WICKED

Story
So much happened before Dorothy dropped in.
Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in
Munchkinland, two girls meet in the Land of
Oz. One – born with emerald green skin – is
smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is
beautiful, ambitious and very popular.

Synopsis
Wicked explores the concept that the Wicked Witch of the West, here known as
Elphaba, was a misunderstood, victimized person whose behavior was merely
a reaction against a charlatan wizard's corrupt government. It also shows her
relationship with the beautiful and ambitious Galinda Upland, who ultimately
becomes Glinda the Good Witch of the North. Through the show, their
friendship struggles to endure extreme personality conflicts, opposing
viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, and Elphaba's eventual fall
from grace.

[edit] Act I

The show opens as the citizens of Oz celebrate the death of the Wicked Witch
of the West. Glinda descends onto the stage and confirms the circumstances of
the Witch's melting ("No One Mourns the Wicked"). The remainder of the plot
forms an extended flashback through the events of Glinda's and the Witch's
lives. It is at Shiz University that Glinda, then Galinda Upland, first encounters
Elphaba Thropp, the daughter of the governor of Munchkinland ("Dear Old
Shiz"), who is ostracized for her electric-green skin; they take an immediate
dislike to each other. In a moment of anger, trying to help her sister Nessa,
Elphaba reveals an innate magical talent, which impresses Madame Morrible,
the "headshiztress" of Shiz; she notes that Elphaba's talents may be of use to
the Wizard of Oz, and promises to ask him for an audience ("The Wizard and
I"). Galinda and Elphaba, meanwhile, espouse their mutual loathing in a duet
("What is this Feeling?").
The audience is introduced to Doctor Dillamond, a Goat and Shiz University's
only Animal professor, whose history class is interrupted by an anti-Animal
demonstration. After dismissing the class, he confides in Elphaba that things in
Oz are not what they seem to be; something is causing the Animals of Oz to
lose their powers of speech ("Something Bad").

Fiyero Tiggular, a Winkie prince, arrives at Shiz and immediately impresses his
own brand of cavalier, carefree living on the students ("Dancing Through
Life"). Fiyero organizes a party at a local ballroom; Galinda, while preparing,
discovers a black pointed hat in a box and gives it to Elphaba as a “present”;
Elphaba arrives wearing the hat, only to be ridiculed. Defiant, she proceeds to
dance alone and without musical accompaniment. Feeling guilty, Galinda joins
her on the dance floor, marking the start of a new friendship between the two.
After the dance, Galinda and Elphaba talk in their room; Galinda decides to
give her new friend a makeover and to make her "Popular."

The next day, Ozian officials take away Doctor Dillamond. The new history
teacher arrives with a caged lion cub (who will turn out to be the Cowardly
Lion) as the subject of an in-class experiment, revealing that Animals that are
kept in cages never will learn how to speak. Outraged, Elphaba and Fiyero
steal the cub and set it free. The two hint that they may have feelings for each
other, but Fiyero leaves, embarrassed. Elphaba takes refuge under a bridge
and regrets that it would be impossible for someone like Fiyero to love
someone like her ("I'm Not That Girl"). Madame Morrible finds her and
announces that she has been granted an audience with the Wizard. At the train
station, Galinda and Fiyero see Elphaba off to the Emerald City. In an attempt
to impress Fiyero, Galinda announces that she will change her name to
"Glinda" in honor of Doctor Dillamond's persistent mispronunciation. Fiyero
seems not to notice, and Elphaba, feeling bad for Glinda, invites her along to
see the Wizard.

After a day of sightseeing in the Emerald City ("One Short Day"), Elphaba and
Glinda meet the Wizard. Eschewing the special effects that he employs for the
benefit of most visitors, he invites Elphaba to join him ("A Sentimental Man").
As a test, he asks that Elphaba give his monkey servant, Chistery, the ability
to fly using the Grimmerie, an ancient book of spells. Elphaba demonstrates an
innate understanding of the lost language, and successfully gives Chistery
wings. Showing her how powerful she really is, the Wizard reveals a cage full
of winged monkeys, and remarks that they will make good spies to report any
subversive Animal activity. Realizing that she has been used and that the
Wizard has no power of his own, Elphaba runs away with the Grimmerie,
pursued by the palace guards.

