Wicked the Musical is one of the best musicals I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. It’s currently showing at Apollo Victoria Theatre in London. Yup, I caught the West End cast in this award winning production! 🙂
Wicked is actually based on the first of a trilogy of books by Gregory Maguire called Wicked – The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. Most of you would have watched or read The Wizard of Oz at some point in your childhood. It’s a good movie but ultimately suffers from being based on a children’s book – it’s all black and white, good versus evil.
As you grow older, such concepts are foreign, nay, an insult to your intelligence, in a world you know has no such absolutes. It’s all shades of gray and Wicked will appeal to the older audience. The book and the musical adaptation has quite a few differences though – the book is darker and Dorothy does not make an appearance in the written word.
However, I love the musical coz it weaves everything together and portrays Elphaba (the name of the Wicked Witch of the West) as a revolutionary who fights for the rights of Animals. She is ultimately a very misunderstood character and you can’t help but feel sorry for her.
I managed to get reasonably good seats for 62.50 pounds (about RM 300) – it’s the very front row in the middle of the Dress Circle. I was impressed by the props on stage as well – the animatronic bird (?) hovering over the stage like a large pterodactyl that comes alive when the Wizard of Oz makes his speeches is awe inspiring!
The orchestra playing in front of the stage is so good that I went and bought the CD + program for 20 pounds. Wicked the Musical is probably best known for the song “Defying Gravity” which also appeared in an episode of Glee (the one with the wheelchairs in Season One).
I won’t spoil the story for you but basically the musical is about Glinda (The Good Witch of the South), Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of the West) and Nessa (The Wicked Witch of the East) during their days in school.
The witches weren’t known as such then (Glinda is such a selfish airhead) and the incredibly sad and touching series of events which culminated in the death of Nessa (damn Madame Morrible) and the vilification of poor Elphaba will bring a tear to even the most stone hearted man.
The production runs for about 3 hours, including an intermission between Act I and Act II and I cannot recommend it strongly enough for those with an interest in theatre (and even those without). If you only watch one musical in your lifetime, let it be Wicked. I got so angry at Galinda and felt so sorry for Elphaba even though it’s just great acting.
I can relate so much to Elphaba. T_T
No one mourns the wicked. 🙁
Ahh!!! I’m so envious! Read so many good reviews on Wicked, can’t wait to catch it myself 🙂
Kiran: Yeah, it’s an awesome musical! To be honest I was a bit dubious at first, didn’t think it would be a good show, but I read the book and then watched the production at the theatre. I was so blown away that I watched it TWICE! 🙂
It’s really that good. There’s a Broadway show, an Aussie one (not sure if it’s still showing) and one in Tokyo, all with their own casts besides the East End production.
I got sand in my eyes while watching it, that’s how good it was. 😡
also because aud told you it was good and to watch it!!!!!
Heh! Yes, that too! =D
I read the post about you watching Wicked in San Fran. 🙂
Haha yah have to agree, Wicked is one of the best musicals and most accessible to most people. Some of them are far too artsy fartsy.
Yeah, like Les Miserables…I guess I just don’t have an artistic bone coz I didn’t quite enjoy that one. 🙂
You have missed Elphaba when it was played by Kerry Ellis! I haven’t yet seen Rachel Tucker as Elphaba, but I still remembered Kerry Ellis singing Defying Gravity. It sent chills down my spine. The other was Alexia Khadime, which wasn’t as good….
Also, where’s East End? Shouldn’t that be west end?
Nice! Yeah, I watched it twice and both times it was Rachel Tucker as Elphaba.
Oh crap, my mistake, it’s West End, kept thinking of The East Enders. :S
Thanks for the correction Meg! 🙂
Can’t believe you got sued over the fish head curry article. All the best to you and don’t let idiots stop you from exercising your freedom of speech.
Thanks Kelvin! I will. 🙂
Glad you got to catch Wicked! I love it as well and watched it twice – once in NY and once in London.
The story line is amazing – have you tried reading the book? Not as spectacular visually of course, but it’s quite a piece of fiction.
