Chistery is the first and head of the flying monkeys in the musical, Wicked. He is first seen as a Monkey servant serving the Wizard of Oz, but after being freed, he and his fellow monkeys enter into the service of Elphaba.
History[]
Susan Hilferty's sketch of Chistery.
Originally, Chistery is the Wizard's head servant. The Wizard and Madmae Morrible trick Elphaba into reciting a spell in the Grimmerie which causes Chistery and the other monkeys to sprout unnatural wings, making them efficient scouts for the Wizard's endeavor to abolish intelligent Animals in Oz. Elphaba later appeals to the Wizard and convinces him to release Chistery and the others; however, their relationship quickly collapses, and the monkeys side with Elphaba. At one point, Elphaba displays frustration with Chistery when her efforts to teach him how to speak are proving futile. After Elphaba seemingly dies, Chistery hands her keepsake bottle to Glinda while stuttering "Miss ... Miss Glinda", signifying Elphaba's legacy.
Behind the Scenes[]
The flying monkeys being freed in the Wizard's Throne Room in Wicked
In the musical he is credited as an ensemble role as opposed to a principal role. In the original Broadway production of the musical he was portrayed by Manuel Herrera, and originally in London by Simon Hardwick.
The monkeys are Elphaba's minions and are always somewhere close by Other performers to take on the role include Phillip Speath, Jonathan Warren and Sam J. Cahn (Broadway), Jonathan Richard Sandler and Mark Shunkey (Broadway/1st National Tour); Peter John Chursin (1st National Tour/Los Angeles); Kristopher Mitchell and Matthew Boulton (London); Gregory Haney (Chicago/2nd National Tour/San Francisco); Ryan Sheppard (Melbourne/Sydney); Matt Jones (Oberhausen); Nuno Azevedo (Scheveningen) and Harrison Clark (UK/Ireland tour).
Portrayers[]
Broadway Production[]
- Mark Shunkey
- Manuel Herrera
- Raymond Joel Matsamura
- Christopher King
Broadway Understudies[]
- Todd Anderson
- Dominic Guidici
- Spencer Jones
- Kevin Jordan
- Jonathan Warren
- Kevin Jordan
- Brian Wanee