's the version of it, but she was amazing. What about Defying Gravity being like 10 minutes long? Do you think that suited her?

Speaker 1 33:48

Oh, I thought, yeah, I thought the. I thought the last 10, 15 minutes were extraordinary and, as you say, most of that is the defying gravity number. I loved the bit where they were face to face and she, just she it was. I hope you're happy. I hope you're happy too. There was one point where she just winked at Glinda and I went oh my gosh Was that when she put the cape on her? Yeah, there was something and I just went. Oh well, hearts mush on the floor, yeah that was.

Speaker 2 34:28

That was weird.

Speaker 1 34:29

There was a lot like there was a lot of tear down the cheek, but I truly believe they were all genuine.

Speaker 2 34:35

Yeah.

Speaker 1 34:36

Like. I don't believe they were like spraying each other's eyes.

Speaker 2 34:38

Do you know what?

Speaker 1 34:39

I mean you know it was and I now get all of the interviews I've seen and the bond that they have. They are, they were so immersed in those Like at no point could I have said any of it was a performance. Do you know what I mean? Like they were so natural with it that you just believed every single no-transcript. The wee nuances, like the wee small thing, like the wink, or you know the different wee things that they did were just brilliant yeah, yeah, no.

Speaker 2 35:13

Her. Her rendition of defying gravity, I think is it's stunning and will definitely wizard, wizard and I was amazing too different, wasn't it? Well, I felt it was. I felt it was different yeah um. I felt it was less of a ramble in um Elphaba's head and more of a like convincing herself that she should be here yeah, yeah it was great.

Analyzing the Wicked Film Adaptation

Speaker 2 35:38

I really, really enjoyed it, really enjoyed it. Um, I think we have to have to praise the? Um creative decision to build those sets, because I think that that is what made it feel real.

Speaker 1 35:51

Yeah, I agree.

Speaker 2 35:52

So well done.

Speaker 1 35:54

Yeah, well done. Designers and creative team Well, that's it. Like obviously there was CGI, but at no point did you go.

Speaker 2 36:00

Oh, no, not even whenever the monkeys are flying. Yeah Well, I personally didn't think so, which was truly petrifying.

Speaker 1 36:07

That's what I like too. Like it, it had everything. It wasn't just bubble gummy like fantasy world, um, or like singing, or you know singing and dancing, like there were moments where you know the bit where the two of them are walking in to meet the wizard, like that was truly like you could feel the nerves and like the like, the scariness of it, and then the monkeys were like yeah, and you jumped a couple of times. I jumped. What did I? When did I jump at the?

Speaker 2 36:39

very beginning, you know, because that's well, that's what I actually had said to the kids. I wonder, will it start with the monkeys? Um, and whenever the monkeys first came on the screen, it was really like yes, because I love that part, because you're really sort of going oh, I think seeing the monkeys and hearing that music gives you a real sense of I'm about to see something different here and it's not going to be, as you say, like a bubblegum story. It's not wizard of oz. Yeah, it's different the opening is yeah humble, like how they switch.

Speaker 1 37:09

That first montage of how the, where they switch from the you know the melting of the witch, to taking it back to, you know, into munchkin land like it just was brilliant.

Speaker 2 37:22

It really, really, really was. And and he, as we said in the first part, john M Chee has a passion and a love for musicals. And that was evident.

Speaker 1 37:32

From last night. I'm of the opinion that no director should ever try and direct a movie musical ever again, unless it's him. Okay, that's a very bold statement, Bold yeah like I mean, I think the only other person that's come close and it's worked has been rob ashford with chicago yeah, true do you know what I mean. Like the rest of them, need to take a leaf out of it needs.

Speaker 2 37:57

But then again, chicago was um on sets, you know it was like submersive, it was a performance. They were yeah so I think, like if it's theater that you're pulling out and you're putting on the main screen it needs to still have.

Speaker 1 38:11

You need to have realism there yeah, to get those performances, I think can we talk about the disney prince for a minute? Yes jonathan paley as fiero is unbelievable. Like nobody should be allowed to ever play like a romantic lead Princey kind of character ever again, unless it's Jonathan Bailey.

