For those who have seen The Wizard of Oz, you will truly love the spectacular new musical, Wicked. Bringing forth into the 21st century a new side story of the witches of Oz, the music and lighting is exemplified in beauty just like their counterpart, the exquisite costumes.
Here is a secret of acting: if you have a great costume, all you have to do is to show-up. Costume designer for the musical, Susan Hilferty, believes that every costume designer is a story teller. Each garment, each stich, each fabric, each bead should tell a part of a story. By incorporating different designs and styles of dress, she helps create the character. It is her belief that even though an actor or actress takes on a new persona of the character they are playing, she bases the costumes primarily on the physique, beauty, and personality of the actors themselves.
Take for instance the very first Galinda (later known as Glinda) to take the Wicked stage, her hair was meant to be curly. Why curly? It was because her character was full of happiness, joy, and glee. However, concentrating on the actress herself, a more straight look was more convincing.
She compares her costume designing journey for the show to weaving. She weaves a garment as a story is progressing, guiding certain stitches and designs as a story reaches a downfall or climax. Each actor in the musical resembles a thread; they are each important and a critical member in keeping together the collectiveness of the show as each stitch holds together different fabrics. In her mind is a certain image for the character. A proper costume designer must not think "Is this wig right?" or "Is this dress right?" The primary question is, "Is this actor right?"
In all the costumes, she incorporated little bits of the Wizard of Oz. This was a side story, a different story, one that people knew was awkward but good. That is why none of the costumes are every symmetrical or linear. When looking at boots, there might be wheels on them, and on top-hats, there might be two tubes on the top.
So if ever you go see the musical, enjoy the music, dance, and lights. But while you're dancing through life in Oz, remember, the costumes went through intense labor-hours to be perfect for you, the audience.
image source: musicalzentrale.de
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