Wicked Recap: Back in the Emerald City

On Wednesday night, September 24, I saw Wicked.

Now, this isn't so much a review, because this was my 18th time seeing the show and I'm admittedly biased, but I did want to write about this.

Wicked has just returned to the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, and even though I saw the show 8 times in the return Melbourne season this year; Wednesday saw a level of Wicked-high I haven't experienced in a while.

This is namely for 2 reasons.

1. I first saw the show in Sydney, June 2nd 2010 at the Capitol Theatre. And even though I've seen the show 15 times in other theatres, there's something about seeing the show in the same theatre, the same stage where it all started for me.
2. Every show I've got booked for the Sydney season thus far, I'm seeing the show with a Wicked virgin- someone who hasn't seen the show before. There is nothing I love more than seeing the show with someone who is seeing it for the first time.

My favourite view

Seeing my favourite musical at my favourite theatre in my favourite city... it doesn't really get better than that, does it?

I'm not going to lie- I got teary when we saw the Capitol Theatre and the lights were green again (they change colour for whatever show is playing there at the time). It'd been a long 4 years since I'd seen green lights on the Capitol.

I was lucky enough to win tickets for this show, thanks to a competition through the Liverpool Leader. A friend who lives in Liverpool had seen it and sent me the link. I entered on a whim and didn't think anything of it, and then... won. I don't really win anything (ever), so it was a major surprise.

I saw the show on Wednesday night, the last preview before opening night, with a colleague (she's kind of my boss... she's the Head of the English faculty, and I live in the English staffroom, even though I'm more technically a part of the HSIE faculty. It's complicated, haha). She knew nothing of the show, but she is a musical theatre fan.

View of the stage.

We were in the stalls, row U (centre), which is pretty good seats for winning free tickets! (View of the stage is closer than appears in the photo to your left). 

Anyway, she loved it. She cried in Defying Gravity and in For Good and she was raving about how talented the cast are. We blasted the Wicked soundtrack all the way home (we drove up from Queanbeyan to Sydney for the show).

For my part, the show was as perfect as ever. Lucy sounded amazing considering she'd just come back from having the flu (it takes me weeks after being sick before I can talk properly, let alone sing!); and Jemma was as perfect as ever. Her I'm not that girl was especially heart-wrenching tonight.

I was also extremely happy to see Glen Hogstrom is back as Dr Dillamond, because he's so good at it, and I missed him during the Melbourne season!

The experience was dampened a little by a super annoying person sitting nearby, who I'm honestly not sure if they were drunk or not. (She cheered when Dr Dillamond was taken away. Like... who does that? Does she have something against Goats?) She also cheered when Boq ran off on Nessa at the train station and pretty much any time the Wizard spoke.

We did stage door after the show, which was cool, because my boss hadn't ever done that before! So, we had a quick chat to Steve Danielsen (Fiyero), who is lovely as ever; and I got a quick hug from Ed (Boq) before he had to run for a train. Lucy got swarmed, and accidentally drew on my arm with her marker; and Jemma got swarmed too, but we still got to have a quick chat.

 2 weeks until my next trip to Oz. Can't wait!

The Wicked Trio: "Fancy" warm up

I put this video on Twitter, the "Ozian is an Official language" FB page and my tumblr but I had to share it here too.

Lucy Durack (Glinda) posted this video of her, Jemma Rix (Elphaba) and Steve Danielsen (Fiyero) lip synching to Iggy Azalea's "Fancy" on the way to the theatre for a double show day.

And it's the best. Enjoy.

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). 

Jemma Rix: The Random Variety

I have really missed hearing Jemma Rix sing.

I've known this, but I don't think I realised how much I missed it until Saturday night when we went to The Butterfly in Melbourne to see Jemma's cabaret show The Random Variety.

The best kind of random 

It was such a fantastic night, and so worth all the travelling (from Tamworth to Melbourne) and the lack of sleep.

