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!

Album review: Gretel Scarlett "Hopelessly Devoted"

It's always exciting when one of your favourite musical theatre stars get their own album... or a cast recording... basically anything where you can hear them singing in your living room. 

Gretel and I at stage door after Grease.

So I was supremely thrilled when Gretel Scarlett announced her debut album. I love Gretel, she's so talented and one of my favourite people to talk to at stage door because she's so lovely and warm (and she's a Delta Goodrem fan, so she gets points for that!). 

And it's been so cool to watch her go from Melena (Witch's Mother) in Wicked, where even though she only has a few lines, she has totally defined the character for me in my head (maybe that sounds weird, but it's true. I really miss her as Melena!); to her first lead role as Sandy in Grease, which is the most fun show I've ever been to. 

So anyway, Gretel's album, Hopelessly Devoted came out on Monday, September 15 2014; which I immediately bought once I woke up and remained the highlight of my day (long story). And it's just beautiful, it's majority piano, vocal and strings, which is pretty much my favourite thing (although I am a sucker for a complete orchestra, which I think is because my dad's a brass band musician). 

When a musical theatre person releases an album, my friend and I put it through a simple test- if we had no idea who that person was and had just stumbled across it on iTunes (which I do quite a bit, namely when I find a song I love and go looking for other versions of it), would I buy it?

The answer is usually "Yes", "a few songs from it" or "probably not".

And the answer for Hopelessly Devoted is YES. 

It's taken me a day of listening to decide on a favourite track, and even then I've ended up with three:

1. Hopelessly Devoted to You- Gretel does an amazing job of this in Grease (as can be heard either by going to see the show- its back in Melbourne in December- or on the cast soundtrack via iTunes. Or in the video below); but with pretty much just piano and vocals it's even more hauntingly beautiful. 

2. Let it Go- It's been 9 months since Frozen came out in Australia, and I'm still not over this song (although since the If/Then OBC was released, that is getting more play on my iPod I think. Just). I knew Gretel would do an amazing job of this song since she first hinted it would be on the album (she was understudy Elphaba in Wicked, so she can do an Idina song justice); but I still wasn't mentally prepared for just how amazing it is.

Album hint. Sandy meets Elsa.

3. No One but You (Only the Good Die Young)- I wasn't really familiar with this song until now, (confession) I'm not a huge Queen fan. I know, it's sacrilege. I like some of their songs, I just don't really... I don't know. But I usually have loved any song of theirs that is covered by someone I do like, and this is no exception. Gretel's rendition gave me chills when I first heard it, and it's been the song on the album I've played most in the last day since I bought it.

The album also features a duet of Katy Perry's Firework with Gretel's BFF and my #2 Glinda (after Megan Hilty) Suzie Mathers; and a duet of Say Something with Rob Mills (Danny in Grease and former Fiyero). There's also a beautifully slow rendition of We Found Love, which just missed out on making my top 3 tracks.

I definitely recommend this album!

This happened at the school assembly today

Today was school assembly today. And to be honest, they're usually not interesting. They weren't when I was a student, and they're not now that I'm a teacher. 

But today was awesome. Here's why: 

1. Year 12 commandeered the assembly, because it's the last one before they graduate (it was planned, but the other students didn't know that). 

2. This was done with this clip from Harry Potter

before one of the kids entered as Darth Vader and "kidnapped" the principal and all the kids entered the hall to this music.

3. There were Teacher vs. Student Lip Synching Battles! No I did not take part.

ROUND 1: Single Ladies vs. Fancy. 

ROUND 2: Love is an Open Door vs. Reflection. 

ROUND 3: Don't Stop Me Now vs. Ice Ice Baby.

The students won, which I think was kinda biased as the student body were voting.

4. A student serenaded his girlfriend and asked her to the formal (senior prom). She said yes.

5. They made a speech and apologised for everything they'd ever done to a teacher (such as throwing a kidney across a science lab).  

6. They exited the hall to The Circle of Life. 

Basically, it was awesome.

Sneak Peek: The Right Thing to Do

As you may know (if you care and/or are paying attention), my next Wicked fanfiction is entitled "The Right Thing to Do"

I've been planning and trying to write this since 2012, and I am determined to finish it now!

