Residents of a B.C. Interior community are pushing back after a mystery critic left some thoughts at the ticket window about a popular Hollywood musical.
Friday was premiere day at the Gem Theatre in Grand Forks for Wicked, a movie based on Winnie Holzman’s loose adaptation of the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which explores the origin stories of Wizard of Oz characters Glinda, the Good Witch of the East and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.
Just before opening that evening, a handwritten note was left in the ticket window next to the entrance, that read “It is disturbing and concerning that you play the movie “Wicked” in your theater! Do some research!!!” No name or contact information was left with the note.
An image of the note was posted on a Grand Forks Facebook community site, which immediately drew a lot of questions over why the mystery critic was so upset over the film.
Since its release, conservative groups have accused it of allegedly being pro-LGBTQ as one of the plot points is sexual tension between Glenda and Elphaba, as well as Elphaba being branded a villain as an allegory to being cast out by society for being different and true to oneself.
The Gazette reached out to Gem Theatre owner Shaun Aquiline, who pointed to his own Facebook comment on this, adding as a theatre proprietor, he has and will continue to show different genres.
“We played a movie about a bear on coke. Sooooooo….. a musical that hints to the Wizard of Oz is not something I am going to lose sleep over at all,” he wrote. “I mean… it’s a movie about a Bear on cocaine, which, if I am not mistaken is an illegal substance. Not to mention: the Terrifier, Black Phone, Nope, Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street. Also, Wicked Part 2 will be out this November in 2025. We will also play the sequel.”
He pointed out they have also shown religious-based films like Jesus Revolution and Sound of Freedom as well, which he’s sure some people found offensive.
“We will never let some random person dictate what we bring in. You don’t like it, get out and stay out.”
He also posted a video advertising the film and again addressing the controversy over the film.
Showtimes for Wicked are available at the Gem Theatre Facebook site, as well as at the theatre itself.
