red.circusgeek

Wicked, the newest musical and one of the biggest hits to sweep successfully across Broadway landed at the Keller Auditorium in Portland yesterday evening. My wonderful friends who can appreciate theatre and the “Deus ex Machina” that Musicals have grown to become came together to share the experience.

Dinner was absolutely divine at Veritable Quandary, thank you to Miranda for the recommendation.

Our seats weren’t horrible, it was only disappointing to miss out on the facial expressions of the characters that can make a scene. The story was charming. It really focused on the forming of and development of the relationship between the Good Witch, Galinda who changed her name to Glinda, the “ah is silent” and The Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba. You were drawn to Glinda’s spunk and ditzy charm that paired well against Elphaba’s deeper more somber disposition. To think it evolved from Gregory Maquires hauntingly extraordinary tale around “The Wizard of Oz’s” Wicked Witch of the West is amazing. To say that the Broadway Musical is simply just not based on the book is relatively accurate. While the mood and nature of the book is extremely political and in some respects even racey, the Musical is definitely fixated to appease the masses, the masses in age that is. With an ending that I was honestly disappointed in and won’t share as others may have their opinions and those who plan to see it I would hate to spoil it, it was just almost too Disneyesque… Oh.. did I say too much? Sorry. Oh well, overall, the scenery was astonishing, backdrops were effective, the clock theme and the mechanical dragon head atop the proscenium was amazing. My favorite scene was when they showed Elphaba and Glinda in their dorm room and on Glinda’s side there were about 40 pairs of shoes lined up behind her just above, beside her bed. She was very sweet in teaching Elphaba on the tricks to getting a man’s attention. Showing Elphaba how to effectively “toss” her hair. “Toss, Toss”…”Toss, Toss”… I think there are those in the world who are Glinda’s and those that are Elphaba’s. I would most likely find myself in the realm of Elphaba, but that’s just me. The costuming was just perfect. Their was a whimsacle and almost Dr. Seuss like nature with the characters of Oz. Elphaba’s was simple in nature,black, pointy hat, you know as Witches are characterized… Glinda was all sparkles and shimmer. The mechanical head that was “The Wizard” was quite clever and mighty impressive. The voices, the music … were just absolutely beautiful. Some of the numbers really pulled you in, you felt the emotion and the power behind Elphaba’s voice with all of her solo’s. The harmony that ensued between her and Glinda’s was evocative and stirring. It’s amazing to think of the talent that went into the writing not only of the dialogue to this musical but the music itself.

So there is my condensed review of the musical. I would absolutely love to have the opportunity to see it again, sitting closer too.

It’s such a treat to see and experience live theatre, as it was my dream for so long to be in theatre, but life can change and priorities change and I wouldn’t change anything now. I know that B, (Ghost Dog’s) wife and I both have an equal passion for theatre so with that I know our next stop will certainly be “Spamalot”. That’s one we wouldn’t dare miss. This time we’ll bring the boys.