The Real Reason Elphaba Thropp’s Skin Is Green In Wicked

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Wicked” left audiences spellbound with its box office success and eventual title as the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation of all time. The tale revolves around Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda (Ariana Grande), who attend Shiz University together. Unlike her sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode), Elphaba is not well-liked due to her green skin, while Galinda enjoys popularity with her pink wardrobe. Initially roommates at odds, they eventually form a bond as Elphaba struggles to master her magical abilities and uncovers the truth behind the strange occurrences in Oz.

In the 1939 movie version of “The Wizard of Oz,” the Wicked Witch of the West was portrayed as green. This wasn’t how she was described in L. Frank Baum’s original book, but the film production team chose this color to make her black attire stand out better on Technicolor. However, the movie doesn’t explain within the story why the Wicked Witch is green.

To discover the origin of Elphaba’s green skin, fans should refer to the 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire. In this book, portrayed as a biography of the Wicked Witch, Maguire explains the circumstances under which Elphaba gains her green complexion within the realm of Oz. This article delves into the rationale behind this intriguing trait, so continue reading if you’re curious about why Elphaba has green skin.

Why is Elphaba’s skin green in Wicked?

In a land called Oz, Elphaba was born uniquely different, sporting emerald-hued skin, a trait neither of her parents nor any other Ozian possessed. At the start of the song “No One Mourns the Wicked,” Elphaba’s father departs on a work journey, leaving behind his wife. During this time, an enigmatic stranger discreetly enters their home via a side door. This mysterious figure offers her a small green vial, labeling its contents as a potent green elixir, and it is hinted that the two share a clandestine bond. The narrative then transitions to Elphaba’s birth, suggesting that whatever lay within the verdant bottle may have contributed to her distinctive skin tone, as it was present in her mother’s system during conception.

Gregory Maguire’s “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Witch of the West” series presents a significantly stranger and more ominous portrayal compared to L. Frank Baum’s book and the 1939 movie. In these stories, it is disclosed that the green elixir was employed to manipulate Elphaba’s mother, leading to a non-consensual situation instead of a consensual relationship as depicted in “Wicked.” The green elixir leaves her vulnerable, making her susceptible to exploitation, which leads to pregnancy. This offers an alternate perspective on Elphaba’s conception and alters the meaning of the green elixir from what is suggested in the musical.

How Elphaba’s green skin factors into Wicked

Elphaba’s green complexion sets her apart from her fellow companions and kin. Since she hasn’t encountered anyone else with similar skin tone, she feels isolated within her society. In the play “Wicked,” it is shown that as a child, she was ridiculed by peers. Later in life, when she presents herself to students at Shiz University or encounters Fiyero in the forest, she feels compelled to clarify that her greenness isn’t due to eating grass – an assumption she claims to have faced frequently throughout her life.

Elphaba’s green skin is often a target for bullying, even among staff at Shiz University, although they try to be subtle compared to the students. It’s suggested that her mother drinking the green elixir gave her not only her unique skin color but also her magical abilities. Since magic is scarce in Oz, it seems this elixir grants some of it to Elphaba. Her green skin and magical powers were evident from the moment she was born, as she effortlessly moved objects just minutes after being born.

In the latter part of the musical “Wicked”, the emerald potion plays a significant role, suggesting its inclusion in “Wicked: For Good”, the forthcoming sequel. In the initial film, Elphaba conceals the green vial beneath her pillow, an observation made by Galinda who queries about it. Elphaba explains that the vial serves as a memento of her mother. Later in Act 2 of the musical, after Elphaba is transformed by Dorothy, Galinda (renamed Glinda) unearths the vial, prompting her to deduce possible identities for Elphaba’s biological father.

How Cynthia Erivo transformed into Elphaba for Wicked

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, actress Cynthia Erivo shared that for the role of “Wicked,” she opted for traditional makeup instead of digital enhancement to achieve a green appearance. During conversations with director John M. Chu, she expressed her concerns about computer-generated imagery (CGI) not blending seamlessly with her skin. She wanted the transformation to feel authentic and connected to her own skin. Additionally, Erivo felt that physically turning green would aid in her performance of the character.

For the movie, making Erivo appear green required both time and careful attention. Frances Hannon, the makeup designer, sought the ideal shade that would remain green under various lighting situations while enhancing Erivo’s skin tone. However, no commercially available product managed to achieve this goal. It was discovered that a discontinued Canadian eyeshadow contained the essential ingredient: a neon yellow pigment. When mixed with green, this shade maintained its green hue under the lights and harmonized well with Erivo’s facial features. David Stoneman, a British makeup manufacturer, aided Hannon in recreating the formula specifically for the film.

In the makeup trailer, Erivo’s skin was skillfully painted green, a process that could take up to two and a half hours. To make the green look as realistic as possible, freckles, eyebrows, and other distinctive features were also added. Regrettably, some moviegoers who had applied their own green makeup themselves were denied entry into theaters when they went to watch “Wicked”.

What could happen to Elphaba in the Wicked sequel?

In the next installment of “Wicked: For Good,” if the storyline follows the musical, there will be a significant leap forward in time. At the end of the initial film, Elphaba was departing from the Emerald City and setting out on her own (now considered a fugitive by the Wizard and the citizens of Oz). Unlike before, she seems to have accepted her green skin instead of longing to change it. When offered a transformation by the Wizard, she turns down the offer, asking him to aid the animals instead.

Elphaba is still discovering the full capabilities of her magical abilities with the Grimoire now at hand, allowing her to delve deeper into experiments. Similar to Madame Morrible’s attempts at Shiz University, she aims to harness this power effectively. As the story unfolds, we may witness additional magical mishaps as she strives to assist Oz’s citizens and potentially aid the flying monkeys in an attempt to reverse a spell she’s cast. Fingers crossed that the upcoming sequel surpasses “Wicked” in terms of narrative quality, maintaining its breathtaking visuals.

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2025-02-09 00:30