Liam Head takes on a princely role in Wicked, with charm – and looks! I caught up with the Prince himself backstage!
This year Wicked celebrates its 20th anniversary and recently surpassed Cats as the fourth longest-running show on Broadway. The Wizard of Oz prequel is one of the most popular musicals of all time, but the reason goes beyond the music, costumes and sets.
Wicked’s themes of diversity, discrimination, apathy and friendship resonate deeply with audiences and this story by Gregory Maguire is a rare example of where tampering with a classic can work. As such, it is a show that comes around often, and each time still feels fresh.
Currently touring nationally, the new production stars Courtney Monsma (Six: The Musical) and Sheridan Adams (Tick, Tick … Boom!) as the good and wicked witches Glinda and Elphaba. While Todd McKenney (Shrek) plays The Wizard, Liam Head (Jagged Little Pill) takes on the role of dashing Fiyero Tigelaar.
Liam Head plays Fiyero in Wicked
“Fiyero is a pretty complicated guy, especially opposed to what the audience is first presented with,” says Head.
“In the beginning, he’s aloof and dancing his way through life, but when all’s cast aside, we see he’s a deeply caring person.”
Without giving too much away, Fiyero is a prince who meets Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and they have an affair. Elphaba is part of a resistance movement against the Wizard of Oz who is mistreating the animals.
“It’s about giving a voice to minorities, which is great!”
“Because he’s a prince he must look and act a certain way,” says Head.
“But the witch-hunt against Elphaba together with what is happening to the animals deeply resonates with Fiyero. For the character to grow up morally and mentally has been a great challenge to deal with on stage each night. I get to show the character’s journey from an aloof goggling idiot into someone with substance.”
The story of Wicked cleverly explains the relationship between the two witches Elphaba and Galinda and how other characters including the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion come to be. It is the rescue of the lion cub that brings Fiyero and Elphaba together in an act of compassion.
Liam Head with the cast of Wicked
“There’s a lot that I draw on in playing the character,” says Head.
“It’s such a wonderfully crafted story that you can substitute the animals for any minority group. Throughout the show, the animals can’t speak and there’s no magic involved because the Wizard has no magic. But they are oppressed and feel that they can’t speak, which is a fantastic metaphor for what’s going on in the world today. It’s about giving a voice to minorities, which is great!”
Head joins a fraternity of actors past and present who have donned the white jodhpurs and red vest to play Fiyero. Adam Garcia, Rob Mills, David Harris, Oliver Tomsett and Jonah Platt have all filled the role, with Jonathan Bailey cast in the upcoming movie.
“Wicked works well because there’s a part of you in every character.”
“I caught up with Rob Mills on opening night and it was great to see him reminisce through our new cast,” says Head.
“I also reached out to Jonah Platt who does ‘Fiyero Time’ on YouTube. The character spends quite a bit of time off-stage, so Jonah decided to utilise that by making a little YouTube series. It’s quite funny and a cool insight into what goes on backstage at Wicked on Broadway. I just had to watch that!”
“You can substitute the animals for any minority group.”
Although the Wicked story sits in a different space to that of the famous Dorothy Gale, it nonetheless connects plots by not only explaining how the famed characters came to be but also delivering social commentary on society.
Liam Head
“Wicked is a musical that works well because there’s a part of you in every character,” says Head.
“Whether we like to admit it or not, there’s a part of us in Madame Morrible who is the villain, a part that wishes to dance through life like Fiyero and a part that wants to be as strong and forthcoming as Elphaba. It’s a story with a happy and not-so-happy ending because it’s quite realistic and people resonate with that. Elphaba and Fiyero leave Oz entering the Badlands to look after the sick and dying animals. It’s not like other musicals where they marry and live happily ever after, but it holds a lot of truth and people respect that.”
Wicked is playing at the Sydney Lyric Theatre
For more visit: wickedthemusical.com.au
Follow Liam on Instagram @liam_head
Catching up with Liam backstage at the Sydney Lyric Theatre