Speaker 2 38:33

No.

Speaker 1 38:34

Perfect right.

Speaker 2 38:35

Perfect. So we are obviously a little bit older. We're in our 30s.

Speaker 1 38:38

Yeah.

Speaker 2 38:39

Okay, and I know we had mentioned that some people have said they're all a little bit old.

Speaker 1 38:44

Yes.

Speaker 2 38:45

Okay, so I didn't feel it Not at all. I didn't feel it at all because his charisma was amazing. The kids did Really. So, the kids felt that he looked a little bit older, ariana looked grand.

Speaker 1 38:57

Cynthia looked much younger green, didn't she? Much younger?

Speaker 2 38:59

green. Yeah, but they felt that he did look too old. But then I have read a couple of things where they've said but it works, because we know Fiyero has been kicked out of many schools.

Speaker 1 39:10

So many schools, yeah.

Speaker 2 39:11

So therefore he probably is a little bit older. I didn't think he looked too old. No I I really didn't, but it's just interesting whenever you're 11 and 13.

Speaker 1 39:20

I was just seduced by his talent.

Speaker 2 39:28

Yes, somebody in their 30s probably does like about seven how dare they, how very dare they um dancing through life? Stunning, we were so worried about it. Yeah, but no need to be.

Speaker 1 39:36

And he came in he said just every single man, woman and being in that movie theater last night, faculty member like books were even falling at his feet.

Speaker 2 39:49

It was, and do you know what? I understood that song properly for the first time.

Speaker 1 39:54

Yeah.

Speaker 2 39:55

I understood that he was taking them out of Shea's University and like were going to the Oz.

Speaker 1 40:00

Somewhere naughty yes. I never got that before An underground nightclub. It was almost like, wasn't it?

Speaker 2 40:07

Yeah, I thought originally it was like the student union, that they were going to but this felt more of a oh, we're following him yeah got it. It was brilliant his dancing. I loved his change of tempo at some points the pacing of that song was brilliant. It lasted forever, but not in a long way.

Speaker 1 40:29

Yeah, that's it. Yeah, they very like. Musically it's been like. The underscoring is stunning. The additional music that's been written by I did name check him earlier.

Speaker 2 40:48

Or was it John, somebody no? Yeah remember that fashion app just unbelievable, absolutely brilliant. I also loved the little, and you've read the book and I haven't.

Speaker 1 41:02

John Powell has done the additional orchestrations.

Speaker 2 41:05

I loved the first interaction between Fiyiero and affaba that they don't just meet when he arrives yes, that's right, and I was like, because there was instant connection there yeah and there was instant flirtation when he met glinda or at the time, well, she hurt him.

Speaker 2 41:23

Her preparing when she heard that he was on his way like her, getting ready was an absolute sketch yeah, um, and that interaction was so funny yeah yeah, but you definitely felt more of a deeper connection from that little, tiny bit in the woods yeah, and then that was developed obviously whenever the lion cub was released and then from there.

Analyzing Wicked Film Characters

Speaker 1 41:47

You're like that bit in dr dillman's class, the puppies and them all falling asleep. How clever. And again a nod to the wizard of oz and what's the like I was like absolute genius, genius and hold on in wizard of oz who doesn't fall asleep in wizard of oz. Who doesn't fall asleep In Wizard?

Speaker 2 42:10

of Oz. Who doesn't?

Speaker 1 42:10

fall. It's been a long time since the Scarecrow. Oh my gosh, it's so clever, isn't it? I know it's so so clever Because a thing was made about the puppies and Dr Dillaman loves puppies and Elphaba brought puppies to you know dr dillaman's class and stuff. And then I was like, okay, I interesting, like I don't remember this bit about the puppies, and then that happened and I went oh my god, there's someone somewhere is really clever really clever.

Speaker 2 42:43

Really clever because originally I thought, oh does he. Is he not affected by the puppies because he's from winky? Country because I was trying to remember where abouts are the poppies in wizard of oz, is it? It's just before they get to emerald city, so I was trying to, and then I was like, oh my goodness, no, it's because she's done that, she loves him and therefore, in wizard of oz, he can't be affected by it.

