Sunday, February 4, 2018

Day 264- Pittsburgh Broadway Series, Wicked The Musical-Friendship and Love in a Mysterious World


Even as an adult I loved the mysterious land of Oz in the movie The Wizard of Oz. The musical, Wickedtells us more about this world. It’s the story about a woman born with green skin who is misunderstood and labeled because of her appearance. She becomes the Wicked Witch of the West but as a young girl she had a beautiful popular friend, Glinda, the Good Witch. Wicked is an adventure about political struggles, social injustice, but mostly, friendship and  love in this mysterious world.  


Reflection

As a lover of the Wizard of Oz  I wondered why the Wicked Witch  was so upset about  those jeweled  slippers on Dorothy’s feet, why the flying monkeys were so loyal to the witch, and who really was the Tin Man, Lion and Scarecrow.  Wicked explained all this though masterful music and the use of a mesmorizing set that brings the wonders of this world to life  (view TheWizard of Oz trailer here). 


The witches, dragons, flying monkeys, munchkins  and the Emerald City  are part of this production with an elaborate set that took two and a half days to build with the help of 100 individuals. Movement on  the set with huge mechanical clock like gears and a dragon that frames the stage are just as spectacular as the music in this show! (Read more about the set here )

No One Mores the Wicked

The musical opened with  “"No One Mourns The Wicked"  following the recent death of Elphaba, The Wicked Witch Of The West, as Glinda, elevated in her big bubble, recalled their school days together. We learn the story behind Elphaba’s green birth, her magical powers discovered during her teen school days and  her initial “loathing” of her popular, wealthy, bubbly, and not too bright roommate, Glinda  in the humerus song "What Is This Feeling". They eventually looked past "the  physical" and became friends despite their affection for the same man, Fiyero.



Elphaba and Glinda  in their school days

 Wicked flies with the vocal power of both Mary Kate Morrissey as Elphaba and Ginna Claire Mason as Glinda. The  music crescendoes  at the end of the first half when Elphaha who is  determined to correct the social injustices in Oz, unleashed a visual and vocal explosion  in, “Defying Gravity.”  She elevates  like a volcano as she belts, “Everyone deserves a chance to fly…If I am flying solo at least I am free… Nobody is ever going to bring me down…defying gravity” (listen here). Go girl!

  Wicked  really focused on the  friendship between two very different  women, charming Glinda and  strong Elphaba, who together could have made a  successful pair to right the wrongs of Oz. They however took very different life paths but their strong bond is felt  in the heartfelt song, “For Good”.This song fueled thoughts of  the many people that have made an impact on my own life as they sang, “People come into our lives for a reason...bring something we must learn. Who can say if I’ve  been changed for the better, but because I knew you, I have been changed for Good”  (listen here).

Wicked  with powerful vocals, music and an ornate set takes you on a ride to this fascinating  world. We  enjoy the journey  of love and friendship  as we escape to Oz.   

(Wicked runs until February 11, 2018 at the Benedum Center. For tickets go to TrustArts.org.   
IN PERSON $25 LOTTERY: There is also an opportunity to get  a limited amount of tickets for $25 by going to the box office two and one-half hours before each show and by placing your name in-person in  a lottery. Names will then be drawn 30 minutes later. The tickets are limited to 2 tickets per name and tickets are for cash only. )

Spiritual Refection
People learn from each other, just as iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17)

Other Sources
Tickets https://trustarts.org/production/52318/wicked
Broadway https://www.broadway.com/shows/wicked/