As an end of holiday treat, I decided to book a show for my daughter and I. Browsing the On the From the Box Office Website, I decided to book tickets for
Wicked, at the Apollo in London. Although, I picked the musical as I thought my daughter would like it, I love the music – ‘Defying Gravity’ is my favourite lip synch song. Obviously with added arms for dramatic adage as I hit the high notes.
If I’m being honest, I actually thought that the plot line wouldn’t be too detailed and it would be all about the musical score. How wrong I was. I was gripped, and it was mainly due to the brilliant character of Elphaba (Elphie), who has become my new musical hero.
Ephaba is a girl of principals. Good ones at that. Early on in the play we discover she is an animal activist. We see her refusal to accept the dismissal of the teaching goat, and her outrage at his forced removal by officials. She continues to protest even when no one else supports her. Even though she stands alone in her beliefs, The Wizard asks to see her. Ephaba sees this as a chance to right the wrongs of the kingdom and end the suppression of the animals. Surely, the wizard can help!
However, on arrival she asked to perform a spell on a monkey, but the spell goes wrong as she realises the wizard has only summoned her as he has no magical powers and he wants to continue to stop the animals of the kingdom speaking, and resign them to lives within cages, by using her magic. She is enraged and angers the wizard. Even though he offers her ‘everything she wants’ in return for an apology, she realises this does not make her happy and that she has to stick to what she believes in and decides to ‘defy gravity’:
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I’m through with playing by the rules
Of someone else’s game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It’s time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap!
So parents, take your sons and daughters to Wicked and teach them that having principles, particularly good ones, is a worthy trait, and even when you seem to be flowing against the current of everyone else, it is always the right thing to do stick to your principles and fight for what you think is right and good.
This smart, fiery, intelligent character gives a great life lesson in a West End musical, what more reason to you need to go?!
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