Oh the best of both worlds! The West End cast and the Broadway cast. Now you have Australia and Tokyo to complete your Wicked journey. 😉
Yup, I read the book before I watched the musical. The book is a bit darker.
I saw Wicked in the same theatre the last time I was in London, too. It is indeed a great show and I love the whole production. *toss*toss*
Yeah Wicked has been running in Apollo Victoria for years! 🙂
I loved it too! Amazing musical. I felt so sorry for Elphaba!
this blogger has been convicted for a criminal offence in the magistrates court
Dude, air your personal grievances in the Jothy curry fish head post. This has nothing to do with fish head, or a minor possession charge, or your childish rationale.
Keep the comments to Wicked the Musical, my KK friend. 😉
i dont think someone who is convicted of a crime is worth listening to
HAHAHAHA
Man, it’s really obvious who you are and your hilarious efforts at commenting multiple times with different names is really funny.
I seriously can’t help but laugh out loud. 🙂
Yeah, I have a Section 6 for possession of marijuana way back when I was 24. So? Lots of people do it they just don’t get caught. I even posted about it here:
http://sixthseal.com/2006/05/sixthseal-com-drug-possession-court-case-coverage-in-the-papers/
which was how you found out.
Heck, even Bill Clinton did, but of course he didn’t inhale. 😉
Bro, try harder. I posted about it MYSELF in the blog. Complete with newspaper coverage. I’m not ashamed of my past.
Unlike you, I have no problems with talking about it too…I don’t hide it, comment on the proper drug possession post.
I wrote the curry fish head post coz that’s my personal opinion of your food. No libel, no personal attacks, just my opinion.
Your comments don’t even make any sense. Have you heard of a slippery slope argument? 😉
BTW, do your research, the possession charge has been expunged from my record.
…and if you don’t want to read, stop coming and stalking me. Sorry if I hurt your feelings in the curry fish head post, but hey, that is my personal opinion….just like you have yours. 🙂
blogger has been convicted of criminal offence. just found out
Seeing as he blogged about it years ago and it’s been in the newspapers, I think you’re kind of slow on the uptake.
You know, I bet if I checked judy, takeaway and takeaway2’s IP addresses it would be the same, but I’m too lazy. 🙂
Update: It only takes a single click.
judy (IP: 113.210.127.244 , 113.210.127.244)
takeaway (IP: 113.210.127.244 , 113.210.127.244)
IP Information – 113.210.127.244IP address: 113.210.127.244
Reverse DNS: [No reverse DNS entry per ns1.apnic.net.]
Reverse DNS authenticity: [Unknown]
ASN: 9534
ASN Name: MAXIS-AS1-AP (Binariang Berhad)
IP range connectivity: 1
Registrar (per ASN): APNIC
Country (per IP registrar): MY [Malaysia]
Country Currency: MYR [Malaysia Ringgits]
Country IP Range: 113.210.0.0 to 113.211.255.255
Country fraud profile: High
City (per outside source): Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Country (per outside source): MY [Malaysia]
Private (internal) IP? No
IP address registrar: whois.arin.net
Known Proxy? No
Link for WHOIS: 113.210.127.244
blogger should tell us that he is a convicted criminal before proceeding to comment on other people business. people have a right to know so everything he says can be taken with a pinch of salt…make that a whole barrel of salt
Hello again, my KK friend.
Ooh, interesting, let me give you an example based on yours.
That’s like saying restaurants with bad food and who has failed in their businesses in the past should put up a huge poster on their current restaurant saying “I OPENED UP TWO BRANCHES BUT HAD TO CLOSE DOWN ONE FOR LACK OF BUSINESS. THE OTHER ISN’T DOING SO WELL EITHER”.
You know, so people can avoid the restaurant. They have a right to know. 😉
Seriously, you do know that I can see that you’re the same person right?
IP Information – 113.210.127.244IP address: 113.210.127.244
Reverse DNS: [No reverse DNS entry per ns1.apnic.net.]
