Wicked - the musical

Second row back from the front, in the middle, seats don't get much better than this, well OK, the right hand seat on the flight deck of the first commercial space flight might have slightly a better view, but you know what I mean. Matt and I had great seats for the smash musical Wicked in London town on 17th December 2008! For those that don't already know WICKED is based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire that re-imagined the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’. The stage musical adaptation is packed full of wonder and enchantment as it transports audiences to a fantasy world of witches and wizards to tell the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, and how one came to be called 'good' and the other 'wicked' How the lion had no courage and how and why the tin man became the tin man! It's a story that is interesting and entertaining to both the young and old alike. First impression is there to last, the green signs, green lighting and whole green feel to the foyer of The Apollo Victoria theatre really sets up the atmosphere wonderfully well as you enter the world of the business they call show. I always find my stomach tingles with anticipation as I enter the auditorium of a theatre, the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. I love books, TV is great, as are films, but there is nothing quite like a stage show or a musical for entertaining the whole spectrum of senses and emotions. Settling into our seats was easy, more leg room than I remembered from my last visit to this theatre at the beginning of the year. The lights dimmed as the music roused all around to the fact the show was starting and attentions were all faced forward to the rousing and evocative music. I've been turning my mind in somersaults trying to select my best bit, the part I most enjoy about the show to tell and share with you. But, I can't, I honestly can't, each part is crucial to the whole, without any part of it, the story will now be the same and thus nor will the enjoyment. I do, however, often find myself singing "No-one mourns the wicked" from time to time! But, pretty much all the musical numbers are fitting to the story and the feelings the story has on oneself at the moment of telling. I found myself transported into the land of Oz and really didn't want to be shoved back in the real world of school parties, foreign tourists, fat ice cream slurpers and rapid alcoholic drinkers during the intermission, however, I suppose 20 minutes isn't too much to take of the real world before the magic starts again for the second half! The last time I saw Wicked, Idina Menzel was in the lead green role as Elphaba, she was superb, simply wonderful, her voice amazing and her portrayal captivated my soul as well as my heart. Therefore, Kerry Ellis, the 'green-one' had a lot to live up to, I'm so delighted to say she succeeded. Her performance was amazing, she moved around the stage as if on air, especially the defying gravity moment and sung her heart out. Wicked without a strong Elphaba is like a cheese and tomato sandwich without the cheese or tomato, we were lucky to have the best cheese, the freshest tomato and a luxurious garnish on the side. Matt says, I really loved Wicked, from beginning to end. I saw myself categorizing that wicked witch who I always feared as a child into a character that was not only relateable on some levels, but extremely endearing. The writer of Wicked could be categorized as nothing short of a genius. The story was so out there, and so ... perfect. Tried as I might, I never found any plot holes that would have suggested any mistakes. I really really enjoyed seeing my first musical, as I have never been to see a real musical since I was in all of the ones that were ever presented to me. The stage wowed me from the first time that I saw it, all the way until the end, when I was still amazed about the amount of detail that went into making an enjoyable experience. I was used to the flimsy wooden backgrounds that we would have to cut out and paint ourselves for the play, and the boring props. I didn't realise that they could do a lot of the things that they did for the play, from the green makeup that Elphaba wore, which didn't smear or wear off as the play went on, to the backgrounds which shifted and changed in astounding ways. The Apollo theatre really wowed me the first time that I saw it. The green Wicked sign made me think about what I was getting ready to watch, and made me wonder and imagine what it was going to be like. Kerry Ellis was amazing, I loved Defying Gravity, as it was my favourite part of the whole musical. All of the actors were incredibly believable. I had a spectacular time with wicked, and I would love to see it again.

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