Wicked: has the crying gone too far?

No one mourns ‘Wicked’ more than Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who cling together like sisters during press for the new movie adaptation of the beloved musical. When discussing their whirlwind experience, it’s less an exchange of backstage fun facts, and more an insight into a deeply personal bonding between the two women. And as Ariana expressed, their tear ducts are tired from crying!

The words ‘holding space for defying gravity’ have overwhelmed popular discourse surrounding ‘Wicked’ in a mix of playful jokes and genuinely irritated watchers. While their finger-hold was humorous, Cynthia’s emotion came from realising that people were connecting to her version of the powerful song about having the courage to do what is right when no one else will. Given the recent, hard-hitting US election results, it's understandable why people are relating to the anthem.

On the surface these reactions may appear dramatic and ridiculous, but if you notice why they are crying, you might find some empathy.

Cynthia drew from personal experiences to give Elphaba her rawness and inner strength. As a queer, black woman playing a character who is discriminated against based on appearance, recalling filming is clearly very emotive. Both actresses tear up when reminded that their vulnerable moments are being represented on big screens for others who feel the same. Interviewers even confessed, ‘from a nerdy theatre kid who was othered at school my whole life, this film means so much to me’, and ‘I’m a black woman who grew up in rural Missouri…you’re not gonna tell me what we saw on the screen wasn’t real’. It’s meaningful when your rendition of such worshipped, memorised material is approved by die-hard fans.

Ariana's constant tears are purely a testament to fulfilling her lifelong dream. She vowed at ten to play Glinda and after receiving initial criticism from her casting, it’s emotionally relieving to hear praise for ‘taking good care of her’, which she promised to fans. 

For three years they have bonded over an adored musical that deals with sensitive themes of loss, insecurity and oppression. Lets not tear women apart for their emotions when expressing pride in their achievements, especially when Wicked celebrates female friendship. Putting your soul into your work shouldn’t be ridiculed, and as Cynthia put it, ‘it’s not because we’re just crying out of nowhere, this experience was huge, life changing, crazy, emotional’.

Edited by: Eleanor Robinson