If you've really been paying attention, you will know this fic has a secret (well, not so secret) title in certain circles as "the Sassy Gay Julyan fic".

Basically when I first had the idea, I ran it past Julia- as I always do (well, did. Not so much these days :( She's busy and time zones suck). And Julia demanded an OC.

When I told her there was no room in this fic for a female OC, she decided the simple solution was to make it a male OC. And of course, he should be sassy and gay. So, SGJ was born.

She was pretty insistent.

I really had no choice

Julia wrote him a backstory and everything (which I'm not using most of, but I keep it because it amuses me):

Right so Sassy Gay Julyan. He grew up in the Vinkus with a dream of being a famous star on Emerald Street (the Ozian equivalent of Broadway, obviously) but after coming out to his parents as gay, they demanded that he stop with all the glitter and become a totally serious lawyer. Naturally, he goes to Shiz with the intention of fulfilling his parents' wishes, but soon meets Fiyero Tiggular, who teaches him it's okay to put glitter in inappropriate places. But when Elphaba wrongfully punches Fiyero's precious nose, Sassy Gay Julyan realizes that he needs to take action. So he not only becomes an Oz-renown nose lawyer, but also, he becomes the practically worshiped directed and star of the musical: "Smell the Sparkle," a tale based on his life and his experiences as a Sassy Gay Friend. He also frequently gives Fiyero Sassy Gay advice and flirts with all of the guys in a (mostly) platonic way.

Yeah, Julia's still upset over Fiyero's nose being broken in Out of the Blue. 

In case you couldn't tell.

 Anyway, I'm not using a lot of that backstory, but I love it.

I wasn't really sure writing Sassy Gay Julyan (the character, not the story) would turn out, but when I showed the first mention of him to Julia, she loved it. As have a few other people who have seen it. So, I thought I'd share it with you guy.

• 
  

  "“Will we finally get to meet your friend? Julyan?” Boq asked.
• 
  

  They had all been hearing about Julyan for about two years, but none of them had ever met him. Julyan was Fiyero’s best friend since the boys were five, and all they really knew about him was that he was gay and living in the Emerald City. He had studied at the CEC earning a degree in performing arts, and was performing in the ensemble of Wizomania as he created his own musical in his spare time. The name of which kept changing. None of them were even sure there was a plot. “I think so,” Fiyero answered Boq. “His contract with Wizomania was up a month ago, and he hasn’t mentioned anything in his letters about renewing it. He keeps insisting this is the year to finish the musical.” “I’m pretty sure you need a plot and title before you can finish anything,” Elphaba said dryly. “It has a plot!” Fiyero defended his friend. She rolled her eyes. “Yero, the last I remember, it consisted of an epic love story between a pirate and a ninja; a talking unicorn and an underground break dancing society. None of which to me say ‘this is a logical plot’. It doesn’t even have a title, unless he’s reconsidered “Jump the Horn”, which references none of the above so-called “plot points.” Except maybe the unicorn,” she acknowledged as an afterthought. “Ok, so it’s a work in progress,” Fiyero admitted. “But still…”"

It's only a little bit, but there you go. Enjoy ;)

New Blog

I forgot to post about this during the holidays, so here it is.

If you read this regularly, or read The Ghost of Kiamo Ko, (or more specifically, the ANs for GoKK) you'll know I've had issues recently. Mental health stuff.

During the holidays I was officially diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and referred to a psychologist.

Because of this, I wanted to document the journey/experience/whatever you want to call it. But I didn't want to bum everyone out on this blog about it, preferring to keep the focus on my writing, musicals, life, etc.

So I am introducing To Turn on the Light, my new blog, specifically about this part of my life.

 I'd be really grateful if you check it out. It's not much yet, but hopefully that will change.

Sins of the Father: Elphaba's Lurlinemas dress

This is the dress I was picturing Elphaba in. Just ignore the fact it's me in the photos, haha.

Me with Kelly in the dress

Me with David Harris in the dress (I wore it to his show)

A Christmas Carol

Videos galore! Enjoy

A Muppets Christmas Carol trailer:

"A Place Called Home" from 2004 A Christmas Carol movie:

"What If" from 2001 A Christmas Carol movie: