Boq
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Boq is a minor character in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. He becomes a more prominent character in Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked, which purports to show the lives of some of Baum's characters from another perspective, and more prominent still in the Broadway musical Wicked which is based on Maguire's novel.
In Baum's novel, Boq is a rich Munchkin who provides shelter for Dorothy on her journey to the Emerald City.
In Wicked, Boq is a Munchkin who attends Shiz University with Elphaba and Galinda (who would grow up to become The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch respectively). In the musical version of Wicked (but not in Baum's or Maguire's books), Boq becomes the Tin Woodman.
[edit] Boq in the novel Wicked
In Maguire's novel, Boq has very little interaction with either Nessarose or Galinda, and while he does fancy Galinda, he does not become involved with either girl. Boq narrates a whole section of the book in the Shiz University section of the novel. However, Boq befriends Elphaba, as they were childhood playmates, and assists her in doing research for Doctor Dillamond. Boq becomes friends with Crope, Tibbett, and Avaric, although he appears to be jealous of Avaric, due to his good looks, charm, and money. His infatuation with Galinda, which never comes to more than a brief kiss, gradually lifts and they become friends. As the time goes on, Boq marries Miss Milla (another school-mate who plays a minor role.) Boq changes near the end of the book, turning on Elphaba.
[edit] Boq in the musical Wicked
In the musical, Boq is the love interest of Elphaba's younger sister, Nessarose (who would later become The Wicked Witch of the East). However, the feeling is not mutual; Boq only became involved with Nessarose in hopes of impressing Galinda, whom he truly has his heart set on. Unfortunately for him, though, Galinda has so little regard for him that she cannot remember his name (calling him Bick). When Nessarose eventually becomes the governor of Munchkinland, she uses her power to enslave Boq as her personal servant. When Boq confesses his love for Glinda, Nessarose becomes extremely angry at him. At that point, she casts a spell on him from Elphaba's spell book, but misspronounces it. This causes Boq's heart to shrink until it is completely gone. In a desperate attempt to save Boq's life, Elphaba turns Boq into the Tin Woodman. Unlike in the novel, Boq plays quite a condensed role in the staged production.
Boq sings as himself in "Dancing Through Life" and "The Wicked Witch of the East". He is the Tin Man when singing "March of the Witch Hunters".
He was originally played by Christopher Fitzgerald.
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[edit] Portrayals
Boq has been portrayed by the following actors in the Musical Wicked:
- Kirk McDonald (Original San Francisco, Former US National Tour)
- Christopher Fitzgerald (Original Broadway)
- Andrew Palermo (Original Broadway Understudy)
- Randy Harrison (Temporary Replacement Broadway)
- Jeffrey Kuhn (Former Broadway)
- Robb Sapp (Former Broadway)
- Ben Liebert (Current Broadway)
- Noah Rivera (Current Broadway Understudy)
- Clyde Alves (Current Broadway Understudy)
- Logan Lipton (Original US National Tour, Former Broadway)
- Josh Lamon (Former US National Tour)
- Brad Weinstock (Current US National Tour)
- David Hull (Current US National Tour Understudy)
- Adam Sanford (Current US National Tour Understudy)
- Telly Leung (Original Chicago)
- Adam Fleming (Former Chicago)
- Stanton Nash (Current Chicago)
- Joseph Medeiros (Current Chicago Understudy)
- Brad Simanski (Current Chicago Understudy)
- Jeremy Legat (Current London)
- James Gillan (Original London)
- Jye Frasca (Original London Understudy)
- John Hicks (Current London Understudy)
- Michael Pickering (Current London Understudy)
- Adam Wylie (Original Los Angeles)
- Michael Drolet (Current Los Angeles)
- Jeremy Kocal (Current Los Angeles Understudy)
- Alexander Selma (Current Los Angeles Understudy)
- Nobuhiko Kanada (Original/Current Tokyo)
- Stefan Stara (Moq) (Original/Current Stuttgart)
- Paul Boereboom (Original/Current Stuttgart Understudy)
- Marco Fahrland (Original/Current Stuttgart Understudy)
- Anthony Callea (Original/Current Melbourne)
