LITERATURE
SELECTION>>
Reading Comprehension
The untold story
of the two
witches from Oz
Book by Winnie Holzman, Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
ELPHABA: A college student with a green
complexion, a big attitude, and magical powers
GLINDA: Elphaba’s beautiful, popular best
friend, and roommate
HEAD/WIZARD: The leader of Oz
MADAME MORRIBLE: Glinda and Elphaba’s
sorcery professor
CHISTERY: The Wizard’s monkey servant
GUARDS: Oz’s guards
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SEPTEMBER 2004 Literary Cavalcade
The Story So Far Wicked is the story of Elphaba Thropp, an idealistic young
sorcery student destined to become known as “the Wicked Witch of the West.”
Born green, Elphaba has never been popular like her friend Glinda the Good. The
play begins years before Dorothy touches down in Oz, at a time when the animals
of Oz are being tormented and losing the power of speech. In this scene, Elphaba
and Glinda travel to the Emerald City to visit the Wizard, hoping he will help to
restore justice.
ACT ONE, SCENE 13: INSIDE THE WIZARD’S PALACE.
(ELPHABA and GLINDA walk down a hallway. They round a corner—and stop dead
in their tracks, seeing AN ENORMOUS HEAD on a jewel-encrusted throne.
THE HEAD SPEAKS.)
HEAD:
I—am—Oz!
(The two girls clutch each other, terrified . . .)
ELPHABA:
GLINDA:
HEAD:
ELPHABA:
GLINDA:
ELPHABA:
Oh!
Oh, Elphie!
I—am—Oz. The Great and Terrible. Who are you, and why do you seek me?
Uh . . .
Say something, say something—
I am Elphaba Thropp, your Terrible-ness. And this is—
(All of a sudden, ANOTHER VOICE, an affable human one, interrupts—)
HEAD:
Oh, is that you Elphaba—? I didn’t realize—
(And with an odd, mechanized sound, the head dissolves, and out from behind the head
steps the WIZARD, smiling warmly—)
WIZARD:
I hope I didn’t startle you—it’s so hard to make out people’s faces when
I’m back there.
(The WIZARD sees ELPHABA staring at the enormous head .)
ALL PHOTOS FROM THE MUSICAL WICKED: JOAN MARCUS.
WIZARD:
ELPHABA:
WIZARD:
ELPHABA:
WIZARD:
ELPHABA
& GLINDA:
WIZARD:
(Gesturing to it) I know, it’s a bit much, isn’t it? But people expect this
sort of thing, and you have to give people what they want. Truth is, I
hardly ever let anyone meet the real me. (Smiles at ELPHABA) But this
being a special occasion. . . .
(Shyly) I’m so happy to meet you.
Well, that’s good—cuz that’s what I love best—making people happy.
Oh, your Ozness, I knew you’d help. I’m here—(Goes to include GLINDA)
We’re here—to alert you to something bad happening in . . .
Please, I’m the Wizard of Oz—I already know why you’ve come.
(Impressed ) Ooooh . . .
And I fully intend to grant your request. Of course, you must prove
yourself first!
continued ➟
Literary Caval cade SEPTEMBER 2004
7
LITERATURE SELECTION >>
➟ continued from page 7
GLINDA:
ELPHABA:
WIZARD:
WICKED
by Holzman/Schwartz
Of course! (Sotto voce, to ELPHABA)
Prove yourself, prove yourself—!
But how?
Oh, I don’t know . . . (Sings)
Some sort of gesture,
mostly for show
something to test
your adeptness—
I know!
(Calls) Madame—the Book!
The Wizard
(Joel Grey).
Below: Madame
Morrible (Carole
Shelley) is the
headmistress of
Shiz University.
(And to the girls’ amazement, a splendidly dressed MADAME
MORRIBLE enters, followed by CHISTERY, the WIZARD’s
monkey servant, who carries a large, ancient book.)
