I seem to be getting into the blogging grove
this year. This one will be about another one of my favourite musicals: Wicked.
For those unfamiliar it is a prequel to the Wizard of Oz, and tells the story
of the Wicked Witch of the West (Elphaba) and The Good Witch of the North
before Dorothy came to Oz. A word of warning spoilers will abound from this
point about both the stage show and the book it is based on so proceed with caution.
I first heard of it through the media tv
shows etc. I living in Paris, France when it first toured Toronto, so I missed
it, plus I was still a NYC virgin at the time. When it returned to Toronto in
fall 2006 I loved it and saw it 3 times before it flew away. I read the book in
the summer as preparation, the novel is definitely WAY different and more
sinister than the musical. Elphaba and her love interest Fiyero die in the
book, but are given a somewhat happier ending where they've faked their own deaths.
Fiyero also turns out to the be Scarcrow. The stage show delves more into the
origins of well known characters like the Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion, and
how they became who they are. I would say the musical is trying to have it's
cake and eat it too with the ending, with out straying too much from the
traditional OZ cannon except the Scarcrow doesn't die in the movie.
One of the best days that my sister and I
shared involved Wicked. She was 12 at the time, and I was introducing her to
ballet. We had gone to see a matinee of the Nutcracker, and I got to meet one
of Canada's premiere ballerina's Karen Kain. My sister was blase about Karen
Kain, and she didn't think anyone would know who she is, so when we were at an
ATM, I turned around and asked the guy behind me if he knew and he did! After that we
decided on a lark to go try the Wicked lottery for the 8pm show. My parents actually got us a hotel room and tickets to Wicked as an early Christmas present prior to it and we loved it. I digress with the
lottery basically there are about 20 tickets available for $25 if your name is
drawn you get up to two tickets. (Wicked isn't alone in the practice Book of
Mormon, Rent and We Will Rock You also have/had lotteries) We were so happy
when we won! It was just a great day. I tried the lottery on Wicked's last day,
but I didn't win.
When Wicked was in Toronto, I was lucky
enough to see Todd K. Freeman as Dr Dillamond (For you Buffy The Vampire Slayer
fan he played Mr Trick in seasons three), and the talented Megan Hilty. Megan
Hilty reprised her role as Glinda on the TV show Ugly Betty and went to to star
in the TV show Smash. I have a pic with her:
The next time I saw Wicked was the following
summer 2007 on my first trip to NYC. The morning of I did a Behind the Emerald
Curtain tour and got to see some of the set models, and original cast member's
Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth's costumes. It was pretty interesting. The
sets on the what is referred to as a "sit down" production as opposed
as a touring production are more elaborate. Not everyone understands, why you
would see a show over and over again, but each actor brings their own spin to
the character. A couple years later when I was watching the Golden Girls, I
recognized Lenny Wolpe who I saw play the Wizard.
A year later I was on the road again to see
Wicked. The tour was in Ottawa, so I went to visit my friend Laura (Who I
never would have met if not for a mutual love of Wicked!) They still had the
same husband and wife team of Clifton and DeeDee Hall playing Fiyero and
Nessarose. Deedee played a student in the film Sister Act 2 which was one of my
favourites. Here's a pic of me and Clifton and Deedee.I have to admit the first
act of shows tend to be my favourite but the actress playing Glinda and Elphie
really brought something to their characters older years in the second act,
made me appreciate it in a whole new way. Here's a pic of Clifton and I as well as Dee Dee and I. Also one of Laura and I at the show being rebels.
The last time I saw Wicked was in Toronto
back in 2010. I went with N's aunt and she surprised me that Christmas with a
really cute charm of green oz glasses.
Now Idina Menzel who originated the role of
Elphaba, was also an original cast member of Rent. In my Rent blog post I
talked about meeting her. I don't know why I didn't get any of my Wicked stuff
signed by her. I brought the stuff with me, but I think because I had more Rent
signatures, I made a choice. Next time I will get my Wicked Grimmerie and
soundtrack signed, especially since they are both signed by Kristin Chenoweth
who originated the role of Glinda. Here's a photo
I met Kristin Chenoweth in June 2012 when she
gave a concert at Massey Hall in Toronto. The stage door was CRAZY, the
security guards weren't expecting that at all. It was neat getting to hear her
sing the song Popular in Japanese and German. I would have also loved to go up on stage with her and sing For Good, but I was too shy, plus with where my friend Siobahn and my seats were we never would have gotten chosen. Here's a pic of Kristin during the show.
Lastly my mother started me off collecting Wicked ornament when she bought me a Wicked Witch of the West ornament one year. I then found out Carlton Cards had ones from the musical and starting getting them every year. I have 5 now and they all play music. I was also given a Wicked Witch Barbie one year too. So that's the story of me and one of my favourite musicals I will leave you with pis of my Wicked corner on my bookshelf and of the ornaments in the tree.
