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). 

Weekend Recap: Legally Blonde Opening Night

This weekend was another one of my whirlwind musical trips, but this one was for my very first opening night of a musical, Legally Blonde, in case the title of this post and the above picture were too subtle for you ;) So this post is just to recap my whole weekend... or Saturday, mostly.

Now, confession: Kelly and I really only planned to go to opening night because we know that's when local celebrities attend and there was one or two people we were hoping to meet (ok, it was mostly one and that was Tim Campbell- because we adore him and I've been trying to meet him since I saw him in Wicked three years ago- and we found out a few weeks ago he wasn't even going to be there! Sigh).

But also because opening night, like closing, is something you should experience at least once.

So I flew into Melbourne from Tamworth after school on Friday, so I flew out at 5pm and landed at 9.30. And honestly, when I got to the airport and realised I'd left my iPod at school, I didn't think that was a great start to the weekend. But I amused myself between Tamworth and Sydney by reading the magazine on the plane, and then I bought a book (well, two) at Sydney but then Qantas give you iPads on their flights to watch TV and stuff, so I just ended up watching Family Guy, LOL (and it was hilarious).

Anyway, because no one cares about my inflight entertainment, I'll skip to the good stuff. 

On Saturday morning, Kelly, Holly and I went to the Hollywood Costume Exhibition, something I heard about only 3 weeks ago and inspired a major Audrey Hepburn kick on my part (story for another time). This  exhibition was smaller than I expected, but really cool. Most of the costumes there were replicas, but they had Audrey Hepburn's actual dress from Breakfast at Tiffany's and Marilyn Monroe's from The Seven Year Itch. You know, that one.

What the picture of Audrey Hepburn doesn't show is that her waist was freaking tiny. Seriously. I'm a size six and she was smaller than me. 

Other costumes included Dorothy's dress from The Wizard of Oz, Audrey Hepburn's My Fair Lady, Cate Blanchett from Elizabeth I, Kate and Leo's outfits from Titanic, and costumes from Gladiator, Cleopatra, Saving Private Ryan, The Bourne Identity, Camelot, 101 Dalmatians, A series of unfortunate events, Out of Africa, Harry Potter, Marie Antoinette, Antonement, Anna Karenina and heaps more.

They also had suits from Batman (The Dark Knight Rises), Spiderman (with Tobey Maguire) and Superman. It was pretty cool. 

My favourites were the little black dress from Breakfast at Tiffany's and this dress they had worn from Camelot. There were a lot of movies there I hadn't seen and then I felt bad that I hadn't seen them! 

This dress. It's amazing up close. And made with pumpkin seeds! But that train... ah.

So Kelly and I were at the theatre at about 5.30. The show started at 7.30 (we were a tad excited, haha). We hung around for a bit and just took photos and admired the theatre in all it's glory. Then we decided to go to the cafe next to the theatre to get a drink and pretty much almost literally ran into David Harris just inside the door!

We talked for a minute or two, and I had to thank him for writing on my birthday card (which Kelly had surprised me with 12 days early. It's been signed by David, Lucy, Erika, Helen and Mike!)

We also had a quick chat to Cameron, because it felt like half the cast was coming inside to grab food and/or drink between the matinee and the evening show. 

And then when we got inside the theatre, the first thing Kelly said to me when she sat down was "Jemma's here." Now, knowing Jemma lived in Melbourne, I had hoped she might be there, but I didn't dare get my hopes up. But to have it confirmed... um, I got a tad excited and overwhelmed. I may have squealed a bit louder than I intened (it was an involuntary squeal to begin with), and then- because Jemma seems to inspire that reaction in me just by being in the same room, I cried a little and simultaneously began to hyperventilate a little and felt incredibly nauseous. 

I think it was because I'd been dreaming, but not really daring to hope she might be there, and she's so amazing, and I haven't seen her in a year (since Wicked in Singapore), so... yeah. Kelly kept telling me to breathe, so there was a sense of deja vu! LOL. Then we had the big debate "can we go up to her and say hi? Is that weird? Will she have any idea who we are?" and then the show started.

I admit, I found it hard to concentrate on the show for most of the first act, because I was torn between a voice in my head just going "Jemma's here, Jemma's here, Jemma's here" and because I was trying to get a sense of how the audience was enjoying it, because I want them to love it as much as I do! 

When intermission started, we decided it wasn't weird to go say hi, so got out of the theatre as soon as we could and just pushed through the lobby looking for Jemma. And then Kelly saw Josh, so we figured Jemma would find him and then Stacey told us she was in the bathroom. So after she got out and met Josh, he disappeared and she was just standing there, so we figured it was okay to go say hi.

