Are you a good witch or a bad witch?

A continuation of the lifelong debate — is the book or movie better? Now is the play better than the film?

The originals are always better, or so the critics say.  When books are adapted into movies the people who are original fans of the book have very strong opinions on how things should be when the movie is produced. There are good adaptations and bad adaptations. Wicked, written by Gregory Maguire, was a book to begin with but is more well known as a musical that opened on Broadway in 2003. The musical has been produced on stages all over the world in the years since it has opened.  

Wicked is the story of what happens to the character from the movie The Wizard of Oz, leading up to the events that happen in Oz when Dorothy arrives. The show’s original cast including the very talented Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, had a cameo in the Wicked movie. Since its Broadway debut, Wicked has had a cult like following.  

“I’ve seen the play three times. The first time would have been 2006 or 2007 then it would have been 2016 and then 2018. Two were in Toronto one was in New York,” said Sophie Deakin, a local theatre enthusiast. 

Wicked the film has been a box office hit. The movie was released on Nov. 22 in Canada and stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo who both received glowing reviews from critics and the audience. From the cast sets, soundtrack and choreography there were minimal negative comments made.  

“I was nervous going into it just because, I wanted it to be right. Before it even started, I had this weird feeling the first time I went to see it, I said it was gonna be good. And then by the Wizard and I song, I said, ‘oh my God, this is gonna be perfect”’, said Lucas Sferrazza, a local theatre enthusiast. 

Fans of the musical production had their ideal cast when there was first word that there was a movie in the works. While there were numerous fan castings, the movie went in a different direction. People were skeptical at first for the movie and the casting, but many were pleasantly surprised.  

 “Even though I have some doubts about Ariana Grande because I’m not the biggest fan of her acting and her singing was phenomenal. I thought that the costume design, the sets, l the acting, everything, was phenomenal and you’re engaged the whole time,” Deakin said.  

Many people who had seen the play before they saw the movie, knew what was going to happen and how the story should play out   according to the musical.

 Wicked fans had higher expectations for the screen, anticipating their favourite song or scene whereas first time viewers are just excited to see where the story will take them and what will happen next.  

“It was better than I expected. I was blown away by the acting and the singing,” Deakin said.  

The golden globes took place on Jan. 5 this year. Wicked was nominated for a multitude of awards like; best motion picture, musical or comedy, best performance by a female actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy, best performance by a female actor in a supporting role in a motion picture, and cinematic box office achievement.  

Some of the Sputnik staff have thoughts on who may win Golden Globes in the following categories: 

Best actor: Sebastian Stan, Cillian Murphy x2 

Best Actress: Demi Moore, Emma Stone x2 

Supporting Actor: Denis Quaid, Robert Downey Jr., Ryan Gosling 

Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande x2, America Ferrera  

Best motion picture: The Substance, Oppenheimer or Barbie  

Best Director: Coralie Fargeat, Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer), Martin Scorsese 

Visual effects: Dune 2, Avatar: the way of water, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 

Original song: What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie 

Adapted screenplay: Dune 2, Wicked or Barbie

Best Documentary: 20 days in Mariupol 

Costume design: Barbie 

What the sputnik team got correct 

Best actress (musical or comedy): Demi Moore

Best actor (musical or comedy): Sebastian Stan


This article was originally printed in Volume 24, issue 5 on January 9, 2025.

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