Wicked at Folketeateret Oslo Review
Written by Jacqueline for Theatre and Tonic
As a long-time fan of Wicked, one of my favourite things to do in recent years has been to visit foreign countries and see their non-replica productions of the show. A non-replica production uses the same script and score as the original show, but changes the design and staging. The current Oslo production at the Folketeateret is particularly notable as it is the first non-replica production to have been staged since the first Wicked movie was released. But just how much has the existence of the movie impacted the stage production?
Firstly, let me address the number one question that everybody has asked me about this production: yes, the songs are in Norwegian. Did this hugely impact my ability to enjoy the show? Not at all! As long as you have a strong grasp of the English score, you’ll have no difficulty. When shows are translated into foreign languages, the translators generally prioritise the rhythm and syllable count over getting an exact translation. For example, in German, the direct translation of the phrase “The Wizard and I” is “der Zauberer und ich”. However, since the word “zauberer” (magician) has one more syllable than the word “wizard”, during the show itself you will generally hear the verses end with the phrase “Der Zauberer und ich: Zwei, die sich versteh'n”. This translates to “the magician and I, two who understand each other”. It can be really interesting to dive into these translations to see how particular parts of the show have been adapted and what has been added or removed.
The cast for this production were phenomenal, and we are incredibly fortunate that the Folketeateret has shared so much official footage of the show across their social media platforms. As our leading witches, Sanne Kvitnes (Elphaba) and Alexandra Rotan (Glinda) were phenomenal. Throughout the first act it was clear to see aspects of those performances which had been influenced by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s performances in the Wicked movie- a particular moment that stood out to me was the blocking of the moment where the pair first meet. I was also momentarily convinced we were about to see the addition of the “You’re green?” “I am” exchange from the film. Alexandra Rotan is the first Glinda in a staged production of Wicked to get to sing the extended ending to “Popular”, and it was such a thrill to hear this live. Thomas Brasel as Fiyero also had some strong Jonathan Bailey influences, in particular during his suave interactions with the other Shiz students during the “Dancing Through Life” sequence. What made these movie-based differences so interesting was that since only the first act currently has a big-screen counterpart, the cast then really came into their own in the second act. Another notable difference in this production was the involvement of Dorothy Gale as an onstage character with spoken dialogue, rather than a shadow as she is portrayed in the English-language production. Due to copyright rules, Dorothy appears often in non-English speaking productions, and it will be interesting to see how similar or dissimilar her presence in the stage show is when compared to the next Wicked film later this year.
In terms of scenic design, this production is far from the original design of the show. As a whole, the costumes are a bit less magical and more like something you’d see people wearing out and about in the real world, mainly using wigs and accessories to give that Ozian flair. The base set is the same as the production used in Denmark last year, with gold side platforms giving the stage more height and depth. Projection screens at the rear of the stage are used throughout the production to great effect, especially during moments such as the tornado scene. Having said that, there were a few moments where the screens glitched slightly, but this was remedied quickly and likely went unnoticed by most people. I did miss seeing some of the larger set pieces from the original design, such as the Wizard’s head, but the use of projection screens as a replacement perhaps suggests a plan for touring this production. One of the most drastic changes to the show took place during Defying Gravity. Spoiler warning! In this production, for Elphaba’s iconic flight, she actually disappears into a side box in the auditorium and emerges in a harness before flying across the auditorium for the final minutes of the song. I was in awe at how well she sang despite how shaky her singing was. Another slight movie reference I enjoyed was that the theatre has large screens inside the auditorium with the effect of stained glass windows, so at the moment when in the movie Elphaba blows the windows out, in this production the lighting creates a similar effect with the in-auditorium design. just as Glinda gets the extended ending to Popular, Defying Gravity also has some extra content at the end of the song so that both of our leading witches get an additional moment to shine.
All in all, Oslo has created a spectacular new production of Wicked, which is hugely enjoyable to both long-term fans and also those who are new to the show. Though the potential language barrier may be off-putting to some, seeing a non-replica production is incredibly worthwhile and an experience I’d recommend for any theatre fan at least once in their lives.
Playing until 11 May 2025
★★★★