And she remembered us! She even remembered that I'm a teacher! She said she was enjoying the show, and Kelly told her this was her 9th show. I said it was only my 8th and she laughed and said "only the 8th. I love that" (!!!!). So, of course, we had to mention Wicked and I told her how happy I was that she was coming back (I cried when I heard, but I didn't mention that). And then Jemma said "I almost wasn't." And I almost died. But she said the break was doing her good, and even though she had been doing it for so long, she had found she missed it (thank Oz). 

Then I said how we were hoping to get to NZ but it depended on timing, with school holidays and all (and then she said "oh yeah, you're still teaching in the country, aren't you?" I'm a different part of the country now, but I didn't tell her that either, haha. I figured it wasn't important). So I asked her how long they would be in NZ and she said at the moment, she was pretty sure it was only 10 weeks. But she said maybe if it sold really well, it might be extended. (NOTE: 10 weeks from September makes it the end of November/first week of December. I just need it to be extended until mid-Jan at least!) 

Kelly and I had checked tickets when we were in Brisbane the other week, for a weekend in September and there was 1 seat left at the very back of the stalls. We told Jemma that and she was stunned, she had no idea how well it was selling. She also has no idea who the other cast will be!

Mostly we just talked about what she had been doing in her break. We mentioned Prick (the musical she had done during the Melbourne Comedy Festival), and said we had a friend who had gone and loved it. Then I said that we had heard that she rapped in the show, but when I pictured that in my head, she was still Elphaba, which made the image both awkward and hilarious. I mean, can you picture Elphaba rapping? LOL. Jemma laughed and said it was just as hilarious for her to be rapping as Jemma. I was pretty stoked about that reaction, because just because that mental image makes me laugh, is no guarantee its actually funny. She could have just smiled politely or something, but she actually genuinely laughed and found that idea funny! 

Anyway, then we left her and said goodbye. Before we went in, we saw Gretel (Scarlett), so we had to say hi and congratulate her in person in landing the role of Sandy in Grease, and she remembered us from Singapore too so we had a quick chat with her too. Jemma and Gretel were both so lovely! We didn't ask for photos, because we thought that would be weird, we didn't want to bug them that much. 

It was only just before Act 2 started that we realised Gretel was sitting 5 seats away from us! We hadn't realised! After the show, we hung around to try and see if we could grab any of the cast, mostly Rob because this was the last time we'd be able to see him as Warner before he leaves the show. We saw David again, and said a super quick hello to Erika (seriously, it was a "hi" and a wave), but then we got to get a photo with Rob. 

And this (other than seeing Jemma) was my highlight of the night: After I got my photo with Rob, I told him that this was the last chance to see him in LB, but we'd see him in Grease. And then he said "aw, that's great. Thank you," and squeezed my hand. Seriously, going over it in my head again, I have no idea how or when he even grabbed my hand! But it was a lovely squeeze. It wasn't my whole hand, just my fingers, but it was all my fingers, not just the tips. And it was a really genuine, gentle squeeze and I almost died. 

Right before the hand squeeze. Haha.

Always love seeing David Harris. He's just always so lovely.

So that was my Saturday. And then I spent what felt like all day on a plane today. Totally worth it though. 

2013

2012 was a massive year for me, for so many reasons and on so many levels. It was the year I lost my grandfather, moved out of home for the first time, my first teaching job, my first overseas trip, the year I got to see Wicked again and met so many cast members I hadn't had the opportunity to meet before...

But this post is all about looking forward to 2013, because that too looks like it'll be a big year- but for different reasons.

1. I'm taking my mum to see Legally Blonde: The musical in January, which is her Christmas present. This will be her first time seeing the show, and my 4th. I'm really hoping she likes it!
2. In April, I'm having a week's holiday in Queensland. I like Queensland because it's sunny. And yes, we will be seeing Legally Blonde up there, but that's because we have friends up in Queensland who we want to see the show with. Most people I tell this to, just think it's another Wicked case for me, but it's not. With Wicked I had to see the show again, and I still miss it so much, it's like a drug. Legally Blonde is a great show, the cast is awesome, it's funny and got some great music, but I'm not addicted like I am to Wicked. And I'm pretty excited to go back to Movie World while I'm in QLD!
3. May is going to be a crazy month. Kelly and I have tickets to Legally Blonde opening night in Melbourne (and now one of the preview shows too, haha. Kelly knows why I'm laughing at this). This is mostly because we wanted to go to one opening night, and Melbourne's pretty close for both of us. Then it's my 23rd birthday, and 2 days after that, I'll be in Adelaide seeing Driving Miss Daisy, which I can honestly admit I am seeing only because the stars of the play are Angela Lansbury (Mrs Potts from Beauty and the Beast) and James Earl Jones (Mufasa from The Lion King) and I am a Disney nerd, who can't pass up the chance to maybe actually meet them.
4. In June, I'm going back to Adelaide to see Idina Menzel!!!!! I still can't believe that. Every time I see a video of her (interview or performance) or listen to her sing Defying Gravity, I just cry. I can't even fathom we're actually going to be seeing her live. Not just because she's the original Elphaba, but because she's amazing and seems like such a nice person.
5. Sometime throughout 2013 (we hope) we'll have Delta Goodrem touring (!!!!) and Wicked returning to Sydney, which I will be seeing a lot (Apparently it'll be going back to Melbourne too, but I'm in Sydney, so...). Apparently it'll be a mostly new cast, which makes me a little sad, because our cast is amazing, but I'm also excited to see new people in the roles.
6. In December, The Lion King musical is also returning to Sydney, which I'm psyched to see because the last time it was here I was 14 and my parents wouldn't take me, so I missed out.
7. I'm also hoping to get a job in 2013, (because money will definitely be required for #1-6) and gain more experience teaching.

