As a long-time musical theater enthusiast and avid reader, I have been absolutely captivated by the enchanting world of “Wicked“. The intricate backstory of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, has always been one of the most fascinating aspects for me. And now, thanks to Gregory Maguire’s insightful interview, we finally have the answer to where her unique name originated – a tribute to Lyman Frank Baum, the original author of “The Wizard of Oz”.
Ever since its theatrical premiere before Thanksgiving, Wicked has been a hot topic nationwide, igniting conversations everywhere. Now that moviegoers have joined in, they can’t seem to get “The Wizard and I” out of their heads for weeks on end. The character Elphaba has gained widespread recognition, yet many new fans of Wicked are intrigued about the origin of her distinctive name that eventually became the Wicked Witch of the West.
In “The Wizard of Oz”, Glinda was personally named. Conversely, the Wicked Witch was addressed solely by her title. Yet, what is Elphaba’s origin? It turns out that Gregory Maguire, the author of the original “Wicked” novel which inspired both the musical and movie, has openly stated that this name is a tribute to L. Frank Baum, the creator of “The Wizard of Oz”.
In an interview, Maguire discusses how he chose Elphaba’s name when initially writing “Wicked”. He aimed to pay tribute to L. Frank Baum, the author of “The Wizard of Oz”, by incorporating his initials into the character’s name. Remarkably, Elphaba is derived from the sounds of Baum’s initials: L (for El), F (for Fa or Pha), and B (for Ba).
In an interview, Maguire shared that Elphaba, a character he developed, is named after Lyman Frank Baum, the original creator of “The Wizard of Oz.” He wanted to ensure that Baum was acknowledged whenever Elphaba was mentioned or addressed, as he was borrowing and reimagining someone else’s character.
After experimenting with various options, the moment I transformed the ‘L’ into “El-Pha-Ba”, a lightbulb went off in my head, thinking, ‘This is exactly what I was looking for.’ It’s unconventional, not necessarily attractive, but it sticks in your mind. And that’s the key to its success.
Maguire opted for Elphaba over other names derived from Baum’s initials that didn’t perform as effectively. It’s fortunate he made this decision, as it turns out Elphaba is a name that really sticks in people’s minds, gaining significant recognition in the realm of musical theater. Elphaba, the character, has become one of the most cherished figures in contemporary Broadway, and her popularity has skyrocketed globally due to the success of the Wicked movie.
Over time, the character of Elphaba has been portrayed by various actresses, but it was Idina Menzel, a Tony Award winner who is recognized by many film enthusiasts as the voice of Elsa from Frozen, who first played the role in its stage debut. In the movie adaptation of Wicked, Elphaba is portrayed by Cynthia Erivo. Interestingly, Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth (the original Glinda) both make appearances in the Wicked film for cameo roles.
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2024-12-04 22:40