things i've never felt
Jun. 14th, 2010 01:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beingfacetiousWell let's get this out of the way.
So, for some background, I went through a phase about a year and a half ago where I was absolutely in love with Wicked. I could have told you the best casts and where they were and whose interpretation of what song was the most interesting. But I got into Wicked because of this friend I had, and when we had our colossal falling out I felt a little like I'd had a falling out with things like Wicked that we'd sort of shared. So I was nervous beyond reason about going to the show, because I just...hadn't really touched Wicked in a pretty long time. And then literally during the opening notes it just hit me and I started to cry. Why did I stop loving this show for so long just because this friend stopped loving me? That's so not like me. How silly was I.
Anyway, the whole thing was incredible. Natalie Daradich was hysterical in act one and just the right amount wiser in act two, absolutely the perfect Glinda. She reminded me a lot of Megan Hilty, which is aaaaaahh such a good thing. I have endless Hilty love. Had. Have! Whatever. I love it when Glindas bring their own quirks to the part, and Natalie definitely did. She was adorable, obviously enjoyed the shallow parts without sacrificing the depth of that character.
I was hesitant about Vicki Noon but ohmygooosh then she saaaang. She was incredible. She played kind of a tentative Elphaba, which I loved; it made her "defining moments" more powerful than some Elphabas who are down sort of with a harshness all the way through. She was so incredulous during "The Wizard and I" and "As Long As You're Mine," which I don't even really like, and her "Defying Gravity" was more passionate than "SUCK IT" which I never understand, and ohmyGod I've always adored "No Good Deed" but when Vicki got to this point it was just like, oh God, she snapped. She played the part with an emotional clarity I think it's fair to say I've never seen or heard anyone else bring to it. And she and Natalie seemed to have an offstage chemistry that really helped their onstage relationship take on this really beautiful dynamic. Ahhhh, it was so good.
Fiyero was eh, but I've never felt like Fiyero was such a big part of the show anyway. For me he kind of serves to get "Dancing Through Life" rolling (that he did quite well, and what else can you ask from a Fiyero after all) and to give depth and dynamic to Glinda's and Elphaba's relationship. A decent Fiyero can't ruin a great rest-of-cast, for me. The Wizard was fine. Not Ben Vereen. I never expect much from a Wizard who's not Ben Vereen (whose version of Wonderful you should look up immediately if you're a Wicked fan at all).
So um, overall, 10/10. I hadn't expected it to be so different seeing it live; I honestly was amazed. I was touched for reasons I don't really feel I can put into words. Which is REALLY WEIRD for me. But it was incredible. I'm so happy I went. I'm happy I didn't let it get taken from me.
I just finished this book The Last Summer of You and Me, and it was all right. It was the same author as the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books, which I guiltily admit to having liked quite a lot. The Last Summer was basically a "more grownup" version with fewer characters to keep track of. It was pretty predictable and the story was nothing very new, but it was nicely written and it made me happy, and it didn't take much suspension of disbelief for me to believe in the characters as real people with real lives.
That's opposed to The Time Traveler's Wife, which was much less predictable and a more original story, but which I hated completely. It was boring, not compelling in the least, and completely unsatisfying at every turn in the storyline. Last Summer was only an average beach romance, but the author took care to let me fall in love along with the characters, and even knowing from page one that they would end up together I got upset with them when things got in their way. Wife kept me guessing and had higher stakes and was alllll about how "dizzyingly romantic" their story supposedly was, only I never cared. Not even a little bit.
So what do you think, flist? Would you rather read a unique story that's interesting by its nature, or a fairly stereotypical one that has nothing new way to say but has a better way to say it?
So, for some background, I went through a phase about a year and a half ago where I was absolutely in love with Wicked. I could have told you the best casts and where they were and whose interpretation of what song was the most interesting. But I got into Wicked because of this friend I had, and when we had our colossal falling out I felt a little like I'd had a falling out with things like Wicked that we'd sort of shared. So I was nervous beyond reason about going to the show, because I just...hadn't really touched Wicked in a pretty long time. And then literally during the opening notes it just hit me and I started to cry. Why did I stop loving this show for so long just because this friend stopped loving me? That's so not like me. How silly was I.
Anyway, the whole thing was incredible. Natalie Daradich was hysterical in act one and just the right amount wiser in act two, absolutely the perfect Glinda. She reminded me a lot of Megan Hilty, which is aaaaaahh such a good thing. I have endless Hilty love. Had. Have! Whatever. I love it when Glindas bring their own quirks to the part, and Natalie definitely did. She was adorable, obviously enjoyed the shallow parts without sacrificing the depth of that character.
