Here's why the protagonist of the musical about the story of the Wicked Witch of the West is called that
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| Image Credit: Universal Pictures |
The name of Elphaba, the protagonist of Wicked, is one of the most fascinating and mysterious aspects of the character, so much so that many viewers have wondered what the true meaning behind it is. Well, it is not "just" fantasy, but a brilliant tribute to the author of The Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum. Its origin was revealed by Gregory Maguire himself, who wrote the original novel on which the musical is based, The Wicked Witch, released in 1995. The author explained that he wanted to pay homage to Baum, and to do so he decided to base the name of the protagonist on the initials of the historic writer: "Elphaba" is nothing other than the result of the combination of the letters that make up Baum's name: L (El), F (Fa or Pha) and B (Ba).
Maguire said that he initially tried other variations of the name, but none of them seemed right. Instead, he focused on the phonetics of the syllables, “El,” “Pha,” and “Ba,” and realized that it was the right choice: the result is a unique, distinctive, and memorable name that not only honors Baum but also manages to be evocative and powerful, just like its protagonist. Over time, Elphaba has acquired great relevance in the collective imagination, becoming one of the most iconic names in the panorama of theatrical musicals. In the acclaimed Wicked, her story is analyzed in a completely different light than the portrait in The Wizard of Oz.
Her name is symbolic of this new vision, which defies labels and expectations, bringing out her humanity and motivations instead. The Wicked Witch of the West was first played on Broadway by Idina Menzel, who created an unforgettable version of the character, so much so that she won a Tony Award. From there, Elphaba became an icon of contemporary musical theater and, thanks to the international success of Wicked, she managed to enter the imagination of an entire generation of musical fans. In the 2024 film, which we talked about in our review, the role was entrusted to Cynthia Erivo, a talented actress and singer who brought the strength and complexity of the character to the big screen.
However, the original interpreter gave fans an exciting cameo, alongside Kristin Chenoweth, who reprises her famous role as Glinda, the Good Witch. The choice of the name Elphaba, therefore, is not only a tribute to Baum, but also a fundamental element that helps define the character. It echoes her unique nature and the special place she occupies in the Wicked universe: a character who defies conventions and labels, just like the name she bears.
Source: ComicBook
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