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    • The Best Reactions to Jonathan Bailey in ‘Wicked’
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    The Best Reactions to Jonathan Bailey in ‘Wicked’

    Vaseline Posted on

    Spoilers below.

    What was the Jonathan Bailey moment? Bad that did it for you? Was it his exaggerated step to the campus of Shiz University? The way he stared at Elphaba in the forest? His quick statement of ‘believe me, I’ve been kicked out of enough of them to know”? The way he gently kissed the school librarian on the forehead? Whatever it was, viewers are completely mesmerized.

    This wouldn’t be the first time Bailey has wrapped an audience around his finger either. After all, this is the same man who played Anthony Bridgerton with a searing passion and iconically said, “You are the bane of my existence and the object of all my desires.” And after his Emmy-nominated performance opposite Matt Bomer in Fellow travelersIt’s clear: he knows how to unnerve someone. But inside Badthere is downright wizardry in Bailey’s performance as Fiyero Tigelaar. It is so powerful, so palpable, so invigorating, so dangerous that it has somehow rewired our brains and made it difficult to return to everyday life. It must be studied. It is only right that we hold space and feel the power within it.

    While Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are the rightful stars of the movie musical, Bailey steals scenes as the suave, hedonistic prince from Winkie Country. His instant flirtation with Grande’s Glinda is sure to make you blush, and his first sparks with Erivo’s Elphaba may get hearts racing. In both cases, he has so much chemistry with his scene partners (even his horse, who he has worked with before Bridgerton), it’s almost unbelievable.

    But his shining moment is “Dancing Through Life,” a big, flashy musical number in the Shiz library, where he inspires his fellow students to care less. Here, dear reader, is where Bailey really lets loose and puts his charm on full display: he dances on tables and hangs upside down in a giant spinning wheel; stomp, twist and flip with a joyful ferocity; sliding across the floor on top of open books; flirting with every girl and boy who meets his gaze; Swaying his hips and throwing his arms wide open, this is the best day of his life – all with smooth, rich vocals that pay tribute to the original Fiyero, Norbert Leo Butz.

    Bailey had big boots to fill this tricky role. Fiyero is inexplicably handsome and smooth, but that can’t be the case at conceited; he’s superficial, but not a total airhead; rebellious but not chaotic. If Bad: Part Two will show that he plays a major role in the history of Oz. Furthermore, miscasting this bona fide theater heartthrob, like many other elements of the musical, would have caused an uproar: he has fans. According to Spotify, streams of “Dancing Through Life” from the original Broadway soundtrack grew 83 percent globally and 90 percent in the US in the week leading up to the film’s premiere (to date, Bailey’s version has more than 2, 3 million streams.) And yet, all things considered, Bailey slips into the character like it was made for him. Director Jon M. Chu described his casting as “perfect.”

    Much of that sizzling charisma is likely due to Bailey’s background on stage. The British actor won an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor in the revival of Company at the Westeinde. (See him sing “Don’t get married” with crazy breath control and you’ll easily see why.) Before that, he played the role of Jamie opposite Samantha Barks The past five years. (Have you seen his audition?) Next year he will take on the role of Richard II– and this isn’t even his first Shakespeare performance since he came in King Lear And Othello. Even Stephen Sondheim would be in awe of him.

    So when viewers see Bailey come in Badthey really see all of the above. In the mildest cases they are elated; in the most extreme case they have gone downright wild. Twitter feeds (formerly known as X) and For You pages are flooded with praise or unbearable thirst. The reactions almost beg the question: is it possible for someone to be so good and so effortless? Are we sure this is allowed? Is it even legal? Can we handle this as a society?

    Whatever it is, we need more of it on screen. If Bad before Bailey clears a yellow brick road to more leading man roles, that’s what we’re all for. And if it leads to more charming, theatrical roles for men in Hollywood, we’re all for that, too.

    Portrait photo of Erica Gonzales

    Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of TV, movies, music, books and more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There’s a 75 percent chance she’s listening to Lorde right now.

    Vaseline
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