Jemma's voice is so strong and beautiful, and made me even more excited (if possible) to see Wicked again. Seriously, Jemma can sing everything, as the show demonstrated over the course of an hour.

I could just say the whole night was awesome and amazing (and it was), but I had some definite highlights.

Also, she looked really pretty- as always :)

1. Jemma singing "With You" from Ghost, the musical. Such a gorgeous song and she was so in character... she looked like she was about to cry, which made me almost cry, and it's this whole thing. 
2. A mash-up of "Quiet" from Matilda the musical, and "Titanium". Wow. They actually combined so well, and it sounded fantastic. 
3. A Romeo and Juliet musical made with Rihanna songs, which I would totally pay to see. It was awesome. And also, Jemma could totally be Juliet. 
4. The song that started the show, an original song written by David Young (or DY), and ending with a medley of all sorts of songs of all genres. It was just fun, and such a high energy way to start the show.
5. Jemma also demonstrated her Japanese skills with a few Wicked lines, which always sounds funny. I've seen it on YouTube, but it was still great to hear. 
6. The random fact that Jemma did highland dancing for 8 years! Like competitions and everything! How cool is that?! 

I think they were all my most favourite bits... but every song was enjoyable and sung beautifully. She did some pop, and some show tunes... a little bit of everything, and really showed how versatile she is as an artist (wow, I've been watching The Voice too much, LOL).

And fully supported what so many Wicked fans have been saying for ages, that Jemma absolutely needs an album. Because I could listen to her voice all day. I actually told Jemma that after the show and she said she'd love to, and you never know! One day, it could happen! 

I always love seeing Jemma, because she's so sweet. We had decided that this, being her first cabaret type show, her first thing that's just her and not a character, deserved to be celebrated; so we'd gone shopping that day for the perfect gift for her. And man, did we find the perfect gift.

IT'S A WIZARD OF OZ MINIATURE TEA SET!!!! How perfect is that??

Oh, and also- the Butterfly Club itself- wow, I love that place. We will definitely going back. The atmosphere is awesome and it's so beautiful! I wish I'd taken more pictures of the interior, but I had to get a photo of this painting... just because it looks like there should be a secret door behind it.

Or maybe I just read Harry Potter too much...

Anyway, to sum up: the Butterfly Club is a very cool and beautiful place, and Jemma Rix is the greatest. The End.

Me and Jemma :)

Top 20 songs from Stage Musicals!

This list was really hard. Especially when I was only allowed 20 songs total and 5 from Wicked. 

