Wicked…The untold Story of the Witches of Oz

By Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman

You can't bet on getting into Wicked unless you book four months in advance. I missed out so I called the publicist and pleaded.

" Stage Whispers Magazine is very influential. I might write something amazing. You might take down the quote from the New York Times and replace it with something I might write," I said. It didn't wash.

Instead I entered the lottery. That is the ticket lottery. Every night you can put your name down at the theatre and out of hat 25 people win the right to a $25 seat in the front row.

Imagine my surprise when among the 400 people who entered the lottery 'David Spicer' was one of the winners.

At the front of the stage you can feel the spittle, you can look right up the dress of the Wicked Witch of the West. (If you wanted to)

Wicked has been celebrated by the critics as a new American musical which should run for a decade on Broadway.

At its core the most clever book. It's is based on a novel by Gregory MacGuire a prequel ( just like as in Star Wars ) to the Wizard of Oz.

Like a jigsaw all the pieces fit together sublimely. We learn how the Tin Man, the Lion and the Scarecrow and Oz came to be.

We learn that The Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba is not wicked after all just misunderstood.

Elphaba and Glinda the good witch of the north are school chums but a love triangle pulls them apart.

There are many in jokes. Young Elphaba sighs that some things just make her 'melt away'.

Stephen Schwartz has written a sparkling score . The album has already sold 500,000 copies. My favourite songs were 'Popular' and 'Emerald City'.

The main set is inside a giant clock at the top of the stage is a giant Dragon. It's the inside of a classroom where the children are being taught by a goat who is being persecuted by a new Fascist regime which doesn't believe that animals should have the same rights as people.

This dark undercurrent gives Wicked an edge along with some romance that makes it a complete night of entertainment.

Memo for the publicist of Wicked. Take down the billboard with the quote from the New York Times. Replace it with …." The best show I will ever see for $25" David Spicer - Stage Whispers 2005.