Speaker 1 43:07

That's it. It's just wonderful, so clever. What about the other supporting cast then? How did you feel?

Speaker 2 43:14

I thought Ethan Slater was great.

Speaker 1 43:15

I also loved his choice or Bic Bic, yeah.

Speaker 2 43:19

I loved his choice to opt up in his wee bit with Nessa Rose. Her voice is beautiful, the girl playing Nessa.

Speaker 1 43:27

Rose. Yeah, she excites me because obviously we know Nessa Rose's involvement in part two is much, much bigger than even you know the stuff she got to do in part one. And there's something about her she is captivating, like totally captivating.

Speaker 2 43:45

Yeah, and she has a lovely, soft, tranquil voice, but I feel that that will change yeah, as her character.

Speaker 1 43:54

She's very exciting um loved the wizard so jeff goldblum is was made to be the wizard of oz but I love him yeah, he's fantastic and I think as he's got older he gets, better he gets better like.

Speaker 2 44:10

One of his best performances, I think, is from thor ragnarok yeah absolutely hilariously outstanding in that and he brought a little bit of that swag and we we know from wizard of oz that the wizard is a fraud.

Speaker 1 44:26

Like. We know that.

Speaker 2 44:28

And it's just how long has he fooled all these people for? Yeah, so we want to like him.

Speaker 1 44:36

Yeah.

Speaker 2 44:36

Even though we know, but we still like him in Wizard of Oz.

Speaker 1 44:39

Like he also has that song, Sentimental man, which I always think in the musical is a bit like. I understand why it's there. It's character development for the wizard. It's trying to make you feel the way you've just described about the wizard. But it's always just a bit weird in the musical, isn't it?

Speaker 2 44:57

but I thought the way they did that in the film was brilliant, like because I feel that even in Wizard of Oz, we still don't understand that he's a real fraud and he's not a nice person, while in Wicked and even just do you know, all it took was the way he grabbed Madame Warble and was like this will be great, and it was the. Do you know, when you find out somebody that you really like is actually a horrible person, and it's that manipulation and you've gone. Oh, my goodness, everything is a lie, like yeah it, it was his acting in that little split scene. You're going.

Speaker 2 45:33

You're not a good person and he wasn't as like he was excited whenever she was able to like the book just opened for her, like the spell book, and she was able to read it. But he, he didn't ham. No.

Speaker 1 45:43

So I thought it was great. Yeah, I thought it was great. I thought one of my highlights was Michelle Yeoh's switch. Yeah, yes as well.

Speaker 2 45:55

Because you were a bit worried about the way, sometimes about Hammy.

Speaker 1 45:58

Not at all, like she had such warmth for Elphaba throughout the whole film and then just to see her switch and that manipulative side become more obvious. I was like I know you were a bit question marky when she did the singing bit early in the movie and but I like it wasn't awful, but she's just not the same caliber of singers as as the other cast members, right, but I totally get why she is playing that part, because, as an actress which, let's be honest, the majority like she, sings one bit two bits max, you couldn't overlook her because she plays that character absolutely unbelievably yeah, I 100% agree.

Speaker 1 46:49

Like again, I didn't I laughed, you turned to me and went. Really, no, and I was like I think, I think I know what's to come. Yeah, there was just something about the way she was right from the word go. I was like, oh my god, she's great, she's such a brilliant actress she was almost playing it so slow that you were like, okay, does she need a wee bit of energy here?

Speaker 2 47:13

but we realized that with every time you've seen her, she was getting more excitable about alphabet and what this would mean for her and the wizard. Um, and yeah, you're right. It was almost like she didn't even need to consider anything. She just went straight out and was like we are making this person evil, and it was more. It felt real. It felt like this is what can happen. This is what's happened in the past.

Speaker 2 47:41

This is what's happened in history in real life, where somebody just goes, we need to make that person the villain, so that we're not the villain. Yeah, and it just I. I got everything.

Speaker 1 47:52

I was like it's just so much clearer, isn't that? It's just so much clearer, um? I will have to mention christopher scott's choreography, right? Oh, stunning and in the credits, the three full pages of dancers in that show or in that musical. It's class, isn't it? It's beautiful, and a real highlight was their duet, Palpaba and Glinda in Knowing Osdos.

