In addition to the wonderful acting and brilliantly choreographed musical numbers, Jon M. Chu’s Wicked There is a penchant for extravagant sets, thanks to production designer Nathan Crowley. “Nathan is a troublemaker,” John says, laughing.
Speaking on a video call from Los Angeles, California (“We just got back from London last night”), the 45-year-old director says, “Nathan loves building. He helped me understand why building is important. It was important to touch and feel the world, to break the matte painting of Oz that we are used to, to feel that this place really exists, that Oz is not just a dream.
WickedAdapted from the hugely popular Broadway musical, tells the original story of L. Frank Baum’s Wicked Witch of the West The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Wicked The story follows two young women – the misunderstood green-skinned Elphaba and the popular and beautiful Glinda, played by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande respectively. The cast also includes Michelle Yeoh as the mysterious Madame Morrible and Jeff Goldblum, playing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, whom John describes as “the ultimate storyteller”.
L to R: Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in Wicked directed by Jon M. Chu Photo Credit: Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
key players
The set had to feel lifelike and real, says John, if the audience was to believe the risks involved. “If we’re going to believe that Elphaba and Glinda are fighting for this community, we have to understand the culture of the community. In Munchkinland, they make pink dye, honey and sugar. The Munchkins are looking for a leader who will lead them to happiness. “If they get the wrong leader, their optimism can turn to hatred.”
Toward that end, John says he planted nine million tulips. “We created a real magician’s head that walks and a giant train that weighs 60 tons. These things help these characters live in the real world.
question to answer
John saw Wicked Before going to Broadway. “I remember it blew my mind. iconography used in the Wizard of Oz, Whom I grew up with, yet the story changed. It looked at the story from a new perspective, questioning how evil comes to be. Were you born wicked, or was wickedness thrust upon you? I like that question, and our answer is more questions.”
John says, maybe we are all a little evil and a little good. “Every day, we make choices, and hopefully, throughout our lives, we make more choices to be good rather than to be evil. It’s complicated, not easy. There is no yellow brick road that will lead you to someone who will fulfill your heart’s desire. We have a lot of uncomfortable conversations and we listen to each other before we get there.
In the feet
This isn’t the first musical rodeo for crazy rich asian director, who directed in the heights (2021), Step 2: Roads (2008) and step up 3d (2010). “There are a lot of challenges when doing music. It also has techno elements, including music. How does it feel? “What stories are these songs telling?”
John says that he found new ideas for the songs while rehearsing the visuals for the songs. “It takes a lot of steps and iterations to adjust. Sometimes, we record the music before we get to the scene, and when we get there, we have to go back to the music and see what needs to be changed to match the intention of these characters.
muscle memory
John says it’s the same with choreography. “Sometimes actors have to learn the movements to activate their muscle memory. This is not a dance. It may not represent the speed they need to get into the song. Maybe you don’t need any speed. Maybe Elphaba needs to start with, ‘I’m not that girl’ who stands still. The song has to emerge from it almost bursting. It cannot be perfect, but flows from it as a necessity.”
These are things that John says he always has to leave room for, both in time and repetition. “Also, when we go on set, how we execute a song ultimately depends on our choices to find the right tone.”
L to R: Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard of Oz and Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible in WICKED directed by Jon M. Chu Photo Credit: Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
inspired by emotion
In the end, John says, the technical side doesn’t matter. “You have to master those things, but the technical side can’t be the thing that’s driving the story forward. There should be that feeling. We always used to say, ‘It’s the girls, you idiot!’ No matter what you’re doing, it’s the relationship and nuances between Elphaba and Glinda that will drive the story.
In film, unlike the stage, the camera is a powerful tool for getting close to the actors, John says. “We focused on that aspect. Other things will come along with it, as long as it emerges from the intention of where the characters were in the story.
deep dive
John is proud that his leads did not copy the Broadway versions of Elphaba and Glinda. “Even though these characters are iconic and timeless, and people know them, Cynthia and Ariana were able to play with the characters and elevate them. Cynthia’s song in ‘Defying Gravity’ is ‘Something has changed within me, something is not the same as before’, in that moment, that time means something different.’
John says, this line is relevant even today. “It probably feels like after COVID and lockdown, where we all have this uneasy feeling, and we don’t know what the next chapter of the story might be.”
hatred or something
John says, in the scenes between Elphaba and Glinda, they try to find new ways to look at their songs. “The main song of ‘What Is This Feeling’ is disgusting. We had a lot of conversations about that song. Is it disgusting, or is it that you oppose the person who will change the rest of your life? The song is not about hatred. It’s just about resisting change. Those little details go a long way in a story like this and that’s why it’s talking to people now.”
Wicked is currently running in theaters
published – November 29, 2024 06:08 PM IST
