Wicked – an interview with the author (spoiler alert)
Wicked Spoiler Alert – aspects of the plot revealed below – do not read if you haven’t seen Wicked!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports on a recent interview with the author of the book that Wicked is based on, Gregory Maguire. 
Maguire is on a book signing tour to romote his new novel, “A Lion Among Men,” the third in his darkly political books about Oz. He’s seen Wicked many times and members of the cast of the local production were able to ask him a few interesting questions:
From Cliffton Hall (Fiyero):
Q. How and why did you come up with the concept of “Wicked”?
A. Living in London during the first Gulf War, I observed how often the name Hitler was used to describe Saddam Hussein and how poisonous and terrifying a word like Hitler is. I began to think about evil and the way we feel compelled to besmirch our enemies and dehumanize them in order to give ourselves the authority to kill them. This is not to say that I thought Saddam Hussein wasn’t a villain.
“The Wizard of Oz” was just a convenient armature on which to hang my worries and my thoughts about scapegoating.
Wicked Spoiler Alert – Look Away Now!
Q. If there was one character or scene in the stage play you could change, what would it be and why?
A. What a good, good, good question. “Wicked” is so popular that there isn’t any surprise that at the end of the play the witch [Elphaba] survives. [She dies in Maguire’s novel]. After five years, I think it’s common knowledge.
I would have loved to see them try the play just one evening where she doesn’t come back and Glinda is left to hug her memory alone. I would have loved to see what the audience does with that. I wouldn’t have asked them to change it forever.
So now you know. I think Wicked would be a much darker, scarier story if Maguire’s change was made. Would it still be as popular? I’m not sure. what do you think? Would Wicked still have the same magic?
I have been to see Wicked on numerous occasions and I cannot stop talking about it. I first saw Alexia and have now seen other people but I thought she was the best Elphaba.
The fact that she (Elphaba) does not die is breathtaking it is like in the movie Sixth Sense when you realise Bruce Willis is dead.
I do agree that just once to see Glinda take the guilt for killing her friend would be darker and very different but I absolutely love it and cannot wait to save up and go see it again.