Speaker 2 48:21

Oh right, yes, yeah, that was stunning, Like absolutely stunning. But that popular see it's already people are doing it on TikTok.

Speaker 1 48:29

Oh really.

Speaker 2 48:29

So just and even all those bits of like dropping the shoulders, yeah. Like and the walks and everything and that. Do you know what?

Speaker 1 48:39

Loathing. I think they did a bit. It's our loathing, oh my God that is that is so minimal, so straightforward, but so good.

Speaker 2 48:52

Apologies. Yes, it was not popular, it was nothing.

Speaker 1 48:53

Oh, is that the bit you're talking about? Yes, oh, okay, fair enough.

Speaker 2 48:56

Do you know where they're all with the books and they're like Do you know, Linda?

Speaker 1 49:00

you are just too good.

Speaker 2 49:04

What was I going to say there, also about the choreography? Yeah, um, what was I going to say there, also about the choreography? Um, oh yes, you felt like every movement there was a purpose behind it and I also felt that every where you panned out and you seeing a large group of dancers whether that was in munchkin land or in the osdus ballroom it fitted. It wasn't like we're just shoehorning a dance routine in here because it's a musical and there needs to be a wee bit of a dance number.

Speaker 2 49:29

It was where it needed to be. And you were like yes, I need to see more people dancing, you know?

Speaker 1 49:35

Yeah, so, script-wise, do you think it's done everything it needed to do? Yeah, definitely Like it didn't leave any bits out that should have been included and I didn't feel there was anything to draw night. Do you know what I mean? I didn't go okay, right, we get it now, move on.

Speaker 2 49:54

Like there was no moments where I kind of felt no, like it's long, like let's yeah, like it's two hours 41 minutes but pace wise it.

Speaker 1 50:01

It moved at a lick like that's it.

Speaker 2 50:03

That's the only part for me where I was disengaged was.

Speaker 1 50:06

I'm not that girl but and I think was that also, maybe because it was so go, go, go, go, go go, and then that was a moment of reflection maybe. That was maybe one of the first moments of reflection there was in the show in the movie. So you know what I mean because up until then it was building on the characters and then, and then it was the first well no. I suppose there's an element of well no, because you've just said like the wizard and I wasn't a reflection it was more of a like forecasting yeah, oh, this could happen to me.

Speaker 1 50:38

Like like is are they right? Could this actually be a thing like could I be successful here, or yeah? So maybe it was an element of reflection that you that it slowed down a wee bit, but, as I said, I got home, was making a cup of tea at 12 o'clock last night and didn't realize the time because I didn't realize it was as long as it was, because it didn't feel like that, yeah, no, I, I think as well and I said this after I'd seen it recently the the first half of Wicked is very heavy.

Speaker 2 51:11

Yeah, I think we even said that when we reviewed it.

Speaker 2 51:13

It is very heavy because you're trying to establish the characters, because this is a completely different retelling of the of two people that we think we know from the Wizard of Oz, um, where it kind of feels like the second half it's not weaker, but it's just, it's not as heavy, it's lighter yeah um, but I, I felt like everything they did, even just the little um flashbacks, or the little tiny hints that they had of her past and her as a young child, and then her seeing that um, because you know, I think we forget, we like, we're, we're children and then we're adults and we forget that that person becomes this person you know so that was kind of nice yeah just have her reflection just before she grabs that broomstick and yeah, heads off and does.

Speaker 1 51:59

But it helps with that. It helps with the, the motive moments you to see where she's come from and what it all means to her because of what she's lived through.

Speaker 2 52:10

Yeah, and can I just say I loved that they completely leaned into you see it slightly in the stage version that Glinda or sorry, that Elphaba and Nessaro's mum was not in love with the dad.

Speaker 1 52:27

Yeah.

Speaker 2 52:27

I feel like sometimes, depending on who's playing that very small part, it can just be they're just out and they just happen to have an affair. But this was very intentional and that worked much better.

