At a time when Broadway is struggling to turn a profit on new musicals, Wicked: For Good is breaking box office records. And with good reason.  At this writing, I’ve seen the movie twice. I think I could watch it 5 more times and still see something new each time. I found it gorgeously crafted, flawlessly performed, and powerfully moving. There were many times when I wanted to burst into applause in the middle of the movie. I thought it was that good. 

They may be detached and self-serving; resentful, treacherous and conniving; carried away by the praise of others; or bound down in false beliefs. They may be so far gone that there’s no way to redeem them in the story. But they are people. And creators who give them the dignity of well-rounded treatment help us to see and respect the humanity of those we see as antagonists in our own lives. Such villains also enrich the show.