Review: Kerry Ellis returns to Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre

Wicked

Apollo Victoria Theatre

Reviewed on Monday 4th August 2014

★★★★★

Kerry Ellis as Elphaba

Running on to a never ending round of applause, those who innocently bought a ticket to a random Monday evening performance of Wicked must have wondered what all the fuss was about when Kerry Ellis made her first entrance during last night's performance.

Of course many were there, clapping as fast and screaming as loud as humanly possibly, to see Kerry Ellis - who was the first British actress to star as Elphaba in the West End and Broadway productions of Wicked - reprise her celebrated performance for the first time in five years ahead of a limited twelve week run.

Despite Ellis being something of a Wicked legend, this was my first time seeing her as Elphaba (aka the Wicked Witch of the West), the most sought after female role in musical theatre.

Based on Gregory Maguire’s novel of the same name, Wicked tells the cleverly put together untold story of the witches of Oz. We first meet Elphaba and Glinda (the Good) as students; during act one we learn about their pasts before discovering what really happened whilst Dorothy was following the yellow brick road during act two.

At first Ellis's Elphaba is fun and sarcastic - it's nice the see the character smiling so much! Ellis was clearly having the time of her life being back on stage at the Apollo Victoria. She allows the audience to immediately connect and fall in love with the character. Ellis brings a touch of subtle humanity, rarely does she over act - her delivery is real and honest. I've never seen anybody play the role this way before. 

Known for her formidable belt and fierce growls, many often forget the stunning softer side to Ellis' vocal talents. The first half of 'The Wizard and I' was so simple and endearing, but it was her smooth rendition of the sometimes underwhelming 'I'm Not That Girl' which provided one of the highlights of the evening. Rarely have I ever felt so moved or touched by the number. She truly nailed it, shattering Elphaba's tough exterior and showing the audience the character's vulnerability.

Savannah Stevenson and Kerry Ellis as Glinda and Elphaba

Whilst act two sees Ellis' portrayal grow and mature, she doesn't lose Elphaba's heart and we still see bursts of her fun side. Ellis exposes Elphaba's heartbreak when she realises she will never be able to make amends with her sister and reveals the true extent of Elphaba's love for Fiyero during the scene which follows 'As Long As You're Mine'. I have never seen an Elphaba so in love with Fiyero, it's a beautiful touch.

Those in need of a belting fix will not be disappointed as Ellis' voice remains incredibly powerful; her vocal talents are utterly astounding. She held back during 'The Wizard and I' but put her heart and soul into 'Defying Gravity'. Vocally she's mixed things up and keep us on our toes - the final note of 'Defying Gravity' was out of this world! 'No Good Deed' was another stand out moment, Ellis understands the complexity of the number and conveys Elphaba's turmoil as she feels and experiences almost every emotion known to man within several minutes. 

Savannah Stevenson as Glinda

Despite limited rehearsal time, Ellis' chemistry opposite co-star Savannah Stevenson is already remarkably strong. Together they gave a fantastic rendition of 'What Is This Feeling' and a very emotional rendition of 'For Good'. Stevenson, who joined the company last November, gives an equally fresh performance. Somehow she always finds new things to do with the character. 

Stevenson bounces off her fellow cast members and the audience with ease and, on occasion, even has ushers - who see the show eight times a week - in hysterics. As usual she shines during 'Popular', showcasing exquisite comical talents. She effortless grows with the piece and opens the second act with an outstanding rendition of 'Thank Goodness'. It is impossible to fault her vocals.

It was great to see Understudy of the Year nominee Marc McBride step into the limelight as Boq opposite Katie Rowley Jones as Nessarose. Both gave strong performances and it was particularly special to see Rowley Jones reunited with Ellis as both were part of the original cast in 2006. Jeremy Taylor has settled into the show as Fiyero, his 'Dancing Through Life' only gets better whilst I loved the quirks in Paul Clarkson's portrayal of The Wizard.

Sue Kelvin as Madame Morrible 

As I wrote in a previous review, as far as Sue Kelvin is concerned she is starring in ‘Madame Morrible the Musical’ and it's a five-star sell-out smash hit! Just when I thought Kelvin's performance couldn't be any grander or funnier she marched on stage and commanded the attention of every single audience member. Kelvin's portrayal has no boundaries - her Morrible is crazy. She is a dream!

It's always a joy to see audience members discovering Wicked for the first time. As the crowd took their seats I overheard one young boy say to his mother, "Mummy look, there's a big dragon hanging from the ceiling!" Wicked is a spectacle and has all the ingredients of a big West End show, but at its heart it is an intimate piece of theatre about friendship. 

It's very easy to write off long-running shows as feeling "dated" or losing their "spark", but there is still an excitement surrounding Wicked. The cast are always on fire and the production certainly shows no signs of feeling dated. The message hasn't lost it's spark or magic - night after night people see Wicked for the first time and fall in love with these extraordinary characters and the tremendous journey they embark on. It's a story of self discovery and standing up for what you believe in.

Whether you've seen Wicked fifty times or have never it at all, make sure you catch Kerry Ellis giving the performance of a lifetime over the next twelve weeks. The First Lady of the West End has returned to her throne - there's no place like home.

Reviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)

Kerry Ellis stars in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre until Saturday 25th October 2014. Due to concert appearances, Ellis will not be performing on 19th August, 27th September, 2nd-10th October, 14th-16th October and 18th October.

Read our most recent interviews with Kerry Ellis and Katie Rowley Jones

Wicked is currently booking at the Apollo Victoria Theatre until Saturday 25th April 2015.
Please visit www.wickedthemusical.co.uk for further information and tickets.

Photo Credit: Matt Crockett

Follow @West_End_Frame