Lena Waithe Proves She’s Partner Cynthia Erivo’s No. 1 Fan

As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the enchanting world of musical theater, I must say that both the stage and film versions of Wicked have captured my heart in their unique ways. The stage production, with its raw energy and theatrical magic, has been a staple in my life for many years now, while the film adaptation offers a fresh perspective that beautifully complements the original.

Lena Waithe is dancing through life to the sound of her partner Cynthia Erivo’s voice.

The author of “Master of None” keeps praising the Tony Award winner’s performance in “Wicked,” a show where she and co-star Ariana Grande have been nominated for Golden Globes, by constantly playing the film’s soundtrack.

Lena has confessed that the song “What Is This Feeling?” from the movie is currently stuck on repeat for her. She expressed during the Miami Art Week Edition of Saint & Citizen Presents: Saint Sessions Live on Dec. 7, “At the moment, I can’t get ‘Loathing’ out of my mind.

“You’re not alone,” she added of fans belting out the tune. “You can’t get it out of your head.”

As a devoted follower, I too have admired Lena’s journey, especially since she openly showcased her relationship with Cynthia in 2022. Interestingly, just like Lena, “Defying Gravity” is another favorite of mine. However, it’s not only the movie’s music that I appreciate about Cynthia; my admiration for her extends to her character and the positive impact she has on me.

On December 9, the creator of Chi praised the Oscar nominee across several Instagram Story posts, one of which was a December 9 post from Evan Ross Katz that playfully recognized Cynthia and Ariana’s Golden Globe nominations by rephrasing a line from the film about Elphaba’s green skin to, “[You are] Golden Globe nominated.

Lena, who married her long-term partner Alana Mayo in 2019 but split up a short while later, also reposted Variety’s Instagram post on December 9 featuring Cynthia and Angelina Jolie’s cover image for an upcoming edition.

Lena openly demonstrates affection towards her partner, whereas Cynthia tends to maintain privacy in their romantic life.

She shared with Vanity Fair in September, “I’m quite private about my relationships.” She explained, “I believe that my relationship is solely mine to experience. I pour so much of myself out in my work, my speeches, and even my soul. I feel I’ve given enough of myself to the world, so it’s only fair that I keep something for myself.

In reference to her being part of the LGBTQ+ community, she stated, “People can simply understand that I’m a person who identifies as queer, and this allows me to form relationships with people of any gender, including men, women, or none at all.

If you’re curious as to why Lena is so enthusiastic about backing Cynthia’s portrayal in the movie Wicked, continue reading for an insightful look at the film, and discover the distinct variations between its Broadway and cinematic adaptations. (Caution: Contains spoilers.)

In the original book “Wicked”, a significant element called the Time Dragon Clock, which was a traveling puppet show, features in the story at the beginning of the stage production. However, this item is only briefly referenced during the movie when Glinda (played by Ariana Grande) informs the people of Oz about Elphaba’s (portrayed by Cynthia Erivo) death.

In contrast to the stage production which only briefly mentions Elphaba’s conception and birth without depicting her childhood, the movie offers a detailed portrayal of her upbringing, revealing her powers from an early age. Additionally, the film introduces the character of Dulcibear, played by Sharon D. Clarke, who was present at Elphaba’s birth and takes on the responsibility of raising her when her father, Governor of Munchkinland (Andy Nyman), is repulsed by her green skin. Dulcibear also offers a background explanation for why Elphaba becomes so passionate about protecting animals from societal exclusion and losing their ability to communicate, a significant aspect in both the movie and the musical.

As a devoted admirer, I find myself immersed in the captivating world of Broadway’s “Wicked,” where my character, Elphaba, is already a student at Shiz University, primarily to provide for her sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode). In the movie adaptation, she initially visits just to drop off her sister. However, it’s when Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) witnesses Elphaba’s powerful display that she persuades her to stay enrolled. The narrative largely follows the same path, with Glinda inadvertently agreeing to share a dorm room with Elphaba, as the musical version hints that Elphaba’s assigned room may have been overlooked somehow.

In both the film and the play, a character named Doctor Dillamond (portrayed by Peter Dinklage in the movie) is a goat who can talk and serves as the history teacher at Shiz. He alerts students about a secret plot against animals that’s happening across Oz. The movie presents various other talking animal characters seemingly part of an uprising, but these characters don’t appear in the play. In the play, the song “Something Bad” is performed in Doctor Dillamond’s classroom, whereas in the film it’s sung by him and Elphaba within his private living space.

Both the musical and the movie include a love triangle between Glinda, Elphaba and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey). However, Fiyero’s introduction and how he meets Elphaba do differ from stage to screen. In the show, his carriage almost runs her over when he is dropped off at Shiz by his servant. In the movie, he almost tramples over Elphaba in the woods while riding his horse near the university, with Fiyero joking that they didn’t see her as she blended in with the greenery.

Following Dr. Dillamond’s dismissal from Shiz, a fresh professor steps in and unveils innovative cages for animals, keeping a sorrowful lion cub within one. Enraged by this, Elphaba reacts impetuously in the stage performance, causing both students and the professor to lose control as she and Fiyero save the cub and escort him to safety. In the film adaptation, however, she opts for a more subtle approach, putting everyone under a trance using poppies (a nod to the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, where she had earlier put Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion asleep in a field of poppies).

In the movie version of our beloved story, there’s a slight twist as I bid farewell to Elphaba: Instead of disappearing on my own, my character’s father shows up at the train station. It’s here where he’s introduced to Boq by Nessarose. Interestingly, in the musical adaptation, this emotional goodbye scene is not present.

The movie provides more information on the Grimmerie, an ancient book of spells written in a language that is lost to modern-day Ozians. So, while the movie version does not feature any full new songs, it does feature a new section added to “One Short Day. The movie’s extended version adds to the legend of the Wizard, and claims that he is the only person who has been able to read the Grimmerie, fulfilling an Ozian prophecy many had been waiting for (which we later learn is not true as he cannot read it, but Elphaba can.)

Apart from undergoing significant alterations from its stage performance to its screen adaptation, “One Short Day” also boasts an unexpected twist. In the film, this song is sung by none other than Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who were the original Elphaba and Glinda on Broadway respectively. They are introduced as Wiz-O-Mania Super Stars, characters exclusive to the movie that didn’t appear on stage. For fans of the musical, this collaboration with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the Emerald City serves up a delightful dose of nostalgia.

In both adaptations of Wicked, the Wizard initially enchants Elphaba and Glinda. But in the film, he uses a large representation of Oz, claiming it’s for constructing a path to the Emerald City. He even allows Elphaba and Glinda to choose the color of this path, which results in the well-known Yellow Brick Road being created.

In the film adaptation, unlike the stage production, Elphaba’s significant musical scene in Act One is extended and incorporates a sequence where she experiences a vision of her younger self. This vision encourages her to fly off, distancing herself from the Wizard and Glinda as she embarks on redefining her identity, which isn’t depicted in the stage play.

2024-12-10 03:47

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