Thursday, October 31, 2013

A decade of Wicked

Today is the tenth anniversary of when Wicked first opened on Broadway. 2003.  There’s been a lot of reminiscing leading up to this anniversary, between the cast, creative team and of course, the fans.
And as much as I can’t believe that this magical, fantastic, amazing show has only been in my life for 3 years now; it’s even more amazing for me to think about where I was ten years ago. Because Wicked has brought so many amazing experiences and people into my life, and if I think back a decade, it’s amazing to think about the person I was then and how far I’ve come.

In 2003, I was thirteen. I was in eighth grade, and I actually had friends for once.  But I was still trying to put myself back together after the enormous and psychologically and emotionally scarring bullying I had experienced the year before. Sometimes I think I still am, even now.

I had the best English teacher that year, who I’m still in touch with now. Miss Webb inspired me, both as a person and as a future teacher; she opened my world to new books and movies (Sense and Sensibility, Goodnight Mr Tom, Chinese Cinderella just to name a few); and she encouraged my writing and actually cared about me outside of the classroom. Plus, she’s a fellow Harry Potter fan. At the end of the year, she gave me this beautiful notebook for my poems and things that I wrote, which I still have!

2003 was also the year that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was released (the book). I was so crushed when Sirius died. I have never forgiven JK Rowling for that. The third movie was being filmed that year, and I still have an old magazine article about the filming of it (yes, I keep everything. I’m a terrible pack rat). I remember thinking about irony of Sirius’ first appearance (not counting the brief mention of him in book one) coming out in film just really a few months after his death in the book universe.

I’ve been mad and devastrated and upset when JK Rowling killed a lot of characters (Hedwig, Dobby, Remus and Tonks, Dumbledore, Fred), but I am still outraged over Sirius’ death.

In 2003, I was in love with Delta Goodrem (so that hasn’t changed, LOL). Her first album, Innocent Eyes, came out in March of that year, and I was not happy because my sister and I both wanted it, but my parents only bought it for my sister (who ironically, no longer likes Delta. Or says she doesn’t, but then steals my music!). And then in July, it was announced she had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I still remember every moment of finding the news.


I was writing then, of course. I’ve been writing since I was 6. Not fanfiction, though. Or not exactly. I didn’t know fanfiction was a thing then, so I used to imagine the stories in my head (Harry/Hermione) and then write them down, but change all the names and other details, and of course, remove any ideas of magic. I was writing a novel when I was 13, which I did finish. It was the first big writing thing I’d ever finished, and I was super proud.

Of course, it was terrible.  And I’m not being modest. It was terrible. It was so full of drama, and just... I don’t think it really had a plot. I’m not even going to tell you the part of the plot that I remember, it was just that bad. It was called True Love, True Hate. I didn’t love the title, but it was more of a case where I really needed a title and that was the best of a bad bunch. I don’t have it anymore I don’t think, unless it one day turns up in one of the boxes floating around in storage somewhere.  But I’m pretty sure I kept it for a few years and then threw it out in a big clean up... possibly a big pre-move clean up.

Um... what else happened 10 years ago? There were bushfires in Canberra. Thankfully only 4 people died (according to Wikipedia). 2000 Australian soldiers went to Iraq. The Sydney Roosters lost the NRL Grand final to the Penrith Panthers 18-6 (not that I really care about Australian football, but when I did I supported the Roosters so I still want them to win).

And Slim Dusty died that year. He’s an Australian country singer, and my relation! Seriously, he was my great-grandmother’s cousin. I never met him, but it’s a cool family fact! (I’m also distantly related to Lady Godiva).

Actually, several famous people died that year. Bob Hope, one of the Bee Gees, Barry White (I actually hadn’t realised he was dead until just now!), June Carter Cash and then Johnny Cash a few months later (sorry, I find that super romantic. Like he just couldn’t live without her. If you watch Walk the Line, it’s even more romantic), Katharine Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Mr Rogers (who I don’t think we actually got his show here in Australia, but everyone knows who he was!).

2003 was the first year my parents let me watch Friends (my parents used to be really conservative and wouldn’t let us watch anything fun). It was also the year I got to start watching Charmed.

And some of my favourite couples got married in 2003 (even if I had no idea who they were at the time). Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs, Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams, Alyson Hannigan and Alexis Denisof. It’s a little sad looking through the list and seeing how many couples that are divorced now. Celebrities I love probably also had babies that year, but it’s 11.30 pm, and I can’t research anymore (I was going to write this earlier and write a special 10th anniversary one-shot, but I had to do school stuff instead. Priorities, guys. Will you accept a belated anniversary one-shot?)

So that was 2003. A pre- Wicked world (until October 30, obviously).

I think, looking back to where I was in 2003... in some ways I’m so different, in some ways I’m not. I’m still in love with Delta and Harry Potter, but I have real friends now and I’m so much stronger. I’m not apologising anymore for loving the things I do and being so passionate about them. And my writing is like a million times better.

And even though I’ve only come to know it in the past 3 years, I know Wicked has played such a huge part in shaping who I am today. (resisting.... urge... to... quote... For Good). 


