Cynthia Erivo is giving Wicked a hilarious makeover, swapping her iconic green makeup for a blonde wig and pink tracksuit in a Nollywood-inspired parody on Saturday Night Live UK.
The Oscar-nominated actress hosted the British edition of the sketch comedy show, stepping into Glinda’s shoes after playing Elphaba in the hit musical. She was joined by comedian Ayoade Bamgboye, who took on the role of Elphaba in the deliberately exaggerated, low-budget version titled “Nigerian Wicked.”
The sketch follows the pair as they navigate their complicated friendship before setting off to meet the mysterious Wizard of LagOz.
Rather than delivering the elaborate musical performances and emotional scenes associated with Wicked, the parody embraces exaggerated drama and absurd exchanges for comedic effect.
In one scene, Glinda slaps Elphaba across the face, replacing the tension usually conveyed through the song “What Is This Feeling.”
“Glinda, you slapped me!” Bamgboye’s Elphaba exclaims.
“Yes, because you are very classless,” Erivo’s Glinda replies.
The parody also takes aim at the musical’s iconic makeover scene, with Elphaba worrying about how much her transformation will cost.
“Glinda, I can’t afford this!” she says.
“When we go to the Wizard, it will all pay off,” Glinda assures her.
“The Wizard? But I’m a virgin!” Elphaba responds before the pair nearly kiss.
The comedy gets even more outrageous when they arrive in the “emerald, white and emerald city” and reveal what they want from the Wizard. Glinda has her sights set on a Birkin bag, while Elphaba hopes to get a “skinny BBL.”
“She wants a BBL that defies gravity!” the Wizard, voiced by Hammed Animashaun, declares.
However, their hopes are quickly crushed when they realize that the supposedly all-powerful Wizard is broke.
“That’s a nolex,” Glinda remarks after taking a closer look at his watch.
The sketch eventually takes the characters back to Shiz, where Glinda asks Elphaba what they should do next.
Rather than giving an answer, the two dramatically lean in for a kiss before an explosion effect fills the screen.
“Nigerian Wicked: LGBTQ!” the Wizard announces in the closing voiceover.
The parody offers a fun role reversal for Erivo, who famously played Elphaba opposite Ariana Grande as Glinda in the film adaptation of Wicked.