1. This is the Moment (Jekyll and Hyde) I know- it's not Wicked, and you're all shocked. I'm surprised too. But I haven't even seen this show, but I know this song from when Anthony Warlow sang it in The Main Event, which was a concert with John Farnham and Olivia Newton John in like 1998. It was a big deal at the time. My mum and both grandmothers had the video and my grandmothers also had the CD, so I heard it a lot. I just get goosebumps every single time I hear this song. I have posted about this before.
2. Defying Gravity (Wicked) This was so close to being number 1. Because it is the greatest moment I've ever seen in live theatre. I've been known to forget to breathe in this moment (it happened once in Singapore, OK? Let's move on) so of course it's on the list. I love Idina singing it, but anyone who reads this blog enough knows all I need to say is "Jemma Rix" and you will understand. (In case you don't read this blog that much- I really, really love Jemma. She's my favourite Elphaba).
3. King of Pride Rock (The Lion King) I said I wasn't going to provide links in this post because it takes FOREVER to write otherwise, but this is an exception because people may not have any idea what I'm talking about. It's this moment (yes, the video is from the movie, but it's in the musical so it counts). Soaring instrumental music, and then Circle of Life reprise by a choir? What's not to love? I actually want this in my wedding... somehow. I don't know exactly how that would work yet. 
4. Tomorrow (Annie) This is such a positive, happy song! It just always makes me happy. And because Annie is so popular, it's usually one of the first musicals/songs that kids are exposed to. I'm pretty sure it was one of the first I heard anyway when I saw the movie on TV. I've seen both Annie movies, saw the musical in Melbourne and have heard Idina Menzel sing it on her Barefoot at the Symphony DVD, and I love it. I like to play this when I'm feeling sad.
5. The Wizard and I (Wicked) From the first second of the first time I saw Wicked, I loved it and knew it was going to be amazing. But it was in this song that I fell in love with it and Jemma Rix's voice. Plus, it's so happy as you hear Elphaba's dreams and this vision she has for her future. Of course, in subsequent showings, it just becomes bittersweet, but still. 
6. Circle of Life (The Lion King) One of the best starts to a musical. It just sets the mood instantly, and grabs your attention from the very first second. I'm dying to see this live when the musical comes back to Sydney this year.
7. As Long As You’re Mine (Wicked) This song is the Fiyeraba (Fiyero+Elphaba) anthem, and the big love song in the show, so of course, it's on this list. But I love that it's so dark and passionate. You can tell from just the music what they got up to in that forest ;) My favourite rendition I've seen is the third show I saw in Singapore with David Harris and Jemma Rix. It was perfect. 
8. Finale B (Rent) So yes, my favourite Rent song is the last song. That feels awkward to me, but it's true. I love the harmonies, the melody's, the combination of songs. This finale has set the bar for all musical finales for me.
9. No Good Deed (Wicked) Such a passionate, emotional, raw song. Again, I have been known to forget to breathe in this moment. It's so powerful, to see Elphaba's pain and desperation to save Fiyero. And (if you see the actual Broadway version, not the tour version) that moment when Elphaba rises through the floor with that "Fiyerooooo!" riff... ugh. I die. 
10. Another Day (Rent) I love how this song switches between rock and ballad. And then how the others join Mimi at the end. The first time I saw Rent, it was the movie. And I liked Seasons of Love, but after that for a lot of the time, I wasn't sure whether I was going to see this through to the end. Another Day got me hooked. 
11. Part of Your World (Reprise) (The Little Mermaid) Part of your world is a beautiful song all on its own. But to then have the reprise, which builds upon the inital song and have the big belting notes, that gets me every time- movie or musical (which I have only seen bits of on YouTube, but am hoping it comes to Australia one day. My friend Kelly and I think David Harris would be an awesome Prince Eric. We have our reasons!)
12. I'm Not That Girl (Wicked) This is such a heartbreaking song. And I don't think I know any girl who's seen it and hasn't related to this song. (I haven't asked any of the guys I know who have seen the show). Your heart just goes out to Elphaba in this song.
13. I Dreamed a Dream (Les Miserables) Another song full of raw emotion. I don't know what I can say about this song. I think though we can all relate to dreaming, and that pain that comes with those dreams not coming true. Plus, I mean the Lea Michele/Idina Menzel duet version on Glee? Pretty amazing. 
14. The Lonely Goatherd (The Sound of Music) This is just such a fun song! It always gets stuck in my head after I watch The Sound of Music. It makes me smile every time. Plus, I like puppets.
15. Beyond My Wildest Dreams (The Little Mermaid) I think I love this song because of the tune. If you listen to it, you'll know what I mean. But I also relate to how Ariel is feeling in this song. That feeling when you're in a place you've only dreamed about and you can't even fathom that this is reality. 
16. Somewhere Over the Rainbow (The Wizard of Oz) It's a classic. Need I say more? I never get tired of this song. At the moment, my favourite version is by Katharine McPhee as can be seen here (thank you very much, Smash pilot episode for making me realise this existed!)
17. Beauty and the Beast (Beauty and the Beast) Such a beautiful ballad. "Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, Beauty and the Beast." I never get tired of listening to it. 
18. Any Dream Will Do (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) "I close my eyes, drew back the curtains, to see for certain what I thought I knew. Far far away, someone was weeping, but the world was sleeping any dream will do." I think I just love this tune! It's so catchy! But I was first introduced to this song through the movie, which has Donny Osmond who my mum loves, so that could be a factor.
19. I Have Dreamed (The King and I) I've only seen The King and I once when it was on TV, and to be honest I prefer Anna and the King (even though it's not a musical). But I heard this song when David Harris sang an arrangement of this and "Maria" from West Side Story, and I kind of fell in love with it. 
20. I Still Call Australia Home (The Boy from Oz) I'm a patriot. That's the whole reason this song is on this list. I love Australia, so I love this song. I used to be glued to the TV whenever the Quantas ad was on growing up (when they used this song for their ads, of course). "Someday we'll all be together once more, when all of the ships come back to the shore. Then I realise something that I've always known, I still call Australia home." 