Speaker 1 52:41

And also Andy Newman was great in helping establish that too, because as the father Thorpe he's not a likeable character. You know he's not nice, like he's not nice and how. You know the difference in. You see very clearly how he treats Nessa Rose in comparison to how he treats Elphaba and how much disdain he has towards her. He's not a warm character. So you go, fair do's to you going off with Elixir man.

Speaker 2 53:18

Yeah.

Speaker 1 53:19

Yeah, really good. What was I going to say? There was a question I had.

Speaker 2 53:27

Can I just say that one of the funniest beings that I've seen so far coming out of Wicked, the movie is Dorothy will be pissed to find out that there was a bullet train that took you to Emerald City and not a road.

Speaker 1 53:41

No, but maybe that was just sent for Elphaba.

Speaker 2 53:44

I think it was. I think it was.

Speaker 1 53:46

I don't think you know. That's a public service.

Speaker 2 53:50

No, I don't think that is a public service, but it did make me laugh.

Speaker 1 53:55

They got the tone right, didn't they, though they had the right balance of fantasy.

Speaker 2 54:02

Yeah. But also the darkness that's present yeah, 100%, yeah 100% and that was very clever in the lighting from as soon as we entered the wizard's palace yeah it started to become a little bit darker yeah, the physical sets, as you said at the beginning, definitely help it.

Speaker 1 54:28

Don't you know? There is cgi. The cgi that's there is good, yeah, but it's, it's glued together so beautifully. Do you know what I mean like?

Speaker 2 54:37

and I think the physical sets definitely helped yeah, set the scene and even when she's spinning around in divine gravity, like that's a big moment in theatre where she's on that broomstick and she goes up, we all we're not under no illusion that she's really flying in theatre. We all know it's a cherry picker right, so she's on that and it goes up beep, beep, beep.

Speaker 1 54:59

I mean, it didn't look like a cherry picker did that, but sure, well, you know what I mean.

Speaker 2 55:04

Right, and she goes up she goes up while the they still were able to get that wow moment with the cape with it, like that's an iconic moment in theater. Her being up there, high, stunning, but the cgi didn't take away from it, didn't go.

Speaker 1 55:19

Oh god she's like floating in the air there that's a green screen image that you're left with before To Be Continued is splashed onto the screen is an iconic image. Yeah, Like iconic.

Speaker 2 55:32

Yeah, sorry, and the To Be Continued. And did you notice the Wicked were what Wizard of Oz, that writing and everything?

Speaker 1 55:42

Yes, because you let out a wee. I did and I went. Oh, she's impressed. It's a wee nod to the Wizard of Oz. Yeah, but they all were singing live. Yeah, what, yeah, how can you sound that good when you're flying around the place doing all those other things?

Speaker 2 56:01

I know Now it's different, because they obviously did like 15 takes and then they're choosing like the best one.

Speaker 1 56:08

I know, but imagine doing Defying Gravity 15 times flying around.

Speaker 2 56:11

I know, like, and I understand that. So I know where some people go, but they're not singing live because it's not one solid shot. No, but they are. Yeah, yeah, it's just not one solid shot. They are singing live people.

Speaker 1 56:22

They are still singing live Highlight I I'm still thinking knife Highlight. I know this is the pro like how do you pick? How do you pick? I'll give you three.

Speaker 2 56:33

I loved Glinda entering in the bubble into munchkin land and her um, oh, that vibrato she did when there's burning the witch and the the pain in her eyes because she's so conflicted. So I'm really intrigued to see how that part that plays out in the second part. So I'm gonna say that, um, defying gravity and dancing through life.

Praise for Wicked Film Adaptation

Speaker 1 57:05

Um, when he's going through the spinny thing yeah, because they totally changed the location of that, didn't they? Yeah to the library, which is cool you, you're, top, you're I find it really really difficult. Um, I define gravity, um I really, oh, why did I ask that question?

Speaker 1 57:30

I don't know answer it myself, to be honest define gravity. I loved. Define gravity, define gravity. Um, I also like dancing through life, um, and do you know what I'm going to say? I liked Popular too. That's probably my three. But I really appreciated what they did with the music and I thought, because there was elements of different Wicked songs in the underscore, like it was just it's just really cleverly done, but, and there was also elements of wizard of oz, yeah, music as well.