MADAME
MORRIBLE:
GLINDA:
WIZARD:
ELPHABA:
MORRIBLE:
Right away, your Ozness!
Madame Morrible!
I believe you’re well acquainted
with my new Press Secretary!
Press Secretary?
Yes, dearies, I’ve risen up in the
world. You’ll find that the Wizard
is a very generous man. If you do
something for him, he’ll do much
for you.
I knew it!
I knew she had the power, I told you!
. . . And this is only the beginning! Look!
(MORRIBLE beams at the WIZARD, who smiles back at her.)
ELPHABA:
WIZARD:
MORRIBLE:
But—what would you like me to do?
Well—this is my monkey servant, Chistery. He watches the birds so longingly
every morning . . .
So his Ozness was thinking—perhaps a Levitation Spell!
(And she holds the book out to ELPHABA.)
GLINDA:
MORRIBLE:
GLINDA:
MORRIBLE:
(Stares at the book, in awe) I don’t believe it. Is that . . . The Grimmerie?
Yes. The Ancient Book of Thaumaturgy and Enchantments.
Can I touch it?
No.
(She carefully places the book in ELPHABA’s arms.)
EXCERPT USED BY
PERMISSION.
8
ELPHABA:
MORRIBLE:
WIZARD:
MORRIBLE:
SEPTEMBER 2004 Literary Cavalcade
What funny writing.
It’s a lost language—the lost language of spells.
A kind of recipe book, for change.
Now, don’t be discouraged if you can’t decipher-ate it, dearie. I myself can
only read a spell or two, and that took years and years of—
(She breaks off in amazement, hearing—)
ELPHABA:
MORRIBLE:
WIZARD:
(Hesitantly) Ah . . . tay . . .? Tah . . . tay?
Merciful Oz!
(Smiles affectionately at his monkey) Oh, Chistery! What an experience you’re
about to have.
(He sings to ELPHABA as she chants the spell in counterpoint.)
WIZARD:
Since once I had my own day in the sky
I say ev’ry one deserves a chance to fly . . .
(Suddenly CHISTERY, the monkey, begins to tremble and twitch, and then to SHRIEK as if in
pain. ELPHABA abruptly breaks off chanting.)
ELPHABA:
MORRIBLE:
ELPHABA:
(To CHISTERY) What is it? Is something wrong?
It’s just the transition, dear.
Chistery—? Are you all right?
Why can’t he answer me?
(Suddenly, wings sprout from Chistery’s back! )
WIZARD:
GLINDA:
ELPHABA:
MORRIBLE:
ELPHABA:
MORRIBLE:
ELPHABA:
MORRIBLE:
WIZARD:
Glory-osky!
(In proud amazement,
to ELPHABA)
You did it! You actually—
No, no, he’s in pain—!
(To MORRIBLE) Quick—
How do I reverse it?
You can’t.
What?
You can’t reverse the
spell; spells are
un-reversible.
(Excitedly, to the
WIZARD) I knew it!
I knew she had the
power, I told you!
(Backs away from
MORRIBLE) You
—you planned all this—?
(To ELPHABA) For
you too, dearie! You
benefit too!
And this is only the
beginning! Look!
(The WIZARD pulls a lever and the back
of the stage opens to reveal an enormous cage,
full of CHATTERING, SHRIEKING
WHAT SHE DID
Wrote the book
(script).
PREVIOUS
WORK
Created the TV
series My SoCalled Life; wrote
for many other
TV shows.
Stephen
Schwartz
(All at once, CHISTERY frantically tears at his waistcoat.)
ELPHABA:
MEET THE
CREATORS:
Winnie
Holzman
Elphaba (Idina
Menzel, at left) and
Glinda (Kristin
Chenoweth) tremble
before The Wizard.
WHAT HE DID
Wrote the music
and lyrics.
PREVIOUS WORK
Has won Oscars
and Grammy
awards galore for
his music and
lyrics.
