We all thought we understood the story of “The Wizard of Oz.” After Dorothy crash lands in Munchkin Land, she is told that only The Wizard can transport her back home. When she is finally granted an interview with him, he tells her he can help, but only if she kills the Wicked Witch of the West. After Dorothy surprises everyone by actually accomplishing her quest, The Wizard tries to renege on his promise, and it’s not until Toto pulls back the curtain, that Dorothy and the rest of us realizes that The Wizard is nothing more than a huckster. If we truly think about it, this is not a story about an evil witch, but rather a tale about an evil con man convincing a young woman to kill someone.

So, it begs the question … who really is the bad guy in this story?  Cue the prequel…

“Wicked” follows the heartwarming and surprising friendship formed early on between the witches of Oz, long before Dorothy skips down the yellow brick road. Actresses Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande bring tenderness to a story that flips the narrative, giving hope to a tale that inevitably will end tragically for Elphaba, the so-called Wicked Witch. Meanwhile, actor Jeff Goldblum aces the role of the charming yet diabolical Wizard of Oz.

Make no mistake, “Wicked” is written and directed for today’s audience, with colorful costumes and sets similar to Barbie World, and a storyline reminiscent of “Mean Girls.” But “Wicked” is also the retelling of an old story … now told from a perspective that turns what we thought we knew, upside down.

Like its predecessor, “Wicked” is a charming mix of storytelling, colorful imagery and music. While this is the initial installment of a 2-part story, viewers can take solace that the ending of Part 1 is a satisfying intermission until the release of Part 2, coming out November 2025.

“Wicked” is available now on Amazon Prime. 

By Heidi McCrary, author of “Chasing North Star,” available online wherever books are sold. You can follow Heidi at heidi@heidimccrary.net.