Montecasino Movies turned into The Wizard of Oz’s Emerald City on 18 November 2024. Adorned with pink and green for the South African premiere of Wicked, the space was beautifully transformed.
The film is an adaptation of the stage musical which tells the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz. Set within Shiz University and the Emerald City, Wicked is narrated through the characters of Elphaba and Glinda, the green and pink witch, respectively. And, the villain of a story is merely a misunderstood hero. Ultimately, Wicked dives into the tale of Elphaba to reveal the truth about the human behind the green mask.
The Wicked premiere served as proof that South Africans approach everything they do wholeheartedly. Smoke and the sound of violins filled the air and guests were dressed to the nines, adhering to the theme of the evening. In fact, no stone was left unturned at the premiere, which made the experience of Wicked all the more magical.
Whether dressed in pink, representing Glinda, or green to vouch for Elphaba, eventually everyone left with an amalgamation of emotions, serving as an ode to the grey areas in life.
Wicked explores the tropes of friendship and self-love through the characters of Glinda and Elphaba (played brilliantly by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo respectively). In fact, both actresses have said that they underwent a journey of sisterhood and self-confidence during the filming process.
Acceptance is a key theme of the film and nearly everyone left with a little more love for themselves and those around them. No one is perfect, which is the beauty of life.
Due to its universality, the movie has taken the world by storm. Whichever way you identify, Wicked has a message for everyone. Also, it’s a film that can be watched over and over again, with something new standing out every time.
Most importantly, an overlooked societal issue – that of animal rights – is also explored intricately in the film. Without giving too much away, we can attest that moviegoers gasped, shed tears and smiled as the film’s relevance triggered emotions. Subsequently, the film is set to spread an essential message of humanity through song and lyrics. And, in the face of climate insecurity and animal endangerment, Wicked has certainly come at the perfect time.
Perfect for a friends’ outing, date night, family gathering or solo adventure, Wicked will be opening to the public in all major cinemas on 22 November 2024.
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