FAMILY
MATTERS
His son Scott is
a director. Both
had shows on
Broadway at the
same time.
Gregory
Maguire
WHAT HE DID
Wrote the
original novel.
ALSO WROTE
Confessions of
an Ugly
Stepsister: A
Novel; Mirror
Mirror: A Novel;
among many
other novels.
continued ➟
Literary Caval cade SEPTEMBER 2004
9
LITERATURE SELECTION >>
WICKED
by Holzman/Schwartz
➟ continued from page 9
MONKEYS, all with wings on their backs.)
WIZARD:
MORRIBLE:
ELPHABA:
WIZARD:
ELPHABA:
If this is what you can do your first time out, sky’s the limit!
(Admiring the monkeys) Such wing span! Oh, won’t they make perfect spies!
Spies?
You’re right, that’s a harsh word. What about “scouts”? That’s what they’ll be
really. They’ll fly around Oz, and report any subversive animal activity . . .
So it’s you? You’re behind it all?
TIMELINE PHOTOS: ©BETTMANN/CORBIS (2); ©SUNSET BOULEVARD/CORBIS SYGMA; UNIVERSAL/
THE KOBAL COLLECTION; ©SZENES JASON/CORBIS SYGMA; ©JOAN MARCUS; STOPWATCH: PHOTODISC VIA SODA;
Elphaba is enraged.
FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD
OVER THE LAST CENTURY, L. FRANK BAUM’S ORIGINAL BOOK HAS INSPIRED
HUNDREDS OF STORIES AND SONGS SET IN OZ. THE 1939 MOVIE, STARRING JUDY
GARLAND AS DOROTHY, HAS BEEN SEEN BY MORE PEOPLE THAN ANY OTHER
FILM. IT SPAWNED MOVIE SEQUELS, ANIMATED VERSIONS, AND MORE.
1900 The Wonderful Wizard
of Oz is written by Lyman
Frank Baum.
After Baum’s death, in 1919, his
publishers
authorize 26
more Oz books.
1902 The musical,
The Wizard of Oz,
opens in Chicago.
1903 The Wizard
of Oz debuts on
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SEPTEMBER 2004 Literary Cavalcade
Broadway. It
tours the U.S.
for a decade.
John’s Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road
album and Pink Floyd's 1973 album
Dark Side of the Moon).
1939 The
1975 The Wiz, an AfricanAmerican version, opens at
the Majestic on Broadway.
Wizard of Oz
movie, starring Judy
Garland as
Dorothy,
premieres.
The classic film inspires dozens of
books, references in other films, and
even pop albums (singer Elton
1978 The movie
version of The
Wiz opens, with
music by
Quincy Jones
and directed by
Sydney Lumet.
WIZARD:
ELPHABA:
WIZARD:
GLINDA:
WIZARD:
ELPHABA:
Elphaba—When I first got here, there was discord and discontent. And
where I come from, everyone knows: The best way to bring folks together
is to give them a really good enemy.
(The realization is growing) You can’t read this book at all, can you?
That’s why you need an enemy. And spies. And cages. You have no
real power!
Exactly. And that’s why I need you! (Enthusiastically) Don’cha see—the
world’s your oyster now! You have so many opportunities ahead of you!
(To GLINDA) You both do.
Oh, thank you, your Ozness!
(Singing) The two of you, it’s time I raised you high
Yes, the time has come
For you to have the chance to—
No!
(With the book of spells still clutched in her hands she runs out of the room.)
MORRIBLE:
GLINDA:
GLINDA:
WIZARD:
Elphaba!
Elphie! Wait! (To WIZARD) I’m sorry your—Wizard-ness! I’ll fetch her
back! (She rushes out, calling—)
Elphie—!
We’ve got to get her back! She knows too much!