Reverse DNS authenticity: [Unknown]
ASN: 9534
ASN Name: MAXIS-AS1-AP (Binariang Berhad)
IP range connectivity: 1
Registrar (per ASN): APNIC
Country (per IP registrar): MY [Malaysia]
Country Currency: MYR [Malaysia Ringgits]
Country IP Range: 113.210.0.0 to 113.211.255.255
Country fraud profile: High
City (per outside source): Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Country (per outside source): MY [Malaysia]
Private (internal) IP? No
IP address registrar: whois.arin.net
Known Proxy? No
Link for WHOIS: 113.210.127.244
What a coincidence! You’re from Kota Kinabalu!
lol
Haha! Gotta love technology. 😉
Wicked is quite wonderful! By far my favourite West End show, and I’m so glad that you enjoyed it!
One tiny thing… The thing that hovers over the stage is actually the Time Dragon – you know, the one from the book, that predicts futures and stuff? – and it’s supposed to support the idea of the time and all the clocks that make up the set… I’m not sure what significance the clocks actually HAVE, to be honest… But yes. It’s the Clock of the Time Dragon. 🙂
Anyway, I’m so glad to see someone who loved Wicked as much as I did. It’s phenomenal, isn’t it?
Hello Cat! 🙂
Yeah, I LOVE Wicked – watched it twice, was tempted to get the 90 pound tickets the second time for a better seat but decided to catch more theatre performances instead.
Ah! Thanks for clearing that up Cat! I’ll have to re-read the book again, it seems that my capacity for short term -> long term memory storage is becoming severely limited. 😡
Wicked is nothing short of amazing! I can understand how so many people love it. I’m one of them too. Cheers Cat! 🙂
HB, I seen it when it was in San Francisco playing. It was great musical ever. As for the restaurant suing you on what you comment is so wrong. Did you pay for the meal with own money and got not your money worth in good food and service? I would say something about it for sure being a customer and customer right is entittle to see good food and service in business.
They should give a free meal to make it up for that bad one to you.
Vickie: To each their own. They gave me something else free which I am not at liberty to divulge now.
If it comes to Malaysia, I most likely will.
Me too! If it comes to Malaysia, I’ll reserve the best seats in advance. Awesome musical, would love to see a Malaysian cast do justice to it! 🙂
lucky you to be able to catch a musical. i went to london twice and no time to watch musicals at all!
Alas! 🙁
Oh well, there’s always next time!
EU is kinda addictive, I still wanna go there.
Come let’s organize a trip Eiling! 🙂
Oooooo…..*green with envy!!! I love musicals…and I’m sure I would love this one. Love the songs e.g. Defying Gravity (no reference to my shape and size).
Haha! It’s a great song! I got the CD too, the musical is awesome!
Yeah, you definately must check it out if you swing by anyplace that’s showing Wicked! 🙂
Not sure if the Aussie production is still going on or not.
Wicked will come to Perth soon
Oh nice! I know it was showing in Melbourne for a couple of years. Do catch it if you can, it’s an awesome musical! 🙂
I watched it in Melbourne, was damn awesome dot com!
Yeah, it’s amazing! I loved the casting too, and the adapted story from the book for the musical. 🙂
I just saw Wicked about 3 days ago, on a school trip, and it rocked my world! My first West End Production, First live musical, and I was impressed, to make a fundamental understatement. The costumes and voices were absolutely incredible, and gave me a host of ideas to pitch to my fashion designer friends. I’ve been dying to get my hands on the soundtrack, as I didn’t have time to grab it after the showing. I wish I could go back and see it from floor level though. I got seated in the center-left section of Dress Circle, funnily enough, second row back. 🙂
Yeah, it’s awesome isn’t it? 🙂
I still remember it fondly.
You can get the soundtrack from Amazon if you missed it from the musical. They’re selling it too.
Ah yes, the dress circle…I hear the best seats in the house is right in front of the stage.
i have just booked to see it in london . thought it was good tell me why . thought it was bad the go to hell .