BASED IN
Los Angeles
Available worldwide
© Georgia Clelland 2026
Defying Chenoweth: Courtney Monsma Rules the Emerald City
Thought you’d seen Wicked before? Think again! This QPAC production will give you chills, tears, and more laughs than you can imagine.
Defying Chenoweth: Courtney Monsma Rules the Emerald City
Defying Chenoweth: Courtney Monsma Rules the Emerald City
Thought you’d seen Wicked before? Think again! This QPAC production will give you chills, tears, and more laughs than you can imagine.
here I was, settling into my seat at QPAC’s Lyric Theatre on
T
Saturday night, bracing myself for the opening night of Wicked.
And honestly, as someone who’s been hooked on this musical ever since I first saw it from the nosebleed seats back in high school, I had one burning question: would it still live up to the hype?
The trailer sold this as feral, obsessive, body-heat-fogging-up-the-windows cinema. We are living in a post-Heated Rivalry world, where two gay hockey players on HBO can barely keep their hands off each other’s naked bodies and nobody blinks. We are drowning in on-screen smut, so when the promos for Wuthering Heights teased sweat, longing and near-orgasmic close-ups, I assumed we were about to get the sauciest Brontë adaptation ever made.
Well, let me just say - what unfolded on that stage blew my expectations out of the water.
In fact, it might just be the best version of Wicked I’ve ever seen.
Goosebumps, tears, and cackles of laughter all reappeared as if it were my very first time in Oz.
Let’s dive into it. First off, any Wicked fan knows the show hinges on its two leads - Glinda and Elphaba - and my goodness, Queenslander Courtney Monsma as Glinda was *chef’s kiss*.
She had the entire audience eating out of the palm of her hand with her hysterical portrayal of the bubbly blonde witch.
Monsma’s rendition of “Popular” wasn’t just performed - it was owned.
T
T
here I was, settling into my seat at QPAC’s Lyric Theatre on Saturday night, bracing myself for the opening night of Wicked.
here I was, settling into my seat at QPAC’s Lyric Theatre
on Saturday night, bracing myself for the opening night of Wicked.
And honestly, as someone who’s been hooked on this musical ever since I first saw it from the nosebleed seats back in high school, I had one burning question: would it still live up to the hype?
The trailer sold this as feral, obsessive, body-heat-fogging-up-the-windows cinema. We are living in a post-Heated Rivalry world, where two gay hockey players on HBO can barely keep their hands off each other’s naked bodies and nobody blinks. We are drowning in on-screen smut, so when the promos for Wuthering Heights teased sweat, longing and near-orgasmic close-ups, I assumed we were about to get the sauciest Brontë adaptation ever made.
Well, let me just say - what unfolded on that stage blew my expectations out of the water.
In fact, it might just be the best version of Wicked I’ve ever seen.
Goosebumps, tears, and cackles of laughter all reappeared as if it were my very first time in Oz.
Let’s dive into it. First off, any Wicked fan knows the show hinges on its two leads - Glinda and Elphaba - and my goodness, Queenslander Courtney Monsma as Glinda was *chef’s kiss*.
She had the entire audience eating out of the palm of her hand with her hysterical portrayal of the bubbly blonde witch.
Monsma’s rendition of “Popular” wasn’t just performed - it was owned.
Courtney Monsma as Glinda with Sheridan Adams as Elphaba, they are the stars of Wicked, Lyric Theatre, QPAC. Photo Steve Pohlner.
Courtney Monsma as Glinda with Sheridan Adams as Elphaba, they are the stars of Wicked, Lyric Theatre, QPAC. Photo Steve Pohlner..
Then there’s Elphaba, the other half of this iconic duo.
Newcomer Sheridan Adams was nothing short of jaw-dropping as the green-skinned, misunderstood powerhouse.
She didn’t just hit those impossible notes, she obliterated them.
From “The Wizard and I” to “Defying Gravity,” she had me on the edge of my seat, clinging to every word.
It’s not often you see an actress take on such a legendary role and make it completely her own.
