What’s it about?

An equal rights activist is branded a terrorist by an authoritarian government who use the activist’s friend as a PR puppet (she doesn’t mind because she’s getting the popularity she craves). Wands clash. People speechify. Monkeys fly. All to music.

What did we think?

Anthony Sherratt says: Fans of the musical will love the sequel that concludes the stage adaptation and why not? There’s a lot to love. It’s full of colour, continues the friendship of Elphaba and Glinda, and even adds two new songs (both better than expected).

However it needs to be said that Wicked For Good is a little messier as it tries to wrap up a complicated storyline that was largely glossed over in the first film. The result is a rushed lack of coherency in the first two acts but to be fair most fans of the musical and first film have never read the book so won’t really care.

So while I could express frustration at the poorly realised relationship between Elphaba and the excellent Jonathon Bailey’s Fiyero, the inconsistent staccato pacing and the lack of accountability for Glinda’s borderline evil decision making, it doesn’t change the fact that this film is still enjoyable.

Like the second act of the stage adaptation, it isn’t as good as the first but it is satisfying enough for Wicked fans.