Speaker 2 58:07

Yeah, that they threw in there, but so subtle and just added to it all yeah, I think it will be one that, watching it a couple of times, you'll not get bored of. I think this is going to be the same way people feel about lord of the rings and star wars, where, whenever they're a, they are submersed into their fantasy world that they enjoy. Um, I think that wicked will will be up there with that, because you are submersed in it, you understand it, you want to learn more you want to sit there for two?

Speaker 2 58:39

hours and 40 something minutes for the first part. Um, I am. I am slightly annoyed that they didn't think there would be enough people that would want to sit through a three-hour film because they're easy could have bring a 10-minute break.

Speaker 1 58:53

We've done that before in in cinema yeah but listen, they'll see it in a year's time and I know, I, yeah, I get what you're saying, but I also go with with a tarnish it a bit, because it's a lot in one, like it's even with a break, a 10 minute break, or you know it's a lot in one sitting, like could we have it in six months time rather than yeah, no that's fair, especially when it's it's already shot. It's shot, but I presume they haven't done the post no, that's it.

Speaker 1 59:24

Post-production process, have they? Yeah, I mean, if they had done the post-production process for both part one and part two already, I would be going hand them every accolade going because, honest to goodness, the first one is so perfect.

Speaker 2 59:42

Oh, there'll definitely be noms. They couldn't do that at the same time. No, there'll be nominations for something, whether it's director, cinematography, costumes we didn't even talk about costumes. Costumes are visually.

Speaker 1 59:55

Oh, my goodness, we haven't talked about costumes.

Speaker 2 59:57

Amazing. How have we not?

Speaker 1 59:58

done that. It's unbelievable and also different.

Speaker 2 1:00:00

I've never not done that. It's unbelievable and also different and like the shape of shoes for some people and the length and the colours and the hairstyles and the glasses, like every single detail.

Speaker 1 1:00:14

They thought about everything. I also laughed. Also, the wee nod to Ariana Grande when there the close-up of her shoes and she was picking her shoes and then she like, pulled out the the heel because it wasn't tall enough, yeah and ariana grande does wear those ridiculously like high stilettos doesn't she, yeah, I she.

Speaker 2 1:00:37

She was the surprise for me yeah, because we knew cynthia was going to be. Yeah, cynthia, cynthia um. Jonathan bailey is, as we've said before. Is is fantastic, um. And yes, because she obviously is more known to be a pop star and um played those certain roles on tv, but yeah, she but you're talking nominations.

Speaker 1 1:00:59

I think she's the one that, oh yes, the nomination should go. Like surely they'll both get nominated, won't they? But like I just don't know, there's something. Maybe it's just because I didn't expect it from her, but I'm going gee whiz.

Speaker 2 1:01:13

Yeah.

Speaker 1 1:01:14

Good on her because she really wanted it and she worked really hard for it. And nobody can turn around and go oh. And nobody can turn around and go oh, the pop star, let it die. Do you know what I mean? Like stunt casting, nonsense, like name me a better. Yeah, I can't believe I haven't talked about it. Uh, adina menzel and kristen chenoweth I didn't know that was happening. No, yes, so you were acting like yeah, I was like she knew, yeah, how did you know I didn.

Speaker 1 1:01:39

I read it somewhere all right, you see, I was really good and that I hadn't. I had watched a few like um, youtube uh interviews, but I hadn't like read anything like any reviews or any chat about the film and I also hadn't listened to the, the the recording which I'm listening to today. Now, that is it the recording of the whole thing or is it just part one? Just part one? Great, fantastic that'll be on this afternoon. Um, but yeah, I did not know that adina menzel and christian chenoweth were going to make an appearance I didn't know they were in it for that length of time.

Speaker 2 1:02:16

I thought they just made an appearance in emerald um city, but I didn't realize connection to to um ariana and cynthia as well.

Speaker 1 1:02:25

Like they did stuff together.

Speaker 2 1:02:26

I was like this is unbelievable and um, indina did her riff yes, she did like.