Courtney Monsma as Glinda with Sheridan Adams as Elphaba, they are the stars of Wicked, Lyric Theatre, QPAC. Photo Steve Pohlner.
"Adams was fierce, vulnerable, and downright magical."
Watching her unravel from hopeful young witch to powerful outcast was like seeing the story of Elphaba for the first time all over again.
Now, onto the supporting cast.
Ainsley Melham as Fiyero was pure fire (and I mean that in the most 2024 way possible).
The chemistry between him and Adams during “As Long As You’re Mine” was electric -honestly, steamy doesn’t even begin to cover it.
I might’ve been blushing. And his voice? It was the perfect match for Adams’. Two powerhouses colliding in the best way possible.
And let’s not forget the deliciously detestable Madam Morrible, played by Robyn Nevin.
If there’s one thing Nevin knows how to do, it’s making you love to hate her, she oozed sinister charm.
Meanwhile, Todd McKenney’s Wizard was this loveable, affable conman, a perfect mix of clueless and cunning.
Adam Murphy’s Dr Dillamond was wholesome, and his scenes with Elphaba tugged at my heartstrings.
Shewit Belay and Kurtis Papadinis, as Nessarose and Boq, were charmingly awkward, playing up the sweet yet doomed romance between the two.
But just as you start to root for Nessarose, Belay makes you despise her, her transformation from shy sister to bitter tyrant was chilling.
Seriously, this cast was flawless.
The set design was another thing of beauty.
Steampunk meets Emerald City? Yes, please!
The industrial-meets-magical aesthetic created this perfect balance between enchanting and eerie, especially with the menacing dragon looming above the stage.
But, okay, I’ll admit it. I had one tiny quibble. I heard that in the Sydney production, the flying monkeys soared over the audience, wings spread and all, and I was really hoping to see that magic here at QPAC. Sadly, no monkeys flew, but you know what? The rest of the show was so good, I’ll let it slide.
Overall, if you’ve ever loved Wicked, or even if you’ve never seen it before, this QPAC production is an absolute must. It’s everything you want it to be - hilarious, heartbreaking, and full of jaw-dropping moments. I thought nothing could match my first experience with Wicked all those years ago, but this... well, it was pure magic.
Wicked will be showing at QPAC’s Lyric theatre until November 24, with tickets available at qpac.com.au.
the cast of Wicked, Lyric Theatre, QPAC, South Brisbane, on Friday September 13th 2024 - Photo Steve Pohlner
Then there’s Elphaba, the other half of this iconic duo.
Newcomer Sheridan Adams was nothing short of jaw-dropping as the green-skinned, misunderstood powerhouse.
She didn’t just hit those impossible notes, she obliterated them.
From “The Wizard and I” to “Defying Gravity,” she had me on the edge of my seat, clinging to every word.
It’s not often you see an actress take on such a legendary role and make it completely her own.
"Adams was fierce, vulnerable, and downright magical."
The set design was another thing of beauty.
Steampunk meets Emerald City? Yes, please!
The industrial-meets-magical aesthetic created this perfect balance between enchanting and eerie, especially with the menacing dragon looming above the stage.
But, okay, I’ll admit it. I had one tiny quibble. I heard that in the Sydney production, the flying monkeys soared over the audience, wings spread and all, and I was really hoping to see that magic here at QPAC. Sadly, no monkeys flew, but you know what? The rest of the show was so good, I’ll let it slide.
Overall, if you’ve ever loved Wicked, or even if you’ve never seen it before, this QPAC production is an absolute must. It’s everything you want it to be - hilarious, heartbreaking, and full of jaw-dropping moments. I thought nothing could match my first experience with Wicked all those years ago, but this... well, it was pure magic.
Wicked will be showing at QPAC’s Lyric theatre until November 24, with tickets available at qpac.com.au.
Then there’s Elphaba, the other half of this iconic duo.
Newcomer Sheridan Adams was nothing short of jaw-dropping as the green-skinned, misunderstood powerhouse.
She didn’t just hit those impossible notes, she obliterated them.
