Cynthia Erivo Plays Glinda in ‘Nigerian Wicked’ Sketch on ‘SNL U.K.’: ‘She Wants a BBL That Defies Gravity’
Cynthia Erivo played Glinda in a comic “Nigerian Wicked” sketch during her stint hosting “SNL U.K.” The lo-fi spoof recast the musical’s enemies-turned-friends as characters travelling to meet the Wizard of LagOz, using Nollywood-inspired melodrama and jokes about money, fashion and beauty.
Ayoade Bamgboye played Elphaba, while Hammed Animashaun voiced the Wizard. The sketch reworked scenes from the musical, including the makeover and the characters’ charged near-kiss; Glinda asked for a Birkin bag and Elphaba for a “skinny BBL”. They discover the Wizard is broke, then lean in for a kiss before an explosion effect and the closing line, “Nigerian Wicked: LGBTQ!”
In short
- Cynthia Erivo played Glinda in an “SNL U.K.” spoof of Wicked.
- Ayoade Bamgboye and Hammed Animashaun also starred in the sketch.
- The characters discover the Wizard is broke before a final near-kiss.
Explained simply
Wicked is a musical about Glinda and Elphaba, two young witches whose uneasy friendship grows as they study magic and encounter the powerful Wizard of Oz. Its story is told before the events of The Wizard of Oz, and it has become widely known through stage performances and a recent film adaptation.
Nollywood is the name commonly used for Nigeria’s film industry, known for prolific productions that include dramatic, low-budget films. A spoof drawing on Nollywood style uses heightened emotion and familiar filmmaking conventions for comic effect; the sketch also plays on Nigerian and wider pop-culture references to luxury goods and cosmetic surgery.
Cynthia Erivo, a British actor and singer, has played Elphaba in the Wicked film adaptation, while Glinda is usually portrayed as her friend and counterpart. The sketch reverses that casting and combines the musical’s themes of friendship and attraction with comedy about money, appearance and sexuality.
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