Blockbuster musical Wicked last night commenced performances in Melbourne with a solid standing ovation from an opening night audience made up of celebrities, investors and theatre industry representatives.
The Regent Theatre was packed to capacity for the show, which created an extraordinary buzz at interval and an even bigger positive reaction at its completion, and at the star-studded after-party.
The after-party, held at the Sofitel in Melbourne, was one of the biggest parties of its kind ever held in the city - spanning at least three major rooms and featuring extraordinary catering and green and pink cocktails.
Earlier, opening night guests walked the green carpet as the media clamoured for photographs, with spotlights working overtime and a Melbourne radio station broadcasting live from the event.
The performance commenced around 10 minutes late, at 7.10pm, but everything went off without a hitch, a stellar workout that the cast and creative team must surely be thrilled by.
Wicked, already a major hit overseas, tells the back-story to The Wizard Of Oz with particular focus on the two witches - Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West, who in this tale is given a name, Elphaba.
The duo form an unlikely friendship as mysteries unravel, all mixed with one of the most iconic contemporary musical theatre scores, which is leading a new generation of youngsters into the theatre.
The show is expected to be a major success story in Melbourne, running for anywhere up to three years at the Regent before even considering a move, most likely to Sydney.
Melbourne had been "turned green" for last night's premiere, with street lamps on Collins Street changing colour and the buzz of the city evident as guests began to arrive for the opening night performance.
For the cast who partied into the night and celebrated an extraordinary achievement, reality now sets in: Eight shows a week for who knows how long.
Aussietheatre.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment