I just had a vision almost like a prophecy...

In 1900 Frank L. Baum gave us a timeless story and introduced us to some of the most unforgettable characters of all time. In his book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, he first told us of Dorothy Gale, the little girl from Kansas and her dog Toto. Dorothy lived with her Auntie Em and Uncle Henry on a small farm. After an unexpected twister lifts her little farmhouse and plops it down in the strange Land of Oz on top of the Wicked Witch of the East, Dorothy finds herself surrounded by all sorts of strange people! She meets Munchkinlanders, witches, a talking lion, a tin woodman and a scarecrow who can sing and dance! After the Good Witch of the North gives her the silver slippers worn by the Wicked Witch of the East, Dorothy is sent along a road made of yellow bricks to the City of Emeralds. Along the way she meets the Scarecrow, the tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion. When they arrive they are given glasses with emerald lenses. She asked the Wonderful Wizard of Oz to send her home. Her friends also seek his help: the Scarecrow wants a brain, the tin Woodman wants a heart and the lion wants courage. However, after being told their requests will be granted, the wizard tells them they must first kill the Wicked Witch of the West who reigns over Winkie Country. On their way to the castle of the Wicked Witch, the Wicked Witch sends out all sorts of beasts to deter them. When they all fail, she sends out her winged monkeys to capture all of the friends. After the Wicked Witch of the West obtains one of Dorothy's silver slippers using trickery, Dorothy throws a bucket of water on the witch in a moment of anger. The Wicked Witch of the West then begins to melt. The people of Winkie country rejoice in their new found freedom and reassemble the tin Woodman and the Scarecrow. Dorothy then summons the winged monkeys with the Golden Cap and has them fly her and her friends back to the castle of the King. Dorothy and her friends then return to the Wizard of Oz. The wizard then grants the request of Dorothy’s friends. The Scarecrow receives a ‘head’ full of bran, the tin Woodman receives a silk heart full of sawdust and the Cowardly Lion receives a potion of courage. After realizing that the only way for Dorothy to return home, the Wizard of Oz agrees to take Dorothy and Toto home in his new balloon. However, when Dorothy leaves the balloon to chase Toto, the ropes break and the wizard and the balloon leave without her. When the winged monkeys inform Dorothy that they can not fly over the desert surrounding Oz, she is advised to seek the help of Glinda, the Good Witch of the South. Dorothy and her friends then journey to the palace of Glinda in Quadling Country. After battling treacherous Fighting Trees, Hammer Heads and finding their way trough China Country, the friends arrive at the palace of Glinda to a warm welcome. Upon her arrival, Glinda informs the Dorothy that she has had the power to return home all along. Dorothy bids a tearful farewell to her friends and gives the Golden Cap to the winged monkey. Dorothy and Toto then return home to Kansas. The silver shoes Dorothy was wearing upon her departure from Oz were lost in flight and never seen again.

With such a wonderful story, one might think, that’s all there is to it. But what if that’s NOT all there is to it? Why was there a tin woodman with no heart? Why was there a scarecrow with no brain? Why was that lion to terrified? Why was the Wicked Witch of the West so Wicked? And what on earth did she want with those shoes? This is where Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West comes in. In this book you see a whole new side to the witches of Oz. This book is more or less a prequel to Baum’s book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

It all begins with the Time Dragon Clock. Maguire descirbes the life of Miss Elphaba Thropp and her life growing up in Munchkinland as the illegitimate child of Melena and Frexpar Thropp. He then follows her through her experiences with her sister Nessarose. Her brother Shell is not really in this story, however, her mother dies giving birth to him.

The story continues when Elphaba and Nessarose go off to Shiz University where they meet Galinda, Fiyero and Boq, among others. Elphaba and Galinda form an interesting relationship which eventually blossoms into a great friendship.

The story goes on after their college years to Elphaba’s life in the Emerald City and her mischievous behaviors. Then to the nunnery where she lives with a young boy named Liir who acts as her page, though there may be more to that story. Elphaba and Liir eventurally go to stay with the wife of Fiyero where she discovers the legendary Grimmerie. Then, at her father’s request, to her return to Munchkinland where her sister Nessarose has become the Wicked Witch of the East. Her journey to visit the Wizard of Oz and the Time Dragon who reveals the true identity of her father and continues all the way up through her death.

Now with all this being said, the musical Wicked not exactly like the book. This is like almost any other book which has been made into a play or musical. For Wicked ,many of the darker, or more "questionable" parts have been edited out. And everything is set to a wonderful musical number!

"Baum, L[yman] Frank" The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature. James D. Hart. Oxford University Press, 1986. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Central Washington University. 5 June 2009 http://www.oxfordreference.com.ezp.lib.cwu.edu/views/ENTRY.html?entry=t53.e189&srn=1&ssid=403418772#FIRSTHIT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wonderful_Wizard_of_Oz