Wicked Good

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May 15, 2005

Wicked Good

I love it when Charlie's in the doghouse, because that means I get tapped for escort duty with Susse. Huzzah! As such, I was her date to the Tony award winning musical, Wicked, at the beautifully ornate Chicago theater. But wait! There's more! Our seats were in the fourth row, center stage. Wicked awesome! The musical is supposed to be a pre-quel for the Wizerd of Oz, and relates the story of a very ditzy yet lovable Glinda the Good and the wry and remarkably talented Wicked Witch of the West. Think my favorite line was, "You travel in a bubble." Stephanie J. Block had the title role of Elphaba (she's not really wicked, just misunderstood), a.k.a. the Wicked Witch of the West, and Kendra Kassebaum starred as Glinda. Their voices blended perfectly together, each giving way to highlight the strength of the other. It was just remarkable. Who would've thought I'd get teary-eyed at a musical?!?

But the songs were so moving and the lyrics so clean, it was impossible not to. "Defying Gravity" was orchestral pop, as driving and motivational as a Disney song, but not nearly as sappy. While that one's become a radio hit, "As Long As Your Mine" was my personal favorite. A romantic duet between Elphaba and Fiyero, a rogue after my own heart, I was so surprised at how much it caught my heart and drew me into their story.

And the costumes! Whimsical and imaginative, each costume was unique in its own way, but tied together by a common color or pattern, so the entire cast was cohesive. With the exception of Glinda, who was always in something sparkly and frilly, befitting of the character; and Elphaba, who wore black of course. "It's the new pink!" The set was also stunning. Every single bit of space was fully utilized with action or intricate structure.

Highly recommended. Both thumbs up and my big toes too!

Posted by carolyn at May 15, 2005 08:25 PM

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