Honorable Mentions (AKA "Songs that just missed out"):

1. Chip on my shoulder (Legally Blonde)- especially when sung by David Harris!
2. For Good (Wicked)- just because I was only allowed 5 Wicked songs
3. Without Love (Hairspray)
4. Phantom of the Opera (Phantom of the Opera)
5. On my own (Les Mis)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I hope everyone has a happy holiday.

I'm thinking of my Grandad today, and know a lot of my friends will be thinking of people they've lost this year, so I'm sending good thoughts out to everyone.

Be safe, be happy, and tell me what you got for Christmas!

Just in case anyone's interested, here's what I got:

1. Season 1 of Gilmore Girls on DVD
2. Season 1 of SMASH on DVD
3. The Rescuers Down Under (Disney) on DVD
4. A Bug's Life on DVD
5. iTunes
6. A cinema gift card
7. A milkshake maker
8. A Vase/candle thingy.
9. Chocolate
10. A bag
11. A bracelet
12. Pajamas

I think that's all!

Also, a very Happy Birthday to the amazing Jemma Rix, who turns 28 today! And really, if I have to explain who that is, I don't know you people.

Jemma Rix

On Sunday October 7th, 2012, the Australian production of Wicked closed in South Korea.

This was depressing on many levels, not least because I never got to Korea to see it. And as I've seen it in every place it's been so far except for Melbourne and Adelaide, it was sad.
And also, because unlike when it closed everywhere else, this time we hadn't heard where it was going next, and all the cast were tweeting really sad farewell messages... ugh. It was a highly depressing day.

So, there's rumours that the show will be going to New Zealand and then back to Australia to play in Sydney and Melbourne, but the only official word we've had so far is that Wicked is "hanging up it's jewelled shoes to take a bit of a break and decide where it wants to land next". We have no idea where/when that will be or who the cast will be, so more sadness; because our cast is extremely talented and full of some of the lovliest people I've ever met.

But there was a good thing amongst all the sadness!

Jemma Rix (our amazing Elphaba) performed her 800th show as Elphaba on that day. And it also gives her the record for the most number of shows in English as Elphaba, which is such an amazing achievement.

And I'm super proud this record was set by an Australian!

Jemma is such a lovely person and such an amazing Elphaba. I'm going to put up a clip from YouTube of her Defying Gravity, but honestly, it just doesn't do her justice.

Jemma and I at WICKED stage door in Singapore in April 2012

Seriously, this is the woman who made me cry in the lobby of the theatre in Singapore when we could hear the end of Defying Gravity from the lobby (we were just buying merchandise the night before we saw the show, LOL).
And then the second time I saw the show in Singapore (my 6th time total), I didn't breathe from the time Elphaba rose up in Defying Gravity, and then I cried (embarrassingly) all through intermission.

So, Congratulotions, Jemma!

PS. It's only audio of her Defying Gravity, it's super hard to find video that is good quality. This is audio I found on YouTube from the Seoul season.



A very Wicked Christmas!

So, I don't know how many people read this, but even if I'm just talking to cyberspace, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Lurlinemas, Hanukkah, whatever holiday you celebrate!

I also want to wish the wickedly amazing Jemma Rix a very happy birthday! Even being in Singapore, I hope you have an amazing day, get to spend it with family and friends, and get spoiled rotten!

Me with Jemma at the Wicked stage door in Perth, Australia, August 18 2011.