Wicked on Broadway
First time seeing the show with my kid having seen the movie four times–so way more familiar with Act 1 than 2. Naturally the theater was packed with tons of families with young-to-teen kids so we were not the only ones. We loved every minute of it. The Act 2 ending blew my kid’s mind. She spent her allowance on the show poster for her bedroom.
Though I enjoyed both of them very much, I think the movie was a smidge better than the stage production. The extended backstory and extra scenes–like my favorite one, Elphaba falling with her broom, looking up at her reflection in the building and locking eyes with her child self–really served the story, especially her transformation. At this point I’ve imprinted on Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as these characters and found myself missing some of their flourishes in the songs (like Grande’s “RIGHT!” in Popular, and Erivo’s devastating “Blonde.” in What Is This Feeling.)
What I woudn’t give for a time machine to go back and see Idina and Kristen’s performances.
Now the countdown to the Part 2 movie release in November begins.