Speaker 1 1:02:36

All of those wee nods were just brilliant. And then I nearly passed out when stephen schwartz made his cameo yeah, I was like are you serious like they've thought of everything? I know they thought of everything.

Speaker 1 1:02:48

Yeah, it was great, but not in a like well, yeah, we're just putting somebody in yeah it was a very stan lee appearance, you know, like in marvel movies where they have stan lee um where they had stan lee pop up in some of his movies um and didn't peter jackson like jump into, yeah, his ones as well, in a few different places, but very subtly yes, and I think that that's yeah, you don't yeah. Yeah, it was amazing, it was good as you say, the only problem is we've now got to wait a year for part two. But think of it this way how many times are you going to watch Wicked part one this year?

Speaker 2 1:03:29

well, yeah, because I'm definitely going to have to see it again soon in the cinema and then, once it's like, out streaming we'll be able to watch it at least once a month and then before once a week once, and before then the second part comes out.

Speaker 1 1:03:42

We'll be watching that's what I was thinking, I was like, but even the build-up to the second one, it'll be nice because you'll, you'll, we have to, we'll have to have a wee, get together and we'll watch the first one again and prepare ourselves for the second one. It doesn't annoy me that I, I actually think it's just nice to have part one, for it to have been so bloody brilliant, like no. Honest to goodness, if you're a musical theater fan out there and you have something negative to say about this, then you gotta look at yourself in the mirror, kid, because I, I don't think you'll get a better movie.

Speaker 2 1:04:18

Musical adaptation no, definitely not like they.

Speaker 1 1:04:22

They have not left any stone unturned.

Speaker 2 1:04:26

Nobody can say anything about it no, I don't think so, and I think if, if the diehard fans are going to say something about it, it's just because they're that type of fan you know some, some people just it wasn't the same as the musical and I'm like, well, wind your neck in because it's better than the musical. Yeah, you know they're able to do more, and I think that that is. A lot of money has been thrown at this, but in the right place yeah, and it'll get it back there well they like, that was packed last night.

Speaker 2 1:04:54

There was three showings of that and every single um showing was full, yeah was full and that was just in our wee town city, yeah so, and even this morning.

Speaker 1 1:05:05

And so I've come straight from teaching um in stage school and there's wee girls in the classes this morning that have the t-shirts and I'm like, have you seen it yet? And they're like, no, yeah. And I'm like, yeah, you've got the t-shirt.

Speaker 2 1:05:19

You need to go and see it, kid, see how it's done so that was our first actual proper review of a like a musical. That was really fun and I know, like I don't know, a bit fresh there.

Speaker 1 1:05:35

I liked it, I think we should bring this back for season three I just have to be really careful what I say about certain things, certain musicals, but yeah yeah, no, it was good.

Speaker 2 1:05:44

I I do. You know what I'm putting out there. Um, I hope that we get more chances to do something like that. I hope that this lights fire in some people's bellies and they want to make more theater and they want to make more movie musicals and we want to have more songs in the world.

Speaker 1 1:06:01

Get a creating yeah, support that process a wee bit more. I think that's a problem. It's really difficult to create new material because there isn't the backing or the funding, or you need an element of a safety map below you, don't you?

Speaker 2 1:06:16

just in case it all falls apart but tell you what did fall apart that hot air balloon last night indeed brilliant, loved it so good.

Speaker 1 1:06:27

Right, we're off to book our tickets to go and see it again, to go see it again we're off to see the wizard no, she didn't even do that. She like went, she went proper rogue and I loved every minute of it. Yeah, it worked, worked well. I need a poster of that last image of her before To Be Continued. It was iconic. Like she was iconic.

Speaker 2 1:06:49

Maybe you can dress up like that next, Like just come in your own cherry picker Beep, beep, beep.

Speaker 1 1:06:56

This is how Cynthia did it in the movie Her cherry picker.

Speaker 2 1:07:01

Well, thank you for joining us. I really hope that you get the chance to go and see it and let us know what you thought and if you missed the part about where we were saying we're going to be talking about the movie.

Speaker 1 1:07:12

This is spoilers. Stop listening now. And you've listened to the whole episode. We're really sorry yeah until next week bye.