Legally Blonde

I'd already decided that I was going to do a post on Legally Blonde, which I saw on Saturday night (September 22nd, 2012), but it's taken me longer than expected to get around to actually writing it (the lack of sleep- it's a long story).

Anyway, so on Saturday night, six of us saw Legally Blonde the musical at the Sydney Lyric theatre. We'd been looking forward to this for months, and I was really excited to see the show. I love the movie, and I knew how awesome the cast was, because I'd watched Erika on It Takes Two and I knew Lucy, Rob and David from Wicked. 

 So I knew I was going to love the show, because I do love the movie and I am a fan of so many of the cast; but I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did. Seriously, it's taken the #2 spot on my list of favourite musicals (#1 is still Wicked, LOL- just in case you were wondering).

It's such a fun show, it has such a great energy to it, and there's not a slow moment in the whole show. And it's hilarious. And the cast was just... incredible. The casting was just done perfectly.

Lucy is phenomenal as Elle, Rob is Warner (in the best possible way, haha) and David is the perfect Emmett! Helen is hilarious as Paulette, Cameron was so good as Professor Callahan and Erika... seriously, "Whipped into shape" says it all. I'd heard from David's blog how hard that routine was, but to actually see it... wow. You have to be seriously fit to do that. (Which I am not, as was proved to me when I woke up this morning after spending all weekend walking around Sydney. "Ouch" about sums it up).

I don't know if I could pick a singular favourite song from the show... so I'll pick 3, lol (in no particular order).
1. "Ohmigod you guys" is just so much fun, and gets stuck in your head so easily- we were singing it all the way as we walked back to our hotel after the show, haha. Yes, we got some strange looks from people on the street).
2. "So much better" was one of the few songs I'd heard before I saw the show, from the media launch and such; but it was really great to see in the context of the show. Lucy does such a great job of singing this, and as it closes the first act, you really end on a great note.
3. "Chip on my shoulder" I loved this song. I don't even know if I could tell you why, but it's just a great tune and the lyrics are really great. It's been in my head all day, so I thought that was a problem easily solved by listening to the song from the soundtrack. It kind of helped, but I spent half the song thinking, "David sings this so much better", haha.

We've got plans to see the show again in November, but I'm not sure I can wait that long, LOL!

We had some really cute moments in the show too- like when Bruiser wouldn't come on stage at the beginning, haha. But he's so cute no-one minded! The dogs are simply gorgeous!
And it's really funny, I loved how they had little pop culture references, like to Glee and Lord of the Rings and it doesn't matter if you've seen the movie or not.

After the show, we went to the Stage Door to meet the cast, which has become one of my favourite things about going to the theatre. The cast are all such lovely people, and it's really great just to be able to meet them.
Unfortunately, we missed meeting Erika (we did see her, but just didn't get a chance to say "hi"- so we'll have to grab her next time!)

So if anyone's in Sydney (or near enough) I really recommend Legally Blonde! It's such a great show, and cast, and you'll have a great night!

I wish I could go again sooner, but that's the downside of teaching out in the country- it's just a tad difficult to get to the city. Hurry up, November!

Holiday plans

We have 2 weeks until school holidays!

I'm super excited, mostly because I get to go home. I haven't seen my family all term, and I really miss my parents and siblings.

This is the first holidays this year that I'm not travelling anywhere, but I'm still planning to do heaps.

The first weekend I'm having an entire musical weekend! We're seeing Legally Blonde the musical on Saturday night, and then on Sunday we're seeing a local performance of Beauty and the Beast the musical!

And the second weekend is my cousin's wedding. The guy she's marrying is lovely, and she's my oldest female cousin, so I'm really excited and happy for her. Plus, it means I get to see the rest of my family, which I don't get to do too often. This will be the first time I've seen my cousins and aunts and uncles since my grandfather's funeral in February, which hopefully won't be too sad.

Other than that, I'm just looking forward to relaxing and catching up with friends. I've already got plans for a day with Nerrida :)

I always say I'm going to do heaps of writing in the holidays... and I never get as much done as I hope to. But we'll see! It would be nice to make some headway on 40 weeks; I've kind of stalled lately due to lack of time and motivation. Plus, it's slow moving until I get to a certain point.