Aryn took me to see Wicked last night for my Christmas present, and it was amazing.  I experienced the peculiar sensation of having all the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and stay there for minutes at a time.  Then I would sloooowly start to calm down, only to suddenly come to some big show-stopping moment where they all stood up again.  I really can’t say enough good things about the show.

We got to see an understudy playing Elpheba, which I was actually excited about.  I have very vivid memories of seeing the touring company of Rent in Boston years ago, and the understudy who played Mimi absolutely stole the show.  This was a somewhat different experience, because I was already familiar with the songs going into Wicked, and I had Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth to compare it to.  But even with such huge shoes to fill, I thought the cast did an amazing job.

There were a couple little things I could pick at, like the actors’ microphones occasionally picking up each other when they got too close, but I wouldn’t notice them if I wasn’t such a dork, and if I wasn’t already so completely in love with the show.  I’m also glad I read the book first, because they’re so completely different that the plot of the book probably would have confused me thoroughly, had I gone into it expecting it to be like the musical.

Anyway, it was a great show.  If anyone is planning a trip to the city, I highly recommend you book your tickets now, since it’s sold out for awhile.  Maybe it’s a stretch to relate to the Wicked Witch of the West, but it’s just so inspiring to see it in person, you can’t help it.  I guess it must have a pretty universal appeal if it can make me wish I could put a spell on a broom and fly out of this place.  It also inspired me anew to write a musical (as if I really need more projects right now), so we’ll see how that plays out.  In conclusion, go see Wicked.  That is all.