Gilchrist asked Erivo about her big showstopping number in the film, Defying Gravity, a song that’s had a dedicated fanbase since the musical premiered on Broadway in 2003.
Tracey: “I’ve seen, this week people are taking the lyrics of Defying Gravity and really holding space with that, and feeling power in that.”
Cynthia: “Uh … I didn’t know that that was happening.”
Tracey: “I’ve seen it, yeah.”
Cynthia: “That’s … really powerful.”
Tracey: “Mmm-hmm.”
Cynthia: “That’s … what I wanted. I didn’t know that was happening …?”
Tracy: “I’ve seen it on a couple posts, I don’t know how widespread – but you know, I am in queer media, so …”
All three are visibly moved by what they’re discussing, which, upon closer inspection, doesn’t seem to be much of anything at all.
Erivo appears to be on the verge of tears that people on “a couple posts” are “really holding space and feeling power” with the lyrics of one of the most famous songs in musical theatre.
And Grande watches on, and bizarrely holds a single one of her co-star’s fingers for emotional support.
A mournful violin version of Defying Gravity played over the clip just adds to the effect, is if to let you know you are watching something deeply profound.
The whole encounter is so strange, one wag on X wondered if there might have been a gas leak in the room.
The clip has caught fire on social media and been viewed almost 30 million times on X and where “taking space with the lyrics of Defying Gravity” has now definitely spread beyond “a couple posts”.
The Jon M. Chu-directed blockbuster finally hit cinemas this week, more than 20 years after the musical debuted on Broadway and after years of development and false starts to bring it to the big screen.
But those fronting up to watch the movie should be warned: despite its runtime of two hours and 40 minutes, Wicked only depicts the first act of the musical, with a sequel to follow in a year’s time.
This film stops at the end of act one, ending on a cliffhanger as Erivo’s character Elphaba makes her transformation into the Wicked Witch of the West.
But despite this, the film works as a standalone story, and doesn’t leave you feeling like you’ve been thrust out halfway to take the world’s longest theatre loo break.
