For the first time, I feel… Wicked

This week, I went to see Wicked on Broadway with my roommates. I’d seen the show once before, in London, when the show debuted there and Idina Menzel was playing Elphaba. After that experience, I thought no performance would be able to live up to it. However, I got the chance to sit about 15 rows back from the stage for only $25, so of course I decided to go.

And it was really, really great. Even though I was surrounded by audience members who were never taught simple theatre etiquette (no talking, no cell phone lights…). When the show started, with No One Mourns the Wicked, I felt so much emotion well up in me. Memories of a time addicted to this soundtrack, to this show, perhaps. And my gosh, both the actresses playing Elphaba and Glinda were AMAZING. I think it’s really easy for Glinda’s part to sound annoying, but the actress this time just had the most stunning, powerful voice. And Elphaba… well, wow. She played the role completely differently from Idina Menzel, both with more anger about her situation, and more vulnerability. Whereas before I’ve only heard The Wizard and I sung with complete optimism and excitement, she put a lot more uncertainty and insecurity and a sense of “but… but maybe…” into it, which was great.

The first time I heard this show, I of course identified with Elphaba an incredible amount. And I of course wanted her to end up with Fiyero. But this time… I just felt so much for Glinda. Her best friend, who she hasn’t seen for ages, runs off with her fiance, and then both of them, as far as she knows, die. That’s horrible! I’ve loved the song Thank Goodness for a while, because who can’t identify with that feeling, but her whole story just hurt this time.

My only disappointment was Fiyero. I thought his acting was really unconvincing, and thought his singing could have been better… which was a shame for Dancing Through Life, one of my favourite songs from the show.

But overall, I was surprisingly delighted by the whole thing. Delighted, and of course upset. Because I’m physically incapable of sitting through a well done performance of For Good without crying.

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