Cynthia Erivo Reflects on Her Journey with Elphaba in ‘Wicked’ and Shares Her Thoughts on the New ‘Dracula’ Production
A notable scene unfolded recently at the renovated Town Hall across from Kings Cross railway station, where Wicked star Cynthia Erivo engaged in a discussion about her book Simply More with Doctor Who and Barbie actor Ncuti Gatwa. A commotion from the front row prompted some audience members to lean in closer, with others jumping to their feet in concern for Erivo, as a child’s cries pierced the air.
Erivo, however, took the situation in stride. Rising from her seat, she approached the stage to soothe the distraught little girl who was waving her hands in a bid for the star’s attention. “She just shot up, waving her hands … It didn’t feel like she was moving off her own accord,” Erivo reflected the following day during a discussion at London’s Langan Hotel.
After offering calming words, all returned to normal. “She gave me a little doll that she had customized. It was a little me. Not as Elphaba, but as me. It was just a really sweet, very human moment,” Erivo shared.
When asked if human moments like this occur often, Erivo remarked, “Yes.”
Erivo elaborated on her connection with fans: “There’s a comfortability that people have now and they just want to share what they’re feeling, what they’re going through, what they’ve experienced, what the work means to them, how it’s changed things for them.”
Following the event, a surge of audience members rushed to claim their pre-ordered copies of Simply More, many then congregating at the stage door to meet Erivo, creating a lively scene as she acknowledged her fans.
Wicked director Jon M. Chu expressed his vision for Elphaba, stating that he aimed to depict her as “all powerful,” challenging the conventional perceptions of heroism.
Erivo discussed her collaborative effort with Chu in defining Elphaba’s powers: “In the stage show…the power is literally kind of not really even discussed…it has to be more than that. So I want to get specific about what power is.” They concluded that her ability revolves around “dominion over gravity,” enabling her to manipulate the force of gravity and channel it into her abilities.
Erivo reflected on developing her character: “If she has dominion over gravity, she doesn’t actually need anything to fly, but that broom allows her to move faster. It’s like a motorbike for someone who could already drive.”
As Erivo described Elphaba’s evolution, she noted, “She’s fierce now, she’s in her own power. She has a particular kind of strength over it. She’s a superhero.”
Discussing the portrayal of her character, she mentioned how her evolving appearance reflects her transformation in Wicked: For Good. “Now it’s free and it’s loose and it’s wild…They are a character,” she said, referring to her hair and nails.
Erivo emphasized the deeper societal implications of Elphaba’s journey, noting it resonates with historical struggles against oppression. “Fascism,” she promptly offered, when asked what underpins the narrative.
Reflecting on a scene from Wicked: For Good, she described how it mirrored contemporary issues, stating, “It just hits right at the time it’s needed and we didn’t know it was going to do that.” She insisted that Elphaba’s character needed depth, conveying a necessity for authenticity.
When asked about the intersection of her own identity and that of Elphaba, Erivo remarked on their shared sense of agency: “I think Elphaba is someone whose decisions matter. And I think the decisions I make matter, to be honest.”
Discussing her future projects, Erivo mentioned her upcoming role as a Samurai in the film Karoshi, describing the character as complex and morally ambiguous. “She is a Samurai who is a CEO in a big entrepreneurial firm…But I love it because she looks essentially exactly like me. There is no wig,” Erivo detailed.
Erivo’s schedule also includes the role of Tessa in an adaptation of Suzie Miller’s Prima Facie. She described the need for the film version to evolve, emphasizing, “This is Tessa for screen, that’s Tessa for the stage, and we’re two different Tessa’s.”
Erivo expressed her excitement about returning to the West End, reflecting on her growth since her early career hurdles: “It’s crazy, really wonderful.” After a decade-long absence from the UK stage, she feels it’s a “full circle” moment.
As anticipation builds for her upcoming performance, Erivo is keen on embracing new challenges and narratives, reinforcing her commitment to evolving as an artist.
