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As a genre, I always avoid musical theatre like the plague.
I always thought there couldn’t be anything worse than being trapped in a dark room with people bursting into song at any excuse, at the best of times.
Then I realised, there was.
Being trapped in a dark room with members of the audience bursting into song too – when it’s not even their job.
So as I walked into the cinema to watch Wicked, I was bracing myself for an ordeal – and a long one at that – as the film is two hours and 40 minutes.
I have never watched the original stage show, which has been running in London‘s West End for nearly 20 years and having seen the social media debate about whether audiences should be allowed to sing along during the new film, my mind was already firmly made up.
Ahead of the film’s release, cinemas in the US issued warnings to movie-goers that singing along to the musical’s hit numbers was strictly prohibited – following reports of disruptions during early screenings across the country.
The ban sparked a furious row about theatre etiquette on TikTok and Reddit, as fans debated whether it is appropriate to sing along during movie screenings.
Tanith Carey admits that she was dreading the prospect of 2 hours and 40 minutes of amateur singing when she went to watch Wicked at Chiswick Cinema
Movie-goers joining in with the film’s biggest hits, including Defying Gravity – amid a debate over singing in the cinema
Adebayo Yusuf (left) with his daughters Aderinsola aged 7 and Tiwaterin aged 9 and his wife Tobi Yusuf, said that he was surprised to find he didn’t mind the singing
‘I paid for my ticket…If I want to sing, I will sing,’ one insisted, while others took aim at the ‘fun police’.
But others were confused by fans who sing along over artists such as multiple Grammy-winner Grande, with one user writing: ‘I don’t get people who want to hear themselves over the performances.
‘This goes for concerts too. I’ve never understood it! And I’m a singer! If I want to sing I do it on stage or in my car.’
Ariane Tyler, a 39-year-old special education teacher from Chicago went as far as rent out a movie theatre so she could enjoy Wicked without worrying about fellow cinemagoers singing along to hits like Defying Gravity and Popular.
She even banned her own children, aged five and eight, from attending so she could enjoy the film in peace, and rightly so.
Surely audience participation – like the kind talked about in US cinemas – could only make an excruciating experience even worse?
But then, as the new £120 million movie version – starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo – unfolded at Chiswick Cinema in West London, it was clear there was something different about Wicked.
Though it doesn’t sound particularly relatable, it tells the story of the difficult early years of a girl called Elphaba, played by British star Erivo.
Kathryn Lord (left), 37, a family organiser and nanny from Kew, West London said it was difficult to let rip, for fear of annoying others
Ahead of the release of Wicked, fans took to X to share images of signs inside cinemas banning singing during screenings
Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in the film adaptation of the hit musical Wicked
When she is born with green skin, she is rejected – and it goes on to explain what led her to become ‘the Wicked Witch of the West’ of the Wizard of Oz books and original film.At college, she meets Galinda, who is at first her adversary, and then her best friend, before she later becomes the Good Witch.
While all this sounds strictly like the stuff of fairy tales, it’s a surprisingly emotional journey with a soundtrack that carries you with it.
And since the songs cover themes like rejection, acceptance, and how to stand up for yourself, many have become anthems for devotees who say they helped get them through tough times.
Indeed as I watched the audience reaction to the film, I could see there’s something about the songs that makes the people who know them itch to join in.
As the movie unfolded, first they got twitchy, then they started to hum along, and then mouth the words.
But it was when the first major banger of the film came on – Popular – in which Galinda tells Elphaba, now her roommate, how she will teach the tricks for social success, they could contain themselves no longer – and the whole front row joined in.
Even so, I can’t say it was particularly annoying.
You would need to have a very big pair of lungs to be heard above Cynthia and Ariana belting it out with the backing of a full orchestra.
Katherine left said she felt more comfortable singing because Emily Cooper (right) has such a nice voice
Donna Easton, 49, a ‘joyologist’ from Southeast London, said that she loves to sing along but wouldn’t try to compete on the high notes
Plus, I suspect few people – and certainly none of our audience – had the courage to try and actually out-sing these two, especially as Ariana is a soprano with a four-octave vocal range, who can sing whistle notes – the highest in the human voice register.
It was more like they provided an extra back-up during the choruses.
Even co-star Cynthia has endorsed the audience sing-a-alongs saying this week in an interview: ‘I’m OK with it. We spent this long singing it ourselves, it’s time for everyone to sing.’
One of the audience members was Donna Easton, 49, a ‘joyologist’ from Southeast London, who has seen the stage version twice and had already seen the film once with her daughter but was thrilled to see it again.
Donna of mylifeshines.com agrees that it would be unwise for any Wicked fan to try and keep up, unless they happened to be Mariah Carey or Adele.
‘Ariana hits some incredibly high notes and Cynthia really belts it out. I don’t think many people would seriously try and compete.
‘So I personally stuck to the songs in the mid-range and where I knew the words.’
Despite also loving the tunes, Kathryn Lord, 37, a family organiser and nanny from Kew, West London said it was difficult to let rip, for fear of annoying others.
Tanith was surprised to discover that the singing was a lot more tolerable than people rustling sweet wrappers and looking at their phones
Although fans have been joining in, it’s hard to compete with Ariana who has a range of four octaves
Young Wicked fan Tiwaterin getting into the spirit of things while watching the hit movie
‘Singing it next to people who love the songs just as much as I do, did enhance the experience,’ she said, ‘especially as the lady sitting next to me had a really lovely voice.
‘I just hope it was enjoyable for her the other way around!’
Influencer Luisa Ruocco, 33, (@luisainsta) from Acton, who has always sung, said singing along made the experience more emotional.
‘I shed a few tears. When I heard audience members on both sides of me singing along, it gave me a sense of cohesion and union, which was lovely.’
Even so, all the singing audience members felt it still would be better to have dedicated screenings for those who really want to join in – so as not to annoy others and with subtitles so they could keep up with the lyrics. (There are a lot of words in these songs).But I checked with other audience members, who kept quiet, none of them seemed to mind.
Adebayo Yusuf, 40, a photographer from Essex (@godsonstudio) who attended with his wife Tobi, a wedding planner (@riahevents_weddingplanner), and their two daughters, 7 and 9, said: ‘I didn’t mind others singing. I would have sung along too if I had known the words!
‘I had seen Wicked before and I found it very emotional.’
Eloise Skinner, author and psychotherapist www.eloiseskinner.com also went along to the screening.
And while she didn’t sing, she didn’t mind or notice others joining in, due in part to the emotional relevance of the film.
‘I’d say in particular with Wicked, many people have a childhood association with the musical which gives a sense of nostalgia, comfort and familiarity.
‘Many of us might also feel like we’ve grown up alongside the characters in the film – relating to their childhood and adult selves – especially moments where the adult character connects with their childhood self.
‘This can give us a sense of deeper meaning and personal connection to the story.
‘Wicked also touches on some significant themes we might find relatable to our own lives: friendship, trust, betrayal, loyalty, love, and heartbreak.
On top of that, Eloise says it’s not surprising that sharing that experience through communal singing feels so good.
‘When it comes to singing, we know that singing can boost our mood, triggering the release of endorphins and dopamine, as well as reduce our stress levels.’
And overall, despite some of the objections on social media, I’d say seeing the eyes of the audience light up and show their appreciation actually added to the experience, rather than detracted from it.
In the end, I’d rather have a bit of heart-felt singing – over the texting and sweet unwrapping – that have ruined other films I’ve been to – anytime.
