The acting is brilliant, the music and the costumes lavish and the setting and lighting awesome.

It's the kind of musical you need to go to several times just once isn't enough because there is so much going on.

Wicked has that magical formula to ensure it will be running for a long, long time at the Capitol Theatre.

Co-producer John Frost described it as a ``dazzling display of glitz, glamour and spellbinding effects''.

But in addition to being spectacular, it is wonderfully warm, witty and funny.

It is a story that grabs at the heart-strings with an appeal for people aged eight to 80.

Wicked is about two girls who meet in the Land of Oz.

One is born with emerald green skin and is smart, fiery and misunderstood.

How the girls grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda, the Good Witch, had the audience intrigued and absorbed.

Elphaba the wicked witch (Amanda Harrison) has potent inner beauty, supports the underdog and has a great talent for sorcery.

Harrison's wonderful voice is manifest in the songs I'm Not That Girl and No Good Deed.

Perky, popular and vain that's the good witch Glinda (Lucy Durack).

Glinda is a complex personality in that she is also vulnerable and kind-hearted.

She sees the truth about Elphaba.

Durack, one of the country's fastest-rising musical theatre stars, has a powerful voice.

She sets the mood for this excellent musical when she arrives on stage in a bubble singing No One Mourns the Wicked, with the citizens of Oz.

Bert Newton is perfectly cast as The Wizard.

Elphaba and The Wizard are set on a fateful path as he uses her sorcery.

The seemingly shallow playboy prince Fiyero (Rob Mills) proves he has a deep side as he becomes intrigued with Elphaba.

The duet between Mills and Harrison on As Long As You're Mine is spine-tingling.

Maggie Kirkpatrick sparkles as Madame Morrible the headmistress of Shiz University .

Even the use of quirky language is enchanting in this visual masterpiece.

Musical director/conductor Kellie Dickerson leads a fine 17-piece orchestra brilliantly interpreting the music of Stephen Schwartz.