Wicked popular as ever with Australian production bound for Crown Theatre Perth starring Courtney Monsma

While musical theatre performers Courtney Monsma and Jemma Rix waited in the Crown Theatre Perth wings in November 2022 during their final performance together in Frozen the Musical as sisters Anna and Elsa, respectively, Rix had every confidence her co-star would be the next Glinda in the new Australian production of Wicked. Rix is an authority on the subject, given she had defied gravity as Elphaba in the original and subsequent Australian productions of the Broadway blockbuster Witches of Oz origin story, set long before Dorothy dropped in. “I hadn’t even auditioned yet, but she just had a big belief in me and said, ‘When you get Wicked, I wish we would have had that chance to perform together’ and I agreed,” Monsma recounts during a quick trip home to the Gold Coast. Monsma went on to be cast as Glinda, and Sheridan Adams as Elphaba, with Wicked opening in Sydney, August 2023, after Monsma filmed eight-part scripted drama Paper Dolls between her two musical contracts. The show transferred to Melbourne where circumstance stepped in during June to make the Frozen stars’ wish a reality, when illness in the cast saw Rix green-up again as Elphaba, opposite Monsma, for two performances as a guest artist. “I was 14 when I first saw Wicked. I went up to Brisbane with my school and sat in the balcony and watched Jemma and Lucy (Durack as Glinda), so it was just a really big full circle for me,” Monsma says. “We did the first show and by the second show, it felt like we’d done a billion of these together. It was just so magical and truly was the time of my life.” For a self-confessed musical theatre nerd, Monsma admits landing the role of Glinda in Wicked meant the world to her and she still “geeks out” when talking to fans at stage door about its universal themes and beautifully written script and score. “It’s really just an honour to play such an iconic character,” she adds. “I feel like the challenges equal the reward of the role. As a performer, the vocal agility that you need to have to play Glinda is massive. She’s singing soprano, and then she’s crying, and then she’s yelling. She’s got a lot of range in her vocal stamina and physical comedy is a huge part of her as well. “It’s not often where you get to sit in a role, and you get to express your emotions so truthfully. And with Glinda, you get to do that. She loses so much in the story and gains so much … it’s really cathartic.” Monsma attributes her preparedness in undertaking such a challenge to her time on stage as Princess Anna in Frozen the Musical, regarding the production as a beautiful training ground, turning her into a bona fide seasoned performer. It gave her an understanding in how to sustain a massive role eight shows a week, taking care of herself and achieving balance during such a gruelling schedule. As Monsma looks towards the western sky ahead of Wicked’s Perth season in December, her excitement is palpable for audiences to either discover the musical’s magic for the first time or be reminded why they love it so much. “The thing about Wicked is, that it just relates to whatever time it’s put on, because the universal themes are so big, about fighting adversity and why do we define what’s good and what’s evil? It makes you question your life and yourself and society. “I’m also just really excited for people to be reignited by the score and the songs. These shows obviously last so long overseas, and I’m so glad it’s back in Australia, especially while the film’s coming out.” Wicked is at Crown Theatre Perth from December 15. Tickets at ticketmaster.com.au.