EAST LANSING, Mich. – Everyone knows someone who is just horrible—an absolutely mean, terrible person. Someone who makes your skin bristle and makes you recoil. You can’t understand how anyone could end up being that horrible.

But have you ever really tried to understand? Maybe there are circumstances you don’t know. Maybe the horrible person is just horribly misunderstood. Maybe there is another side to the story.

Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz is a tale of other side. The musical (with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman) is based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, which tells of the friendship and subsequent falling out between the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. The show opens with an announcement by Glinda the Good to the citizens of Oz that the Wicked Witch is dead. Someone asks Glinda about a rumor that she was once friends with the witch, and the story that follows arises from Glinda’s memories of her once best friend, Elphaba.

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Elphaba’s unfortunate circumstances begin at birth: she is despised by her father, who blames her for other unfortunate events in their lives; she seems to possess unusual magical ability; and her skin . . . well, it’s green. Despite all this, Elphaba remains a good-hearted caretaker for her disabled sister.

When Elphaba goes to boarding school, she encounters Galinda. Everything about Galinda is good—her clothing, her hair, her boyfriend—and she has never known disappointment in her life, just the opposite of frumpy, green Elphaba. The two immediately loathe one another. But when they are assigned as roommates, they slowly begin to look beyond each other’s exteriors, and into each other’s hearts. Before long, they are best friends.

Things are never that simple on stage, or in the Land of Oz, and things become complicated when Elphaba and Fiyero, Galinda’s boyfriend, discover they have a mutual attraction. Elphaba also realizes the Wizard of Oz wants to use her magical power for his own corrupt ends, and she vows to fight against him.

In order to hide the truth about the wizard, rumors are spread about Elphaba becoming a “wicked witch.” Glinda and Fiyero, both now in prominent positions, take part in the rumor mill but both are conflicted because they know Elphaba really has a good heart. Things come to a head when Elphaba is apprehended, Fiyero’s feelings for her are revealed, and Glinda turns her back on both of them. But when it appears the citizens of Oz are about to get rid of the Wicked Witch once and for all, Elphaba and Glinda each make a sacrifice for the sake of the other, showing that their friendship and love are greater than their circumstances.

Wicked is filled with humor as well as drama, and clever references to the original story of The Wizard of Oz are sprinkled throughout. This show has one of the most satisfying endings I’ve ever seen, made even more enjoyable because I did not see it coming. But the real story is not about witches, wizards, humor or drama. It is about the relationships. Just as in real life, they are complicated, sometimes warm and exciting and sometimes painful. But relationships make us who we are; even the most painful of relationships can change us for the good, and that is evident in Elphaba and Glinda’s sacrifices at the end.

This national touring production of Wicked, directed by Joe Mantello, brings everything that we would expect of a Broadway show. Amanda Jane Cooper as Glinda is not only good at being “good,” she has great comic skills, and her vocals are perfect for her character. Jessica Vosk is outstanding as Elphaba. Her voice is smooth, mellow and conversational even when she sings with intensity, and remains strong at both ends of her wide range. The Act I finale “Defying Gravity” which showcases her vocals is truly the highlight of the show.

Scenic design (Eugene Lee) and costume design (Susan Hilferty) are well coordinated in a fascinating “steampunk” theme: Everything Glinda dons is impeccable (of course), the black and white costumes in the dance party scene are enchanting, and the combination of costumes and set in the Emerald City is captivating. The musical numbers work well in the story, and some of the songs have a pop feel that have a life of their own. The wildly popular and inspiring “Defying Gravity” has already been mentioned; other memorable songs are “As Long As You’re Mine,” a duet between Elphaba (Vosk) and Fiyero (Jeremy Woodard); and “For Good,” an exceptional duet between Glinda (Cooper) and Elphaba (Vosk).

One small nitpick about this performance at the Wharton Center: the mic volume could have been a smidge louder, especially at the beginning, where a bit of the dialogue required very active listening to catch it all. However, this did not diminish the enjoyability of the show overall. And Wharton Center is a beautiful and well planned venue, with spacious seating and convenient direct access to the parking garage.

Wicked is highly recommended for adults of all ages and is appropriate for older children as well. It is playing in East Lansing at Wharton Center through November 27, 2016.

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