Wicked was my first Broadway show. It was the first show I was ever somewhat familiar with, I remember hearing Defying Gravity the first time, and asking my mom if by "flying off the handle" meant flying off the broom handle. "Did she get hurt?" I always loved the CD whenever my mom would play it in the car on the way home from school. In particular, Defying Gravity ALWAYS stood out to me as an outstanding piece of music, even before I was obsessed with the show. Going off on that topic a bit, I love the music in the show so much. There is not a dull moment in the score. All of the songs are so much fun, but they are so...real, and direct, if you listen to the words. Even Popular holds a political undertone... "Did they have brains or knowledge? Don't make me laugh... they were Popular. Please. It's all about Popular." I think that holds a very important message, and is very relate-able on many levels, again, I love Defying Gravity to pieces. I've listen to countless renditions of it every single day, for the past 6 or so years, and I never have ever once gotten sick of it. For Good is amazing as well. I love the political themes of No Good Deed too, as well as hearing actresses just completely sing their face off. In my opinion there is nothing not to absolutely LOVE about the amazing lights, costume, and sound. I don't know another show that is so visually stunning, or has a cooler, or more unique sound So many different colors, and it's just a very bright show. I love the Emerald City, and Defying Gravity lights. All of the actors in the show inspire me in some way, and I am so happy that so many people who have been IN this show have gone on to have AMAZING careers on Broadway and otherwise, like Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, Adam Lambert, Norbert Leo Butz, Laura Bell Bundy, Eden Espinosa, Stephanie J. Block, and Aaron Tveit to name a few of the many. I follow all of these people's careers to this day, and they never fail to amaze me. I love everyone who has ever been in WICKED for different reasons. I think the fan base is absolutely amazing. So many people go in expecting to see some lighthearted show, and have a good time, and come out in tears, never to be the same again. I love that everyone has heard of it, and how a part of every day society it has become. It has been referenced, or featured on lots of TV shows (Ugly Betty, The Simpsons, Psych etc..) and referenced in other Broadway shows (Shrek, Nunsense etc...)The biggest reason (Which I didn't fully understand until a few years ago): When people say that everyone can relate to this show, they don't just mean that everyone has been bullied and treated like an outcast in school, and they weren't well liked, even though that is absoulutley true. I have been through it! It happens to everyone at some point in their lives. But the "Green Girl" can literally be ANYONE. People get confused as to why Elphie is such an outcast because she's green. Well, when you are in school, yeah, it might be because you are "green." But in the world, it could be, again, racism, or it could be because you are disabled, or gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender etc..., Middle Eastern, Jewish, Muslim, Christian, overweight, underweight, "ugly", rich, poor etc... as the Wizard says, "The best way to bring folks together is to give them a really good enemy." And unfortunatley, that is true. I am not starting a political debate here, but according to the producers, The Wizard was based on George W. Bush. Today there is discrimination against Iraqi's, simply because of their nationality. We have been led to believe that they are all evil, because of the fact that there is a group of people that do bad things that hail from their country. Gays are also discriminated against in society because they were born a certain way, that they couldn't help. People do not realize that it is the way things are, and it is natural. They were born that way, and it is nothing to be ashamed of. Its being "born green." Elphaba represents so many people.
Many people expect to go see WICKED and thing that it will be a light, fun, but overall meaningless show, but next time you go see it, I encourage you to look deeper into the plot, and see if you understand the deeper meaning. It may take you a while to fully understand some of the political themes, like it did for me, but you will, and you will better understand this amazing story of friendship.
