An Absolutely "Wicked" Halloween!

So, let it be known that I don't like Halloween. I tend to get a lot of angry looks returned to me when I say that but I just find it's an over commercialized time of year and some people need to chill out about it. That being said, when Caitlin told me she had booked tickets for us to see Wicked on Halloween, I was not impressed because that meant I would have to be out and about and see hundreds of people dressed up in scary costumes and lining the streets of London. Well, it turns out that it's not a very popular thing over here! Not to mention that seeing Wicked made up for everything!

I picked up the Souvenir Programme to cherish the memory!

Spectacular. Stunning. Stellar. Amazing. Indescribable. Unforgettable. Breathtaking. Life Changing... The list could go on and on with adjectives I could use to describe the show. Wicked has been captivating audiences across the world, but it has specifically been running in London for 10 years! While I feel that the story is a bit slow to start, it definitely picks up and at the end of the first act, you are definitely left sitting there breathless and in tears from the hour prior to that. Sit back down for the second act and the buildup to the end is such a thrill!

The storyline of the play is simple: it is the tale of Elphaba and Glinda, the two witches who are in the Wizard of Oz. As the story progresses, Elphaba becomes the wicked witch based on the trials of growing up as "the green girl". The girls first become friends in university and Glinda is jealous of Elphaba because she is chosen in favour of the wizard. Now, remember that Glinda is supposed to be the good witch... it turns out that it is mostly a façade and she is actually the bully towards Elphaba and their other classmates. The story continues and the audience then learns that the Wizard is actually a weak little man who has been controlling all of them with his schemes and in reality, he isn't so wonderful at all. The end of the play comes to no surprise to anyone who has seen the film as Elphaba is killed by none other than a little girl named Dorothy, who throws a bucket of water on her. I'll say no more on that, however, because there are some twists in the plot that blend in superbly with the original story of Dorothy and her time in Oz.

The set was stunning. The voices were crisp and on key with every note. The costumes were beautiful! If I was to pick a word to describe it, I would have to choose flawless. Now, how does this relate to time? Well, it's a bit difficult to describe because you need to see the set in order to understand, but it's designed in such a way that you can always see some shape/ size/ form of gears, much like those gears on a clock. I spent the majority of the production trying to focus on what other meaning this might have! I am still undecided as of yet, but I have a feeling it is to suggest that time is always moving forwards and even the most powerful of individuals cannot stop that from happening. I think I need to see it again to create the final verdict!

As I type this now, I am singing the songs over and over in my head as I have been for the last two days. I must say that it sets me into a good mood for going back to work tomorrow!

Outside the Apollo Victoria Theatre

The incredible set!