A helicopter may be an unorthodox form of travel for a witch - but these two aren't your ordinary broomstick-wielding sorcerers.
Glinda and Elphaba are the central characters in the musical Wicked - which is flying into Auckland's Civic Theatre in September.
The story is based on the premise that a lot happened in Oz before Dorothy landed.
Based on a novel of the same name, Wicked suggests that Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West (Elphaba) weren't always arch enemies.
"The relationship between the two girls is fantastic," says Suzie Mathers, who plays Glinda. "How they became friends, and how one became good and one became evil. It kind of turns the traditional idea of the whole Wizard of Oz and our preconceived ideas of the witches on its head a little."
Old Oz favourites the lion, tin man, and scarecrow all make fleeting appearances on the yellow brick road - but not in the way you might expect.
Wicked is one of the most popular musicals ever, and has been seen by more than 35 million people worldwide.
Jemma Rix has played the role of Elphaba 800 times throughout Australia and Asia - that's 800 times she's had to be painted green.
"We have it down to a fine art now, so we can sort of be done half an hour, 45 minutes," she says. "And then to take off - sort of half an hour, sometimes longer."
The show is coming to Auckland as part of its 10th anniversary tour, and producer John Frost says the city will be buzzing.
"Wicked fans are very loyal, and they do travel internationally to see productions in Japan, in Germany, Holland, London, New York," he says. "They've been out to Australia and I've no doubt there'll be a lot flying in here for it."
The musical will be staged just as it is on Broadway - almost 100 people will be needed to bring in the 350 costumes and build the massive set, which includes an animatronic dragon and a gravity-defying aerial rig.
It promises to be an extraordinary journey through the Emerald City.
3 News
source: newshub archive
