There are two new witches in town at the Pantages Theater, where the Los Angeles production of Wicked rolls along. The good news is that Erin Mackey (Glinda) and Teal Wicks (Elphaba) find nuances in their roles -- small moments and motions which add to the humor and pathos -- and both ladies have lovely, lyrical voices that wrap around some of the complex phrases of Stephen Schwartz's score with ease.

But ultimately, neither of these actresses has the star presence or belting voice needed to dazzle audiences, especially during the goosebump-inducing moments built into the final notes of the show-stopping "Defying Gravity" and the duet "For Good."

Mackey has some delightful acting bits, [...]

These days, a Broadway show takes the world by storm maybe once or twice a decade. Just as Rent lit the stage afire in the 1990s, this decade's mega-sensation is Wicked. The musical has just opened its first sit-down production in Los Angeles, with Eden Espinosa and Megan Hilty offering strong lead performances.

It's easy to see why the show has such a following, despite Stephen Schwartz's unmemorable score. Eye-popping sets, special effects that could dwarf a James Cameron film, a cohesive and sophisticated script by Winnie Holzman, and a pair of diva-worthy roles all conspire to make a feast for the eyes and ears. No wonder adolescents fill the balconies wearing black cloaks, the mere ent[...]