Changed For Good

It’s hard to believe that the first time I saw Wicked was fifteen years ago. Now, fifteen years ago, I saw the musical for the 5th time.

The Cast

Elphaba (Standby)- Natalia Vivino

Glinda- Allison Bailey

Fiyero- Jordan Litz

Boq (Understudy)- Matt Densky

Nessarose- Amanda Fallon Smith

Madmae Morrible- Sharon Sachs

The Wizard- Clevant Derracks

My Review

This was Charlotte’s first tour. It felt so good to be back in one of Blumenthal’s theaters. Just like fifteen years ago, this was a date with my mom. I had two understudies- one for Elphaba and the other for Boq. The actors I usually look forward to the most belong to those who play Elphaba, Glinda, and Fiyero, the only three characters I am emotionally connected to in Wicked.

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Natalia Vivino was an amazing Elphaba. Like expected, I teared-up during “I’m Not That Girl, the unrequited love song. She has an amazing voice, which truly started to show during “Wizard and I”. My favorite Elphaba costume is her act II dress and from where I was sitting, I could see it sparkle at times. The Lion Cub Scene- this time around, Elphaba noticed her love for Fiyero a few moments sooner than last time.

Allison Bailey was funny as Glinda. Like any Elphaba and Glinda pair, I was able to be in tears during “For Good”. Just at times, in act II she struggled with some of Glinda’s pain she was supposed to be showing. But at least, I was able to feel the emotion came out during “For Good”, the most emotional song in the song. Jordan Litz as Fiyero was incredible as well- incredible voice.

Below are pictures from the time I saw Wicked in NYC and now- so its like things came full circle.

The ensemble was really talented. The set, as always, was very colorful and OZian and same with the costumes. Still love Wicked- still a spectacular musical!

Meaning of Les Mis

While Wicked may have sparked the love, it didn’t make me a musical theatre fanatic. Another musical would be responsible for that. I fell in love with Wicked August of 2006 and seven years later in 2013, Les Mis would enter my life. Now, what was Les Mis’ meaning?

This is new:

Well, I NEVER thought a musical like Les Mis would enter my life. Prior, I thought tragic musicals didn’t exist. I was convinced I would NEVER love a tragedy. I had to be “tricked” to see the musical film. So, I wasn’t told it was a tragedy when I first saw it. I actually had to see the film a 2nd time to become a fan. A musical I would become obsessed with.

There were a number of new things I discovered when Les Mis entered my life. Firstly, I was blind to tragic musicals. So, the genre was new to the musical world. Second, a 5th core emotion began to exist- heartbreak, one of my favorite emotions expressed in song.

I got a new impression on death. I once thought death was unmemorable and wouldn’t happen during song. Well- “Come to Me”, “A Little Fall of Rain”, and “Finale” happen during Les Mis deaths. They also are memorable and bittersweet. Plus, the characters aren’t alone. Compassion is shown during those moments. Les Mis is way more than tragedy due to its spiritual nature. Les Mis literally challenged what I once thought about musicals.

The Meaning of Wicked

There are always those musicals that hold a lot of meaning in our lives. Wicked is a musical that really does mean a lot to me. Hard to believe I first fell in love with it fifteen years ago. So, what does the musical mean to me?

Discovery

There are a number of things I learned from the musical. I first found out about emotional connection through Wicked. I learned about its importance. You need that connection to have a reason to feel the emotions. The emotional connection in Wicked happens through Elphaba, Glinda, and Fiyero (especially Elphaba). I love the friendship and love triangle the most in this musical.

Also through the musical, I learned about the emotional and complex side to musicals. Four core emotions were existing- excitement, joy, love, and sad (as in the ones I discovered through Wicked. I learned what it meant for a character and plot to be complex. As the musical says “I have been changed for good”. Seen it four times already and later today catching it a 5th time. Each time I see the musical, it just gets better. Basically, Wicked sparked my love for musicals.

Songs from Musicals I Hope to See

Just like bookworms have their TBR lists, musical theatre fans have their TBW list. Now, what if this time I made a list of musical theatre songs that are part of my TBW list. Only reason why I have a TON of Frozen songs is because I own the Original Broadway Soundtrack, and my reasoning for Oliver comes from not remembering seeing the stage show.

The Songs

1. Vuelie/Let The Sun Shine On
2. A Little Bit of You
3. Do You Want to Build a Snowman
4. For the First Time in Forever
5. Dangerous to Dream
6. Love is an Open Door
7. What do You know about Love
8. In Summer
9. Let it Go
10. Hygee
11. Fixer Upper
12. Monster
13. Colder By the Minute
14. In My Dreams
15. My Petersburg
16. In a Crowd of Thousands
17. Journey to the Past
18. Once Upon a December
19. Wait For Me
20. If It’s True
21. In My Own Little Corner
22. Impossible
23. Ten Minutes Ago
24. Welcome to the Renaissance
25. A Musical
26. Food Glorious Food
27. I’d Do Anything
28. Consider Yourself
29. You’ve Got to Pick a Pickpocket or Two
30. As Long as He Needs Me
31. Falling Slowly

Emotional Connections in Wicked- MAJOR SPOILERS

One of the KEY things to find in a musical belongs to emotional connection. If there is no emotional connection, then what is the point of feeling the emotional connection. The emotional connection is the WANT, DESIRE and REASON for feeling the emotions in the first place- the reason why I love feeling the negative emotions in Wicked. True, you love the songs. In Wicked, I have a strong emotional connection to three characters, and what exactly are those characters?

Elphaba, Fiyero and Glinda

It is true, I only have an emotional connection to three characters in the musical. That is one of the reason why I spend so much time on the friendship and the love triangle in Wicked. Wicked’s love triangle is my favorite one in the musical theatre world.The center core of Wicked belongs to Elphaba and Glinda, the two protagonists. Let me say why I love these particular characters.

Elphaba/Glinda

As a matter of fact, Elphaba is my favorite musical theatre character. I strongly relate to Elphaba- for one thing, I know what it is like different and at times have felt misunderstood. In addition, I have a big heart, am impulsive and believe in staying true to myself and in equality. Also, I love her strength and courage and complexity. In addition, many people can relate to having a best friend.

As for Glinda, I can relate to part of her as well- as in her outgoing personality. These two girls have such a powerful and beautiful friendship and are quite loyal to each other. Meaning they wouldn’t get a boy get in the way- shown through the love triangle. It really strengthens their friendship in so many ways.

What about Fiyero? Yes, at first glance, he can be hard to like because he starts off as a bit of a jerk. Well, a huge reason why I LOVE him comes from his development- he goes from being a jerk to softening up to becoming a mature and courageous young man. Well, another reason does come from his surprising role in the love triangle——well, what about the unrequited love scenario? Why does it all of a sudden jump from Elphaba to Glinda? That is why I decided to pay close attention to Fiyero the 4th time I saw Wicked- to try to understand why that even happened. The Lion Cub Scene- well, in that scene, Elphaba and Fiyero were playfully flirting with each other “almost as if he had a crush on her”, and based on my actor, he decided to have weaker chemistry with Glinda and stronger chemistry with Elphaba- almost as if Glinda and Fiyero weren’t meant to be. Even after that scene, he couldn’t even stop thinking about it.

There were only TWO people in Elphaba’s life who truly accepted her as who she is- BOTH Glinda and Fiyero. Another reason to love Fiyero.