I will fully admit that I only became a fan of Wicked because Ariana Grande was cast as Glinda in 2021. As a long-time Ariana Grande fan, I knew she had always wanted to play the role and was so happy for her. The more I learned about the meaning behind the story in preparation for watching the movie, the more I identified with the musical/film. In honor of Wicked For Good being released this week, here is how I relate to the famous musical.Â
I identify with both Glinda and Elphaba in different ways. Glinda is forced to put on a brave smile and join her people in celebrating the end of the wicked witch. She is forced to mourn in hiding while continuing to lead Oz. As someone who has a disability, this is very relatable. My disability is invisible for the most part and is not something that is obvious to people. While I do have many noticeable scars, most people don’t notice until I point it out. I relate to putting on a brave face and smiling through my pain, so much so that I often experience people being shocked when they find out about my disability and some of the challenges I have faced in my life. “But you’re so happy all the time!” people tell me. Even though I have had major life setbacks due to my health, every time, I have had to continue and keep going. Glinda prioritizes her image and doesn’t want to cause commotion (at least in the first part), and that’s where the similarities between her and me end.Â
Elphaba, however, is very different. In the first act/movie, she faces discrimination because of her skin color. She tries to fit in and becomes elated and hopeful when Madame Morrible tells her of the Wizard and how he may be able to help her. This feeling is all too well for a disabled person. Even though I don’t look disabled, it’s something I am quite open about. Our current political climate does not talk about disability enough, making it extremely marginalized. Because of this, many people are unaware of potentially harmful words, stereotypes, and views they have. Other people dislike disabled people for their own backwards reasons. I have experienced both, and both kinds of ableism are deeply upsetting and hurtful. There have been times in my life when I have had doctors promise to cure my health problems and that they can improve the quality of my life. Similarly to Elphaba’s experience, hope dies.Â
By the end of part 1, Elphaba has discovered the corrupt truth behind the Wizard and threatens to expose him. This obviously angers the Wizard and Madame Morrible, who send armed guards and flying monkeys to kill her. Elphaba wishes for Glinda to join her in the revolt and seek refuge together. Glinda decides to stay in Oz. During this tense plot, Elphaba sings “Defying Gravity”, an empowering song about believing in what’s right and cutting ties with the people who keep her oppressed. In part 2, Elphaba becomes a fugitive and seeks to free the animals in Oz who are also oppressed. Her plans become complicated when her sister, Nessarose, dies and Fiyero accidentally becomes a scarecrow. She is then forced to return to Oz.Â
While it would be so much easier for me to put up with discrimination and bullying to not create commotion and rock the boat, it’s not in me. If history tells us anything, it shows us that disruptors in society are met with a lot of scrutiny and criticism. Disruptors throughout history who have fought for themselves and others have been killed, hated, and isolated. I know that because of these qualities, I can be an uncomfortable person to be around. If I feel disrespected or hurt by someone, I will address it. If I see someone doing something wrong, I will speak up. I know I’m loud, opinionated, and assertive. I also know that I am kind, attentive, and caring. It is because of my assertiveness and strong sense of dignity that I am very misunderstood. We see the same situation and feelings in Elphaba during the production.Â
I would be remiss if I did not mention Nessarose. Historically, the role of Nessa has been played by actresses without any disability. This is largely in part because of the twist in part 2. After Elphaba starts a revolution, Nessa becomes bitter and lonely. She struggles with unrequited love for Boq and deep anger for being different and having a harder life. When Elpahaba returns, Nessa uses her shoes to “cure” herself of her disability and walk. In the Broadway production, this scene has historically caused the audience to applaud. This is problematic in two ways. The first, how it portrayed disabled people to be spiteful and bitter because of their disability. The second, how she becomes “cured”. Disability is not to be cured; in fact, that idea is deeply tied to eugenics.Â
It was not until last year that we saw a disabled actress play Nessarose in Wicked. Marissa Bode, a wheelchair user, made history as the first to play the role. Since then, Jenna Bainbridge has been cast as Nessa on Broadway this year. For a production that has been played since 2003, it certainly took long enough for proper disability representation. I was really curious how the movie would depict the problematic scene. Last year, during the release of part 1, Marissa commented in a few interviews that John M. Chu had rewritten the scene, and ever since then has been on my mind. The change was how Nessa levitates in her wheelchair when she puts on the shoes. I really appreciate the change and feel it was done appropriately. When Nessa puts on the shoes, it is a big moment in the production, so it would not make sense to erase that. By making her levitate instead of walk, it takes the focus off her disability and is a callback to when she levitates at Shiz in part 1. If I were to be super picky about the scene, I probably would’ve changed it further. It would be even better if Nessa levitated IN her chair. This would’ve been a better tie-in to part 1 and would’ve been even more representative of disability. Marissa Bode is not getting enough praise for her performance, and being able to see her on the screen is so exciting for me.Â
Wicked has been so successful and loved by fans because of how relatable the lead characters are. Everyone sees themself in Glinda and/or Elphaba, which adds to the magic of the film. Wicked shows just how important representation is of people who are different, and sets a new standard of how all marginalized people should be properly represented in media.Â