From “The Wizard and I” to “Defying Gravity,” she had me on the edge of my seat, clinging to every word.
It’s not often you see an actress take on such a legendary role and make it completely her own.
the cast of Wicked, Lyric Theatre, QPAC, South Brisbane, on Friday September 13th 2024 - Photo Steve Pohlner
"Adams was fierce, vulnerable, and downright magical."
Watching her unravel from hopeful young witch to powerful outcast was like seeing the story of Elphaba for the first time all over again.
Now, onto the supporting cast.
Ainsley Melham as Fiyero was pure fire (and I mean that in the most 2024 way possible).
The chemistry between him and Adams during “As Long As You’re Mine” was electric -honestly, steamy doesn’t even begin to cover it.
I might’ve been blushing. And his voice? It was the perfect match for Adams’. Two powerhouses colliding in the best way possible.
And let’s not forget the deliciously detestable Madam Morrible, played by Robyn Nevin.
If there’s one thing Nevin knows how to do, it’s making you love to hate her, she oozed sinister charm.
Meanwhile, Todd McKenney’s Wizard was this loveable, affable conman, a perfect mix of clueless and cunning.
Adam Murphy’s Dr Dillamond was wholesome, and his scenes with Elphaba tugged at my heartstrings.
Shewit Belay and Kurtis Papadinis, as Nessarose and Boq, were charmingly awkward, playing up the sweet yet doomed romance between the two.
But just as you start to root for Nessarose, Belay makes you despise her, her transformation from shy sister to bitter tyrant was chilling.
Seriously, this cast was flawless.
the cast of Wicked, Lyric Theatre, QPAC, South Brisbane, on Friday September 13th 2024 - Photo Steve Pohlner
The set design was another thing of beauty.
Steampunk meets Emerald City? Yes, please!
The industrial-meets-magical aesthetic created this perfect balance between enchanting and eerie, especially with the menacing dragon looming above the stage.
But, okay, I’ll admit it. I had one tiny quibble. I heard that in the Sydney production, the flying monkeys soared over the audience, wings spread and all, and I was really hoping to see that magic here at QPAC. Sadly, no monkeys flew, but you know what? The rest of the show was so good, I’ll let it slide.
Overall, if you’ve ever loved Wicked, or even if you’ve never seen it before, this QPAC production is an absolute must. It’s everything you want it to be - hilarious, heartbreaking, and full of jaw-dropping moments. I thought nothing could match my first experience with Wicked all those years ago, but this... well, it was pure magic.
Wicked will be showing at QPAC’s Lyric theatre until November 24, with tickets available at qpac.com.au.
Watching her unravel from hopeful young witch to powerful outcast was like seeing the story of Elphaba for the first time all over again.
Now, onto the supporting cast.
Ainsley Melham as Fiyero was pure fire (and I mean that in the most 2024 way possible).
The chemistry between him and Adams during “As Long As You’re Mine” was electric -honestly, steamy doesn’t even begin to cover it.
I might’ve been blushing. And his voice? It was the perfect match for Adams’. Two powerhouses colliding in the best way possible.
And let’s not forget the deliciously detestable Madam Morrible, played by Robyn Nevin.
If there’s one thing Nevin knows how to do, it’s making you love to hate her, she oozed sinister charm.
Meanwhile, Todd McKenney’s Wizard was this loveable, affable conman, a perfect mix of clueless and cunning.
Adam Murphy’s Dr Dillamond was wholesome, and his scenes with Elphaba tugged at my heartstrings.
Shewit Belay and Kurtis Papadinis, as Nessarose and Boq, were charmingly awkward, playing up the sweet yet doomed romance between the two.
But just as you start to root for Nessarose, Belay makes you despise her, her transformation from shy sister to bitter tyrant was chilling.
Seriously, this cast was flawless.
BASED IN
Los Angeles
Available worldwide
© Georgia Clelland 2026
BASED IN
Los Angeles
Available worldwide
© Georgia Clelland 2026
BASED IN
Los Angeles
Available worldwide
© Georgia Clelland 2026
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