Wicked!
Two weekends ago, after a busy week and a wedding Saturday lunchtime, Gayle surprised me by getting her parents to come and stay over (to look after Reuben) and whisking me off to London to go and see Wicked.
Wow.
Up till this month, the best bit of musical theatre I’ve ever seen was a production of Cabaret in Sheffield, but this show at the Victoria Apollo completely blew that out of the water. Exhilarating and yet deeply moving and emotional, Wicked is by far the best musical on stage in London at the moment. Absolutely brilliant. I’d been dying to see it ever since Defying Gravity was featured in episode nine of Glee (which is the best thing involving music on screen at the moment). Brilliant score and amazing lyric.
If you’ve not experienced Wicked yet, here’s some videos to wet your appetite. The first is “Defying Gravity” performed at the Royal Variety Performance in 2008, the second is Glee’s version, then we have “Popular!”” from the musical, and finally Avenue Q’s spin on that same tune. Enjoy!
Christine and I went to the Apollo Victoria to see Wicked a year ago when we were there! I agree … brilliant!
My recent post United States Census 2010 – A Smorgasbord of Diversity (Humor)
Glad you enjoyed this, Peter, and that parents were able to look after Reuben. I know from experience how important it is to find time as a couple, especially when coping with all the work of bringing up a small child and when things have been hard in other ways.
My recent post Bishop of Gloucester sides with James Jones
Eden Espinosa, daughter of Old Skool Vineyard worship leader Eddie Espinosa, played the lead in the LA production of Wicked for some time–might still be, for all I know! Would love to see this–love the Defying Gravity song, which I first encountered on Glee as well. We miss you all. Come to Oxford!
You find me a job in Oxford, I'll come to Oxford!
Well, hey, you can always come for a visit!
Just went on her website–she's currently playing Elphaba in the San Francisco production of Wicked. She's also done the role on Broadway, and is the longest-running Elphaba in Wicked history. She's also sung on a bunch of worship albums (including some of the early US Vineyard kids' praise, I'm pretty sure). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eden_Espinosa