WICKED THEATRE REVIEW
Get the fascinating back story from Oz in Wicked
If you've ever read the novel The Wizard of Oz or watched the famous film and wondered what happened before Dorothy arrived from Kansas, then hit West End musical Wicked could be for you.
Written by Gregory Maguire in 1995 and adapted into a stage show in 2003, Wicked first arrived at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London in 2006 and became a favourite almost straight away.
It broke a record for the biggest ever West End opening - achieving £100,000 in ticket sales in the first hour alone - and has since been seen by more than two million people in the capital.
Indeed, its popularity is such that it scooped Best West End Show in the first ever WhatsonStage.com award to be voted for by the public in 2010.
So, what makes Wicked so thoroughly enjoyable? The answer is likely to be its interesting, exciting, but also relevant plotline.
The musical tells the story of two young sorcery students, Elphaba and Glinda, who form an unlikely but strong friendship as they discover their personalities, fall in love with the same guy and generally grow up at Shiz University.
However, we are aware that they are to ultimately fulfil their destinies as Glinda the Good - the Good Witch of the North - and the Wicked Witch of the West, which makes the story even more fascinating.
Critics have lined up to lavish praise on Wicked since its opening, with Vanessa Thorpe of the Observer calling it "one of the biggest hits of our age" and the Sunday Telegraph labelling the show "the hit musical with brains, heart and courage".
Some people even think it could teach children valuable lessons about tolerance, with teacher Lauren Robinson-Hunt pointing out in the San Diego News that Elphaba's problems may reflect those of people struggling with feelings of loneliness.
However, Wicked is equally enjoyable even if you don't read this deeply into it and simply view it as cracking entertainment.
So, whether you want to watch a story with a moral or just a tale of magic and mayhem, Wicked is definitely the musical for you.