Chu’s prequel and origin story — based on the long-running Broadway musical which debuted in 2003 — she’s Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), a shy, misunderstood young woman born with special powers and a viridescent tone.

Not everything soars but Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are dynamite as besties in "Wicked," a "Wizard of Oz" prequel based on the Broadway show.

In "The Wizard of Oz," there can be no doubt which witch is the worst witch: That would be the one with the army of flying monkeys, who melts upon contact with water. But in "Wicked," the green-skinned spell-caster turns out to be far more sympathetic than Glinda,