Becoming one of the highest grossing West End shows, Wicked continues to astound its audiences through its incredible use of costumes, grand staging, and breath-taking array of musical numbers.
Extravagance wholly defines this musical, with the set incorporating a giant ‘time dragon’ which looms over the stage. Additionally, the untold story of the witches of Oz dazzles with its astounding eight costume changes per character; each one grander than the last! The cost of the costumes will also leave you wide-eyed, the most expensive of which is a claret dress belonging to head teacher Madam Morrible costing a mammooth £25,000. While the show may be bold, it’s not just full of tricks and gimmicks. The story line tugs on all your emotions, focusing on an unlikely friendship between two vastly different witches, whose relationship struggles through their opposing viewpoints and shared love interest. With 20 songs featured in the hit musical, the shows climax dazzles onlookers as Elphaba descends into the air (with the assistance of a hydraulic elevator), during her ballad ‘Defying Gravity’. With the underlying message of embracing your true self, finding power in your differences, and its jaw dropping vocal range, ‘Defying Gravity’, in all its boldness, is truly the most memorable and extravagant part of the show.
Intricate dance numbers, incredible makeup, and flying monkeys, are just a small part of the show’s indulgence. Never for a moment can it be considered boring, nor would you hope so for the tickets £50 price-tag! The show certainly pulls out all the stops to entertain its audience and ensure you get your money’s worth. It leaves you in a state of awe, as you ponder its moral message of always standing up for what you believe in. Its magic stays with you long after the curtain falls, and you may even find yourself wishing to journey to the magical land of Oz and experience its wonder for yourself.
The Lion King is a visual experience like no other. It combines an explosion of colour, captivating music, and a skilled cast who morph themselves into animals before your eyes. As of 2014, the musical has become one of the highest-ever grossing theatre shows, earning over £6.2 billion worldwide and plenty more since then! It’s no surprise why the show has continued to be a hit, with the non-naturalistic show going all out with its extravagant set, brilliantly detailed masks, and skilled use of puppetry. The show follows young and energetic lion cub Simba in the African Savanna, who runs away after his father Mufuasa is killed by his evil Uncle Scar. After the Pride Land falls to darkness under his Uncle’s rule, Simba is left to claim back his birth right with the help of his trusted friends, who share a few songs along the way!
The African Savanna is brought to life through a compelling set. A gigantic sun adorns the stage, constructed out of 43 aluminium ribs attached to silk strips; giving the impression of a sun rise. The sun isn’t the only large-scale use of staging, with a giant elephant puppet being created for the show. Master puppetry is integrated throughout the show, to bring the exotic animals to life with the help of expert performers. With over 232 puppets used per show the grand scale of puppetry may be over the top, but I find it rather fitting when matched with the stunning musical ballads. Puppetry is just one of the elements which makes the show so captivating.
Skilled dancers simulate the movements of their animal, while meticulous masks encapsulate the emotions and personalities of each character. Although the masks and puppets are crucial to the performance, it’s no mean feat creating them; with an average 37,000 hours taken to create all the masks and puppets used in a single show. However, extravagance seems the only option when you’re telling the story of a young lion cub destined to be king. Overall, I believe The Lion King is a heart-warming story of identity and friendship, and it’s no surprise why the musical continually wins the hearts of the nation. You leave with an irremovable smile and Hakuna Matata replaying in your head for days!
Based on the novel by Mark Haddon and adapted into a script by Simon Stephens, the seven-time Olivier winning play The Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night-time can be branded as extravagant due to its complex lighting and physical theatre style making the show fantastic. Inspired by Frantic Assembly and choreographed by Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett, the show incorporates techniques such as a jet pack lift and mime which enables the audience to travel into Christopher’s wonderful world. As a play that focuses on disability and attitudes towards someone who is different, the almost supernatural effect created on stage (enhanced by powerful instrumentals) means that the concept of difference is portrayed in an uplifting light.
One of the most extravagant moments within the play is when Christopher is travelling to London. The cacophony of contrasting and electrically enhanced sounds as well as the hustle and bustle of actors on stage creates this visually appealing set up and engulfs the audience. Despite being a naturalistic script, the increased theatricality creates a non-naturalistic environment and is what makes the show so enjoyable. Paule Constable, the lighting designer, uses symbolic lighting to add to the extravagance. For example, when Christopher was panicked, red strobe lighting was used to demonstrate the shift in his emotions and create a tense environment within in the auditorium. In this sense, extravagance doesn’t always relate to happiness, and one thing the director Marianne Elliot does so well is ensure that extravagance in some form is present throughout the whole play. It is a rollercoaster of emotions but you leave the show with a warm heart. It is something that you don’t want to miss!