I've been meaning to see this for years, but I refuse to pay full-price for tickets to any Broadway show. I always do student-rush or TKTS or find some local deal or something. Wicked has a lottery before every performance, where they pick 20 or so people at random, who can then purchase orchestra level seats for $26.50. I figured that, as a local, I can keep trying to win the lottery and eventually I'd win. I'm pretty optimistic, and even after losing 15 to 20 times straight (seriously, I'm not exaggerating there - I've been trying for years now), I still figured I'd win eventually.
Three years ago, Isa gave me two tickets to Wicked for my birthday, but not really. She drew the two tickets on a piece of paper because I was still traveling frequently and she wasn't sure when we'd be able to go. I talked her out of spending that much, but told her when we finally win the lottery, she can pay.
We've tried and tried but have yet to win the lottery.
But finally, tickets went on sale through Isa's school, and she bought amazing orchestra level seats for just $25 a pop. And we went last night. Woohoo!!!
My expectations were higher for this show than for any other production I've ever been to. People have been raving about Wicked for years. "Best show on Broadway!" "Unbelievable!!" And my good friend Hayley, after seeing it for the first time, flew back home to Utah and immediately bought tickets (and another roundtrip flight across the country) to see it again a few weeks later. Could such a musical actually live up to that kind of hype? I knew all the songs - sung by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth and the rest of the originals - could the current actors possibly be that good? I had built it up so much in my mind, that I really thought there was no way it could live up to my expectations.
It blew me away.
As much as it pains me to say that Les Miserables is no longer my favorite musical, that Elphaba can out-sing Eponine, or that "Defying Gravity" is more powerful than "Empty Chairs and Empty Tables," I can't deny it. Wicked really was that amazing. The only thing it didn't have was little Cozette singing "Castle on a Cloud" to break your heart. But Wicked, besides being emotionally powerful and packed with ridiculously awesome and catchy songs, had something that Les Mis lacked: humor. Wicked was hysterical. Glinda's character almost had me in tears from laughing so hard. And it was so well written, how it ties everything together and explains and puts a back-story on all the "OZ" characters, from the scarecrow to the wizard. I just LOVED the story, from start to finish.
And although you don't need me to say it, if you haven't seen it already, GO. You'll love it.
I agree with you... I can't believe I was so lucky to get lottery tickets the first time I tried. I feel so lucky!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'm glad you read and like my blog. :)