So, Happy 10th Anniversary Wicked!!! Here’s to another 10 years!



Friday, October 25, 2013

Don't Tell the Bride

I know I said in my AN at the end of One Hour that I was going to do a video about this, but I ran out of time. So, you get a blog post instead.

The fic I'm currently working on is Don't Tell the Bride, inspired by the TV show of the same name.

Summary: Modern Ozian Weddings is featuring a competition in their latest issue to win your dream wedding- the catch is that EVERY detail is planned solely by the groom. In three weeks. The bride has no input whatsoever. The girls think the idea is funny, the boys think it would be a piece of cake. So, an engaged Elphaba and Fiyero decide to put it to the test. Fiyero planning a wedding? You know you want to read that!

As I said, it is a TV show. Basically as the groom plans the wedding, they have the bride plan the wedding they would plan. It is sometimes hilarious to see how far apart the wedding the bride wants and the wedding the groom actually plans. And on the UK version, the brides are such divas. I swear they make Galinda look easy-going.


This is an episode of the UK show. I've seen some grooms try and plan the wedding they think their fiancee wants, and others just plan the wedding they want. And the most common thing to hear is the groom going "That sounds fun/hilarious". Because us girls all know, weddings are all about fun and hilarity, right? (can you sense my sarcasm?).

So, I'm only on chapter 4 right now. This is the table I'm trying to fill out and plan before I go any further.

Wedding Aspect
Elphaba’s idea
Fiyero’s idea
Venue


Dress


Invitations


Reception


Food


Music


Flowers


Honeymoon


Cake


Bridesmaids’ dresses


Celebrant


Photographer


Buck’s night


Hen’s night


Transport


Party favours


Rings


Seating plan


Vows




If you have any ideas/suggestions/whatever, feel free to let me know! 

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Elphaba's dress in ONE HOUR

This is kinda what I was thinking for Elphaba's dress in chapter 7 of One Hour, for the photo.

Except with straps.


One Wonderful One Short Day

Kelly and I at Wicked!
My 8th and 9th show
Her 7th and 8th.
Last weekend Kelly and I went to Auckland to see Wicked. For a day. Literally.

We flew in from Sydney on Saturday morning, and flew out Sunday morning. It was absolutely, 100% worth it.
The plane. This is at 4.30 am



Me with Tom Handley and Ryan Sheppard (Ensemble)
 By this point, it had been 18 months since we last saw the show, in Singapore in April 2012 (actually to the day-which wasn't planned!). And it's not like we didn't want to stay longer, but unfortunately there's this thing called "work" which gets in the way of plans; and funnily enough they frown upon teachers having holidays during term unless you've been teaching for like 10 years. I think it's something to do with the 10 weeks holidays we get throughout the year :p

So, anyway, we couldn't get over there during school holidays, and the show wasn't going to be there by the time next school holidays rolls around, so it had to be a weekend trip, because we were not waiting until next May when it gets back to Melbourne.

The purpose of the trip was simple- we missed the show, we were impatient, we wanted to see the new cast members and this would be our last chance to see Suzie Mathers as Glinda, who is amazing (she's my 2nd favourite Glinda after Megan Hilty. 3rd is Lucy Durack), because she's not continuing past the Philippines season in early 2014.

As I said, the trip, as crazy as it was (time-wise) and as tired as I still am,  was totally worth it.
Our view. 

It kind of felt like we were seeing the show for the first time again, because it had been so long and because there were so many new faces.

Me with Glen Hogstrom (Dillamond)
Since the Australian production closed in Korea last October, Wicked has a new Fiyero, Boq, Nessarose, Standby Elphaba and Wizard, plus Melena (Witch's Mother), Chistery and numerous ensemble. And considering Stephen Schwartz has said this is the best production and cast he's seen since the Original Broadway Cast (so, ha! Kidding. But I am excited about that and very proud).
My dress for the matinee show

We saw both shows on Saturday, the matinee and the night show.


The matinee was interesting because not only was it the first time seeing the show in a year and with several new cast members, it was our first time seeing Wicked (live- meaning not on YouTube) with an Elphaba who was not Jemma Rix. But the new standby Elphaba is Ali Calder, who played Vivian in the Australian production of Legally Blonde and I loved her in that, so I was looking forward to seeing it. Plus, as much as I adore Jemma and firmly believe she's the best; I also believe to stand by that, I occasionally need to see others in the role.
My dress for the evening show. Very appropriate for the OzDust ballroom!

FYI, Jemma Rix is still the best.

But Ali is also really good.

Me with Maggie Kirkpatrick (Morrible)

We did Stage Door after both shows, and we got to meet the entire cast, which has never happened before! There's always been at least one person we missed or who wasn't on that show or something. Everyone was so nice, as per usual!

What I thought I'd do, for all the new cast members, is talk about one scene or moment that was the highlight of their character for me. Because otherwise I can only say is that- although different, I loved them all and I think by the time they get back to Australia next year, they should be even better.

