Wicked (Musical)
The famous broadway musical Wicked has finally made its way to Singapore, and I was not about to pass up the chance to watch it. We went to the grand theatre in Marina Bay Sands last Sunday and it was truly wicked! Great music! Amazing vocals! Chills! A lovely story set in a brilliant set with great costumes and props. There were also a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. My only regret was that we weren’t closer to the stage. I would have loved to see the play of emotions on the actors’ faces up close.
The musical is actually a retelling of the stories of the witches in the famous Wizard of Oz fairytale, and it’s a clever one, because we find out that the wicked witch of the west, Elphaba, wasn’t really evil at all and the good witch, Glinda, well she wasn’t that good, and she was actually incredibly shallow and annoying. Think popular dumb blonde stereotype, then give her a wand.
I actually read the book that this play was based on and it’s very different, and I’m glad. The book was great and all but it was majorly depressing. The musical is more romantic and has a happier – though still slightly sad – ending for Elphie.
My three favorite songs from the musical are: I’m Not That Girl, Defying Gravity and For Good. Aside from being wonderfully written, they’re also the ones that I could identify with, and a lot of people too, I’m sure.
I’m Not That Girl is the beautifully poignant song that every not-quite-pretty-and-popular-type of girl dedicates to all the prom-king-type guys they find themselves falling for, maybe something Rachel would have sung for Dexter in Something Borrowed, had it been a musical. Elphaba sings this when she finds herself starting to like the handsome prince Fiyero who seems to like Glinda. But of course the handsome guy prefers the winsome, popular Glinda over the green-skinned freaky Elphaba! Or does he?
Defying Gravity is the song for everyone who has ever felt the rush that comes before deciding to take a leap, take a huge risk, to hell with the consequences. Elphaba sings this right before she decides to defy the wizard.
For Good is the song for everyone who has ever had a good friend, a best friend, and then had to part ways with them. Even though you may never see each other again, you know that your lives have been changed forever because you met them. Elphaba and Glinda, best friends, sing this to each other before they had to part ways for good.
You know what? Because I watched Wicked, I have been changed for good. 😉