Defying Gravity

The bridge section of Defying Gravity from Act I finale.

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Elphaba and Glinda run into the tallest tower, where they hear Madame
Morrible declaring to all of Oz that Elphaba is a "Wicked Witch" and is to be
distrusted. Elphaba enchants a broomstick to fly and tries to convince Glinda to
join her in her cause, but Glinda cannot resist the call of popularity and
refuses. Leaving Glinda behind, Elphaba flies off, promising to fight the Wizard
with all of her power ("Defying Gravity").

[edit] Act II

A few years have passed, and Elphaba's exploits have earned her the title "The
Wicked Witch of the West" ("No One Mourns the Wicked (Reprise)"). Glinda
and Morrible hold a press conference to announce Glinda's surprise
engagement to Fiyero ("Thank Goodness"). Meanwhile, Elphaba arrives at the
governor's residence in Munchkinland seeking refuge; Nessarose, now the
governess, criticizes Elphaba for not using her newfound powers to help her
sister. Guilty, Elphaba enchants Nessarose's jeweled shoes, enabling her to
walk. Boq, Nessarose's servant, is summoned and reveals that his affection for
Nessarose was put on and his heart lies with Glinda. Furious, Nessarose
miscasts a spell from the Grimmerie, accidentally causing Boq's heart to
shrink. While Elphaba attempts to save him, Nessarose reflects on how her
obsession with Boq has led her to oppress the Munchkins ("The Wicked Witch
of the East"). Elphaba saves Boq by turning him into the Tin Woodman;
horrified, Nessarose lays the blame with Elphaba.

Elphaba returns to the Wizard's palace in order to free the rest of the winged
monkeys. The Wizard attempts to regain her favor by agreeing to set them
free ("Wonderful"). Upon discovering a now-speechless Doctor Dillamond
among the monkeys, Elphaba rejects his offer and attempts to escape, but
runs into Fiyero. Confirming his true love for Elphaba, he runs off with her.
Glinda sees this and is crestfallen that those closest to her have betrayed her
("I'm Not That Girl (Reprise)"). In an attempt to capture Elphaba once and for
all, Madame Morrible decides to create a cyclone that will endanger Nessarose.

As Long As You're Mine

The introduction and first two lines of "As Long as You're Mine".

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In a dark forest, Fiyero and Elphaba express their love, but are interrupted
when Elphaba senses that her sister is in danger ("As Long As You're Mine").
She flies off to help, but it is too late, arriving just as Glinda sends Dorothy and
Toto off along the Yellow Brick Road. The palace guards capture Elphaba, but
Fiyero intervenes and allows Elphaba to escape before surrendering himself.
The guards take him to a nearby cornfield to be tortured until he tells them of
Elphaba's whereabouts. At her castle, Elphaba tries to cast any spell that she
can to save Fiyero, but thinking that she has failed, she begins to accept her
reputation as "wicked" ("No Good Deed").
Meanwhile, the Citizens of Oz and Boq prepare a witch-hunt ("March of the
Witch Hunters"). Seeing this, Glinda travels to Elphaba's castle to persuade her
to let Dorothy go, but Elphaba refuses. She makes Glinda promise not to clear
her name and to take charge in Oz, and the two confirm a true friendship ("For
Good"). As the mob arrives at the castle, Dorothy runs in and throws a bucket
of water on Elphaba, melting her. Glinda, unsure of what has happened, sees
that all that remains of her friend is her black hat and elixir vial. After
mourning Elphaba's death, Glinda takes the elixir vial to the Wizard, revealing
the fact that he is Elphaba's father after having had an affair with her mother.
Glinda tells the Wizard to leave Oz in his balloon and sends Morrible to prison,
before preparing to face the citizens of Oz, returning to the opening scene of
the show.

Fiyero, whom Elphaba had turned into the Scarecrow, opens a trapdoor in
Elphaba's castle. Elphaba, very much alive, emerges and the two are happily
reunited. Glinda addresses the citizens of Oz, proclaiming that she would like
to be "Glinda the Good" as she will reform the government. Elphaba and Fiyero
leave Oz forever as the cast performs the final song ("Finale").