Not so wicked

By Rita Charleston
For the Times

Wicked, one of Broadway’s biggest blockbusters, has returned to the Academy of Music, delving into the untold story of the witches of Oz.
The winner of 15 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony awards, this show has the brains, the heart and the courage to pull off a major win again, playing to sold-out audiences who have been waiting for its return. The musical is in Philly through Sept. 9.
Long before Dorothy drops in, two others girls meet in the land of Oz. One, named Elphaba, the Wicked Witch, is born with emerald green skin and played by Victoria Matlock. The other — the beautiful, ambitious, very popular and curly-haired Glinda the Good Witch — is portrayed by Christina DeCicco.
Elphaba and Glinda meet at a school where both hope to take up sorcery. By a misunderstanding, they wind up roommates and eventually friends, after many trials and tribulations.
The entire cast makes it easy to see why this show continues to be such a hit, especially DeCicco, whose good looks, melodic voice and formidable comedic ways make her one of the hits of Wicked.
"This is a very good role," said DeCicco, who is making her touring debut in the show, "but it’s easy to fall into two traps. Because Glinda is a comedic character, the challenge is to go out there every night and tell the story without simply going for the laughs. It’s so easy when you know that if you say a line a special way, the audience will open up with huge laughs and you’ll get a great response. But you have to hold back."
Also, she added, Glinda can be perceived at times as the mean girl. DeCicco can fall into that trap too.
"But I believe she’s not mean, she’s just been a really privileged girl and had everything she wanted. Used to always being the popular one, in the beginning she’s not that popular with the school faculty and that’s where Elphaba comes in," the actress said. "Eventually, Elphaba opens Glinda’s eyes to the fact that differences in people can be overlooked and that people, despite those differences, can indeed become true friends."
Aside from her touring debut, DeCicco, a graduate of Wagner College, has starred in regional productions of Urinetown and Annie Get Your Gun, as well as West Side Story and Beauty and the Beast locally at the Walnut Street Theatre.
"I grew up in Long Island and it took me a while to decide I wanted to pursue a career in theater," DeCicco explained. "But once I did decide, I went at it wholeheartedly. I started working in small non-equity theaters, then I was lucky enough to come to work at the Walnut. I credit them with giving me my chance and starting my career off."
And now that her career is going full steam ahead, DeCicco has found that the things that please her most are being able to tell a story and entertain people.
"I enjoy the fact that the audience can sit back and relax for two hours and think about something different from what they normally think about," she said. "I also enjoy the fact that theater may be able to open their eyes to a different way of living."
In particular, Wicked, the story of champions and the underdog, proves that point, DeCicco said.
"Maybe we can learn something from that. People become attached to the show, the message it has, the great music, the lights, the costumes," she said. "I know it takes on a different form in people’s minds. I think it not only tells a story, but also delivers a very important message." ••
For ticket information, call 215-731-3333.