Sep 14 2008
Wicked - At Last!
I saw Wicked last night. (Yes, the tickets finally came yesterday.) My mom and I had been planning on going for over a year. The tickets were a gift from my grandma for my mom’s 59th and my 31st birthdays. A year later, we finally made it.
This is one of the best shows I have ever seen (and I’ve seen a lot). The show was outstanding.
Prior to going to the show, I did not really know what to expect. I had not read the book. I had seen the commercials and heard the buzz, so I knew it was about Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz.
While The Wizard of Oz focuses on Dorothy, we only see the end of the road for the Wicked Witch. I knew Wicked had to do with how the two witches got to where we meet them in The Wizard of Oz.
Wicked tells us the story of the two, Galinda and Elphaba, from when they meet in school following their relationship up until where The Wizard of Oz ends.
This show is fantastic. Wicked is wickedly funny and touching. The set design and costumes are incredible and executed perfectly. I am awestruck at the way they brought the flying monkeys to life.
The dialogue is smart and witty. The music is amazing and the singing is outstanding. The songs are powerful. The story is just as powerful.
Like The Wizard of Oz, Wicked delves into political topics. I can go into that utilizing the analytical skills I developed attaining that English Lit. degree of mine, but I won’t. I will discuss the other topics, however.
Wicked is about friendship. It is about truth and perception. It is about standing up for that in which you believe. It is about the way truth and perception can be manipulated and, therefore, manipulate us.
If you have not yet seen this show, I highly recommend it and I recommend it for everyone. It is appropriate for most any age bracket. You will laugh like you hadn’t expected to at a Broadway musical. The music will move and inspire you. The lyrics will have you singing the songs the next day. They will make you laugh and cry. The power of the songs and the voices will make your hair stand on end and will bring tears to your eyes.
I almost always tear up during the finale of any musical. If I sat and thought about it, I am sure I could give you a wordy and lengthy explanation, but I won’t. I rarely cry or tear up during a show, though. I welled up last night and had to fight back the tears during the final song, “For Good.”
My absolute favorite musical is Les Miserables. I have seen it multiple times. I believe I have to place Wicked second on that list. I am not sure how long it is on Broadway. It is only in Chicago through January 25, 2009. Go see it before it is gone. You will not regret it, rather you will regret it if you miss this show.
photo credits: Wikipedia
I have been dying to see this show!!! I’m trying to drag some friends to see the LA production in January as well!!! Thanks for the reminder!
Make good memories,
Amy
http://www.independentwomen.today.com
sytherea, I wouldn’t think you’d have to drag anyone! Try e-bay for good deals, just be careful. I had been watching for a long time and saw people paying way over what they could pay if they went through ticketmaster or the theater.
o.d., you and me both. I was getting really nervous. I did have a great time. It is one of the rare instances that I am watching the show and not thinking anything about the actors. Normally something pulls me out and I realize they are actors on a stage. I was sucked in.
Oh I would so LOVE to see Les Mis - and Phantom. Seen a number of musicals on both Broadway and London’s West End but somehow those tickets are never available when I’m heading in that direction!
Glad you got to see it, was curious as to whether or not the tickets would arrive on time. :)
I’ve read the book but haven’t seen the show. The best show I’ve seen was Cats…I loved it!
-Diana
http://single.today.com
Oh, Katie-Anne, that stinks! You’ll have to get the tickets and then make the plans to head in that direction! :)
dianae, I love the music from Cats.
I am so glad that you liked. It’s funny I am pretty much a risk taker(living in NYC and all) but have yet to buy anything on E-bay. I am glad your tickets arrived on time.
alicia
http://todaystyle.today.com
Alicia, I thought you were in Italy already!?!
I would love to see Wicked, it sounds great.
Love your blog and thanks for the review!
M.Stokes
http://newsopinions.today.com
Kelly,
Congrats on your Blog Award! Just wanted to stop by and tell you “Way to go”! :) ~k
thanks for the award!
isabella, you know what is funny? I had a similar experience. For a long time, I knew of the musical, but had heard little or paid attention to little about the book. Then suddenly I went, “oh, wait! I get it!”
I too am so glad you were able to get your tickets and had a good time. We do not have too many of those shows here in SC.
The book is fantastic, Kelly- but it does have a different ending than the stage show.
I’ll have to read it. I generally don’t like to read a book AFTER seeing the movie, but I might make an exception for this….
I saw the LA production of Wicked and I totally agree, Kelley, that this was such a fun, interesting show! To be honest, I haven’t really seen The Wizard of Oz before I went to see Wicked. I knew the gist of the story so I was able to understand what was going on, but seeing the “beginning” of everything made (finally)watching Oz a little more interesting.
Im so sorry I missed it in San Francisco. We’re saving up so I can take hubby to see Phantom.