Elphaba and Nessarose: two sisters. One is ‘tragically beautiful’, yet confined to a wheelchair. The other is ‘beautifully tragic’, confined to a body and a life that "causes wickedness to be thrust upon her".

The theme played out is that we have the capacity to be more than our environment thrusts upon us, yet sadly, many will never rise above the level of their surroundings.

The unlikely friendship of Glinda and Elphaba, and how despite their different personalities, appearances, and initial hatred of each other, the play ends with "because I knew you, I’ve been changed for the better".