20-Minute
Essay
>>TAKE 20
MINUTES
TO PLAN AND
WRITE AN ESSAY
BASED ON THE
FOLLOWING:
What makes the
story of Oz so
compelling? Why
do you think so
many writers have
used it as a
starting point for
their work?
(The WIZARD rushes back behind the head . . .)
MORRIBLE:
Don’t worry, your Ozness. I’ll handle it.
(She goes off purposefully, as the GIANT HEAD reappears—)
HEAD:
Guards! Guards! There’s a fugitive at large in the Palace—
Diana Ross stars as Dorothy;
Michael Jackson is the Scarecrow.
published. Rushdie, growing up in
Bombay, remembers: Seeing the film
at 10 “made a writer of me.”
LC Book Club
Questions
1995 Wicked: The Life and Times of
1
1981 Under the Rainbow—a Chevy
Chase movie comedy that deals with
the problems caused by the scores of
little people hired as Munchkins in the
1939 Wizard of Oz movie—is released.
1982 Ozu no Mahotsukai, a
Japanese animated version,
premieres.
1985 Return to Oz, Disney’s movie
sequel, has Dorothy
escape from a mental
institution in order to
save Oz.
1992 The Wizard of Oz
by Salman Rushdie is
continued ➟
the Wicked Witch of the West, a novel
by Gregory Maguire, is published.
2003 Wicked (“The
untold story of the Witches
of Oz”), a Broadway musical based on Maguire’s
book, debuts, with music
and lyrics by Stephen
Schwartz (Oscar winner for
Pocahontas and Prince of
Egypt) and script by
Winnie Holzman, creator of
the TV series My So-Called Life.
On the Web: Wickedthemusical.com
What
differences
are already
apparent
between this
story and the
original one?
2
What other
stories would
lend themselves
to retelling from
a different point
of view?
Literary Cavalcade SEPTEMBER 2004
11
LITERATURE SELECTION >>
➟ continued from page 11
WICKED
by Holzman/Schwartz
(PALACE GUARDS appear, as . . .)
HEAD:
Find her! Capture her! Bring her to me!
GUARDS:
Yes, Your Oz-ness!
(The GUARDS stampede from the room—as we hear:)
MORRIBLE:
Citizens of Oz! There is an enemy who must be found and captured. Believe nothing
she says! She’s evil, responsible for the mutilation of these poor innocent monkeys!
Her green skin is but an outward manifestorium of her twisted nature. This
distortion, this repulsion, this—Wicked Witch!
SKILL DRILL
CIRCLE THE BEST ANSWER FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING:
1. What is Elphaba Thropp’s destiny?
(A) to attend graduate school at Hogwarts
(B) to become the Wicked Witch of the West
(C) to become a sorcery instructor
(D) to become a flying monkey
2. What is The Grimmerie?
(A) an ancient book of spells
(B) a popular hangout for witches and
wizards
(C) a mask with mystical powers
(D) a funeral home
3. Who is Chistery?
(A) the Wizard’s servant
(B) a bat
(C) a monkey
(D) both A and C
4. Madame Morrible says
that the Wizard is
(A) without true powers
(B) a most generous man
(C) named Ozzy
(D) resigning his post
>>Your Turn!
5. Elphaba is not as popular as Glinda
because she is
(A) taller
(B) green
(C) an A-student
(D) prone to temper tantrums
6. Elphaba learns that the Wizard
(A) has appeared on Jeopardy
(B) is a chess champion
(C) has no magical powers
(D) is a supreme magician
7. According to Madame Morrible, spells
are not
(A) permanent
(B) reversible
(C) appropriate for witches-in-training
(D) difficult to learn
8. Under the spell, Chistery sprouts
(A) a beard
(B) horns
(C) wings
(D) enormous ears
The Wizard tells Elphaba, “The best way
to bring folks together is to give them a
really good enemy.” Write an essay telling whether you agree or disagree.
Support your answer with examples from history and current events.
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SEPTEMBER 2004 Literary Cavalcade
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