Me with Steve Danielsen (Fiyero)
Steve Danielsen (Fiyero): Thank Goodness. He did the whole "surprise-engagement-party-without-actually-being-engaged" thing so well! And then when Morrible is talking, he keeps discreetly nudging Glinda in the side, as if to say "uh, WTF?". I can't describe it, but it was awesome. He also did Dancing Through Life really well and the whole "scandalacious" thing. If I had to pick a weak point... As Long as You're Mine, oddly enough. But only his solo verse. I don't know what it was... he was stronger in the duet part.

Me with Emily Cascarino (Nessa)
Emily Cascarino (Nessarose): Act 2. Emily did played Nessa as a bitch.... I mean a witch excellently. She was so cold. And in the beginning, at Shiz, she also did well as acting as though she was ashamed of Elphaba as her sister and all that. But compared to the former Nessa, Elisa Colla... I didn't sympathise with Nessa as much as I sometimes do. Like in the train station scene, for instance. But I still thought it was great.

Me with Ed Grey (Boq)
Ed Grey (Boq): Everything. I can't pick a highlight for Ed. He was just a fantastic little Munchkin and I adored him! I think he's my new favourite Boq.

Me with Jay Laga'aia (The Wizard)
Jay Laga'aia (The Wizard): Wonderful. I have never loved this scene so much. He was just great. It was funny, and I wasn't thinking "hurry up so Fiyero can come". I thought Jay did a brilliant job.

Ali Calder (Standby Elphaba): I don't know if I can pick a moment for Ali... she did a lot of little gestures and things through the whole show I just loved. She was a very smiley Elphaba in Act 1, which was different, but nice. Her Elphaba was very young and more open.
Me with Ali Calder (Standby Elphaba)

Jemma just is Elphaba in every single way, but Jemma is very much that Elphaba of keeping her shields up around her and only showing vulnerability in moments, which is how I picture Elphaba. Ali was much more open and seemingly more... trusting?

Me with Jemma Rix (Elphaba). The Greatest.
I'm not really sure how to word it. But it was interesting to watch, although I still prefer Jemma's. Ali has moved to my #4 Elphaba though (it goes Jemma, Idina, then Eden Espinosa before Ali).

Jemma truly is such an amazing Elphaba. Her voice is so incredible, and her acting is... as I said before, she is Elphaba. In every single way. Plus, she's so lovely in person. She's one of my favourite people I've ever met, and not just in terms of musical theatre people.
The second show may as well have been subtitled "The Jemma Rix fangirl show" because all I did was watch Jemma through every scene she was on.
It's always hilarious to watch, especially during any scene before she and Glinda are friends. Jemma has the best "Is this girl for real?" look to direct at Glinda any time Glinda is being... well, Glinda. In all her blondest
Partly because now having just seen Ali, I was refreshing myself with how Jemma does it. And also because she's amazing. Plus, I saw Jemma back in July when she did her cabaret show, and that was amazing; but there's something about seeing her as Elphaba. Plus, she sang no Wicked songs in her show, so I'd really missed hearing her sing Defying Gravity! 
Because Jemma is so much more experienced, (over 800 shows), she's a much stronger Elphaba, and... ok, I'm going to stop rambling now.


Actually during the second show, it only hit me during March of the Witch Hunters that I wouldn't be seeing Suzie again! And then I sobbed all through curtain call, both for Suzie and because it's now 199 days until I see it again.
Me and Suzie Mathers (Glinda)
I have seen Suzie 5 times as Glinda, and she's just fabulous. And she's so sweet, and friendly. I'm really going to miss her as Glinda, as much as I'm looking forward to seeing Lucy in the role again next year.

So that it's it. That was my weekend to Oz. So worth it, but I wish I could have stayed longer.
Auckland was a lovely place (although slightly chilly!) and we can't wait to go back to New Zealand one day and do all the touristy things! (AKA Lord of the Rings). 


Monday, October 14, 2013

Q&A Part 3 and 4

Parts 3 and 4 of my Q&A are now up! My internet was so not cooperating with me for about a week.




The songs mentioned in Part 3 are:

Please (Bethany Joy Lenz) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8T0qK7I_pA

Show me heaven http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD4vZ3TLebY

Lanterns (Birds of Tokyo) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h45mviDrJhc

All Too Well (Taylor Swift) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAiDP_bAR5Y

Monday, October 7, 2013

Q&A part 1 and 2

Here is the promised Q&A video... or the first 2 parts. I split it into 4 parts to make the videos shorter, in the hope it would take less time to upload.

So, here are parts 1 and 2.



Parts 3 and 4 will be up when I have enough time to wait out YouTube!

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Days Go By

So the title for Days Go By came from a Delta Goodrem song. Yes, we all know I love Delta. This song was never on an album, but it was actually chosen to use as the winner's single for.... I think Norwegian Idol or whatever it was called (the Norway version of American Idol).


I really love this song because it's so happy. And I thought the lyrics were appropriate for the sentiment of this story.

"Days go by and you're still by my side
With all we've been through you're the one thing that's true in my life
Days go by, as sure as the sun will rise
Being together we only get better with time
As days go by"



And the line "Making together forever one day at a time".