The musical Wicked, by Stephen Schwartz. Just.. wow. Now, I'm definitely a huge musical theatre fan. I ADORE musicals. At least 80% of my iPod is filled up with songs from musicals or movie soundtracks. They. Are. Incredible.
But that's not my point. my point is Wicked. Now, a lot of people have probably heard of it, it's become hugely popular since it started on Broadway in 2003. But I assure you, it surpasses any other popular show people talk about. it wins, hands down. In any given competition. If you haven't seen it, go. As soon as possible. If you've never heard of it, well.. Download the soundtrack and prepare for a minimum 3 months of nonstop obsession. Okay, well I suppose I can't guarantee that, since everyone has their own opinions on things. But trust me, when I first heard it, I listened to nothing else for many many months, until I finally got the chance to see the show live. and it blew me away.
I've always thought that nobody can survive without an imagination. Without having some crazy thought that they secretly want to believe in. Some alternative world. I think that we all need an escape from reality sometimes, and we need something special that we can believe in. For me, it is Wicked. Now, Wicked is basically a prequel to the Wizard of Oz in a sense. the story explores everything that happened in the Land of Oz before Dorothy got there. The past life of the witches, their friendship, and just how the Wicked Witch of the West came to be 'Wicked'.
I think that what is so truly amazing about this story is that it completely challenges every idea you've ever had about wickedness. Whatever your beliefs were, they are taken, twisted inside out, upside down, redefined and forced back into your head. Because the Witch of the West (known as Elphaba) never was wicked. She was the most kind-hearted person, who stood up for everything she believed in, and wouldn't back down, or let anyone get in the way of her achieving what she dreamed of. Her character is easily the most likeable character I have come across before. In saying that, I think a large part of this is because she is so obviously flawed. I mean, she was born with green skin! But nobody wants a perfect character. You can't relate to that. The beauty of characters is drawing us in, to be able to understand them. And this requires connecting with them. Elphaba, despite her exterior, has the most beautiful soul. And for one, I think that is the most important message you could ever learn.
While watching Wicked, I was literally sitting there, my jaw dropping to the floor, absolutely breathless and speechless for a good 2 and a half hours. I was just taken away by the pure magic of it. It made me believe that anything was possible. That there must be a place like Oz, where people are so brought together by the joy and happiness around them. This alone made me cry, several times. What also made me cry was how heart-breaking the story was. Now, I don't want to give away what happens, but I will just say; I bawled at the sight of how Elphaba was treated. Except for one single person, who loved her. That one person was a close second for beautiful characters. The show itself, was so eye-opening. Have you ever seen something, and just sat there afterwards, staring at a wall, unable to move. Just trying to comprehend what you just saw. Well, that was this.
An absolute credit to Gregory Maguire for crafting this story, and Stephen Schwartz for bringing it to life. There were several moments throughout the show where I gasped in shock as another piece of the puzzle clicked into place. Everything about the backstory from the Wizard of Oz is answered in this. And it's so.. perfect. How the story links everything together. A lot of them were completely unexpected.
I think, for me, the most important thing in this is that, everyone has their own personal story. A story you could never, ever possibly understand until you've lived their lives. People are not what they seem. I know that's such a generic statement, but it is true. I believe that there's a reason behind everything people do. Take school bullies, for example. Most people hate them, think they're the most awful people in the world. And I'm not saying that bullying is good, at all. But they don't do it for no reason. Facts have shown that most of them bully others as a desperate craving for attention. To not be left out. This can be due to a number of sad stories, such as being neglected at home, or having extremely low self-confidence. Anyway, my point is that everything people do is for a reason.
"It's not always that easy to distinguish the good guys from the bad guys. Sinners can surprise you, and the same is true for saints. Why do we try to define people as simply good or evil? Because no one wants to admit that compassion and cruelty can live side by side in one heart. And anyone is capable of anything."
I thought this quote really described what I'm saying. I really love it. It's so truthful, and yet it describes something that most people never realise, however obvious it may be. I guess Wicked really shows people that you have to look beyond the surface, and not just take what you see as as indication of a person's character. This has always been a main function of my mind, and how I view things. I guess that's why seeing Wicked had such an impact on me. Usually, this is the sort of belief that's always hidden away, because so many people don't understand such complex things about people. But it's like Wicked brought out everything I believe in, and mashed it together in one spectacular show. Aside from opening so many people's eyes, it made my thoughts so clear to me. Absolutely spectacular. It's so amazing how it can transform your view on the world, and make you look at everything a different way.
I apologise for the long post. I may have gotten a little carried away. Well, I'll stop now. Off to listen to the soundtrack for the 2894767946984th time. But I think it only fair to close with one of my favourite lines from Wicked;
"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... I'm through accepting limits, cause someone says they're so. Some things I cannot change, but 'til I try I'll never know. "
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