'Wicked' cast rave about natural herbal remedy Pei Pa Koa: 'This got me through performing a musical'
Pei Pa Koa, a popular herbal remedy used by Filipinos and Chinese for sore throats, is apparently an essential for some of the cast members of Wicked.
In a promotional video, the cast of the hit musical fantasy film—Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, and Jeff Goldblum—was handed a box of the popular Chinese herbal cough syrup wrapped with a ribbon.
While some were clueless about Pei Pa Koa, Cynthia was all too familiar with it.
"I used it. I love it," she said. Intrigued, Ariana asked her what it was.
Cynthia told her that it was a "cough syrup, but it's like the most soothing for singers. It's amazing."
Ariana said she has heard of the product before but has yet to try it.
"This is so good. I couldn't find it. And it tastes delicious also, every time I've done a show, this is the thing I have to use," Cynthia went on.
Because of this, Ariana got excited about trying the herbal remedy, saying she'd "add it to my vocal box."
Jonathan, another distinguished theater actor, also shared that he also takes Pei Pa Koa.
"This got me through performing a musical, eight shows a week," he said. "You'll sound like a flute."
This caught the interest of Jeff, who said, "Is that true? I need all the help I can get if this really works."
Pei Pa Koa is a natural herbal-based liquid specially formulated for the relief of minor discomfort such as coughs. The syrup can be mixed with water or directly swallowed for quick throat relief. It is also available in candy form.
Cynthia and Ariana lead Wicked as Elphaba Thropp and Galinda Upland, respectively, while Jonathan plays Fiyero Tigelaar and Jeff The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The film is an adaptation of the stage musical of the same name, which in turn was loosely based on the classic story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, its sequels, and its 1939 movie version.
Wicked focuses on Elphaba and Galinda meeting as students in the fantastical Land of Oz, where they unexpectedly form a close bond. Their friendship, however, gets tested after an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, even as their lives take very different paths.
Wicked: Part One opened in local cinemas on Nov. 20, while its second part is slated for 2025.
If you still need convincing about whether you should watch it or not, here's why we think Wicked is one of the few movie musicals to get it right.
