TheWickedmovie thrilled Broadway fans with some clever Easter eggs and cameos, but one certainly flew under the radar, despite the performer in question’s history with theWickedproduction. Before it was adapted into the smash hit movie musical starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-Butera as Elphaba and Glinda,Wickedsaw 20 years of success as a Broadway, West End, and globally touring show. Nodding to this illustrious history,Wickedincludes several Broadway cameosfrom people who played key roles in the show’s development and rise to great heights.
Wicked’s biggest cameo moment is, of course, the dual appearance of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth,the legendary actresses who respectively originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda on Broadway. As they perform the new section of “One Short Day” and interact with the now iconic performers who inherited their roles, there is a sense of everything to do withWickedcoming full circle, just before Elphaba launches into the breathtakinglyrics of “Defying Gravity.“However, amongWicked’s Easter eggs and legacy moments, another Elphaba performer goes unnoticed by many.
Glinda’s “Momsie” Is Alice Fearn, Who Previously Played Elphaba
A West End Elphaba Plays Glinda’s Mother In The Scene Where She Arrives At Shiz
Alice Fearn plays “Momsie” alongside Adam James as Glinda’s “Popsicle” when the two briefly appear dropping Glinda off at Shiz.Fearn is best known for playing Elphaba in West Endopposite Sophie Evans as Glinda. Fearn has had an extensive career in live theater, primarily musical productions, including being a part of the original UK cast forShrek the Musical(as Gingy/Sugar Plum Fairy/Fiona understudy) and later leading the musicalCome from Away(as Beverly Bass). Her film and TV career mostly comprises behind-the-scenes vocal work, including in some other Broadway movie adaptations, such asMamma Mia!andSweeney Todd.
Will Glinda’s Parents Appear Again In Wicked Part Two?
It Would Be Interesting To See How Glinda’s Parents Feel About Her Relationships With Fieryo & Elphaba
Glinda’s parents don’t appear at all in the stage version ofWicked. However, there is opportunity for them to return inWicked Part Twoin ways that contribute to Glinda’s character arc. Promotional materials show Glinda in a wedding dress, and her parents would logically come to her and Fieryo’s (Jonathan Bailey) wedding — likely to be ruined by him running away with Elphaba. Additionally, as Glinda continues to grapple with her best friend being treated as a criminal, it would be interesting to see how familial expectations factor into her decisions.
Alice Fearn did not originate the role of Elphaba in West End. Idina Menzel herself played the character when the show debuted in London in 2006, opposite Helen Dallimore as Glinda rather than Kristin Chenoweth.
Glinda can talk about her friend affectionately with Fiyero because he misses Elphaba too, but this might not be the same with her parents, who may not understand or approve of their daughter ever having been friends with the Wicked Witch. As of June 2024, Fearn was set to be a part of theDear Evan Hansentouring cast as Evan’s mother (viawhatsonstage.com). However, filming forWickedis certainly done, and any scenes with Glinda’s parents would likely have been very quickly completed, so this Elphaba could still return to the big screen.
Wicked
Cast
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
