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Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Wicked

 

We were fortunate to see the original broadway production that with Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel.  It blew us away and we sang the songs as a family every since.  I didn't anticipate any performance being better than that power duo.

About 5 minutes into the opening scene of Wicked I knew that this was going to be special.  I was not prepared for how impactful the entire movie was going to be.  The combination of direction, acting, music set production, close up cinematography and performance was absolutely brilliant.  Probably the best musical production I have ever seen.  
What was special about it were the amazing musical performances. There were a few magical moments in particular that left a lasting impression.
  
1. Elphaba's first number "The Wizard and I" gave me chills and was so privately emotional it made me believe in almost a new story because of the way she brought it to life. Her desire to meet the wizard.  Her outward expression of hope contrasting her inner battle of guilt and self-doubt as whe runs out to the wheat fields with her arms thrown upwards and outwards inviting all the possibilities into her life.


2. Elphaba's unsettling and horribly humiliating yet haunting entrance and solo dance at the Ozdust.  The way she conveyed her excruciating painful, quiet solo expresssion of dance of humiliation, isolation and rejection.  I could feel the grit in her teeth as she pushed herself forward accepting the jeers from the crowd but not letting them change who she was.   She knew she had been targeted and knew the crushing crucible she was allowing herself to be exposed to, yet she knew she had to perform her personal but quiet outrage through her particular brand of solo expression.  She was a victim of abuse, but she did not accept the invitation of victim stance.  It was difficult to not be completely sucked into that moment with her, experiecing it almost first hand.
She won in the end.  A very private victory through a very public belittling. I liked how they helped Glinda find a way to work through her own conflicting pride and self-centeredness in her attempt to sit in grief with Elphaba.  This was a beautiful example of what we all go through when we have to decide how far we will go to someone's aid.  I loved the way they showed this breakthrough of growth.

This echoes a pattern set by someone else who had a very private victory over a very public belittling.  There is no comparison as He bore all of our shame, guilt, self-doubt and sin on his solitary shoulders and lowered himself beyond all to get that win.  The ultimate humiliation......the ultimate rejection......and the ultimate win we all needed.  I appreciated being reminded of such.


3. "Popular "- This was simply an amazing performance by Ariana.  The set design, the choreography and her own interpretation was so on point.  Perfectly executed.  Her dance was so all over the place but it worked because of her self assuredness and confidence in this area of expertise = Popularity.  It was Glinda at her best.....even if knowingly shallow.  It was all she knew how to give and she happily gave it.    Do we give our best gifts away with as much exuberance as Glinda did?  I know many who do.  A few I know do it with unusual flair and and a few who do it subtely......both work.

4. "Defying Gravity" - There are simply too many magical moments in this carefully crafted and executed performance.  The believable acting, the emotionality and then the majesty of the music.  How could Stephen Schwartz have known how big this number would be.  The lessons are many.....

I often feel as though the world has its own gravity on our spirituality and who we can be.  It is a very heavy force that can pull us down.  It takes the kind of powerful awakening like Elphaba has to find the courage and energy to defy it.  What a fantastic word - "Defy"  It isn't just resistance that resonates with me.... it is the willful refusal to obey that which is not righteous.  I do not believe anyone can watch this performance and not be completely overwhelmed by inspiration.  It is so moving and I loved it.  Her amazing leap over the parapet with her grand cloak waving in after her -- Ha! Pretty powerful.   We all want to make that leap in our own lives.  Elphaba gives us the invitation to follow......

There are many moments in this film that are just choice. Little looks, little feet pointed out, little details that bring it all to life. It was an amazing experience that I thoroughly enjoyed.  How wonderful it is to have talent in this world.


“Cause getting your dreams
It's strange, but it seems
A little -- well -- complicated
There's a kind of a sort of : cost
There's a couple of things get : lost
There are bridges you cross
You didn't know you crossed
Until you've crossed.”
― Stephen Schwartz, 


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