I was hesitant about Vicki Noon but ohmygooosh then she saaaang. She was incredible. She played kind of a tentative Elphaba, which I loved; it made her "defining moments" more powerful than some Elphabas who are down sort of with a harshness all the way through. She was so incredulous during "The Wizard and I" and "As Long As You're Mine," which I don't even really like, and her "Defying Gravity" was more passionate than "SUCK IT" which I never understand, and ohmyGod I've always adored "No Good Deed" but when Vicki got to this point it was just like, oh God, she snapped. She played the part with an emotional clarity I think it's fair to say I've never seen or heard anyone else bring to it. And she and Natalie seemed to have an offstage chemistry that really helped their onstage relationship take on this really beautiful dynamic. Ahhhh, it was so good.
Fiyero was eh, but I've never felt like Fiyero was such a big part of the show anyway. For me he kind of serves to get "Dancing Through Life" rolling (that he did quite well, and what else can you ask from a Fiyero after all) and to give depth and dynamic to Glinda's and Elphaba's relationship. A decent Fiyero can't ruin a great rest-of-cast, for me. The Wizard was fine. Not Ben Vereen. I never expect much from a Wizard who's not Ben Vereen (whose version of Wonderful you should look up immediately if you're a Wicked fan at all).
So um, overall, 10/10. I hadn't expected it to be so different seeing it live; I honestly was amazed. I was touched for reasons I don't really feel I can put into words. Which is REALLY WEIRD for me. But it was incredible. I'm so happy I went. I'm happy I didn't let it get taken from me.
I just finished this book The Last Summer of You and Me, and it was all right. It was the same author as the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books, which I guiltily admit to having liked quite a lot. The Last Summer was basically a "more grownup" version with fewer characters to keep track of. It was pretty predictable and the story was nothing very new, but it was nicely written and it made me happy, and it didn't take much suspension of disbelief for me to believe in the characters as real people with real lives.
That's opposed to The Time Traveler's Wife, which was much less predictable and a more original story, but which I hated completely. It was boring, not compelling in the least, and completely unsatisfying at every turn in the storyline. Last Summer was only an average beach romance, but the author took care to let me fall in love along with the characters, and even knowing from page one that they would end up together I got upset with them when things got in their way. Wife kept me guessing and had higher stakes and was alllll about how "dizzyingly romantic" their story supposedly was, only I never cared. Not even a little bit.
So what do you think, flist? Would you rather read a unique story that's interesting by its nature, or a fairly stereotypical one that has nothing new way to say but has a better way to say it?
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no subject
Date: 2010-06-14 07:39 am (UTC)wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimeyconvoluted plot, if you don't care? I have to be invested. Which is one of the main reasons I vastly prefer Wicked the musical to Wicked the book. Gregory Macguire is all about "HEY, LOOK AT ALL THIS COOL STUFF I CAN DO. surprise!bestiality" but the musical is touching and perfect because it's a hell of a lot more simple and... well, a hell of a lot more YA, tbh.no subject
Date: 2010-06-14 03:32 pm (UTC)That is also, of course, why Doctor Who is so big for me. Timey-wimey PLUS a huge emotional investment! Serious love.
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Date: 2010-06-14 03:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-14 05:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-14 05:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-14 05:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-14 05:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-14 02:53 pm (UTC)For me, definitely going with character-love. It's what makes that particular story special. Of course, sometimes I am pleasantly surprised by the 'unique stories', so I'll be happy if I get that too.
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Date: 2010-06-14 03:39 pm (UTC)Yesssss, as I've said above, that's why Doctor Who is so far above everything else for me; unique plots plus an enormous emotional investment. ♥
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Date: 2010-06-15 04:10 am (UTC)I so agree with you about everything I can ;) I adored Natalie terribly much. Of all the "Popular"s I have seen (on YouTube, ahem), hers is tops. I love all the little things she did in that performance, in particular. So perfect. I did think Chris was nice. He was handsome, definitely looked the part. And he had excellent chemistry with Anne, although I don't know how he was with Vicki. And speaking of Vicki, I'm very interested to read what you had to say about her. I'm sad I didn't get the experience, and I seriously wish I could have had both, but I was so enraptured by Anne. She was my first (and probably only) Elphaba, yes, but she was also the Elphaba I needed, if that makes any sense. Her character choices were spot-on. Most importantly to me, she didn't ever feel untouchable, as many stage Actresses with a Capital A tend to come across. She had this intense vulnerability and wide-eyed innocence. (She was also sort of self-deprecating, which I totally am all the time.) But there was still so much passion and fierceness underneath. "The Wizard and I" was, I really feel, Anne's song. I never even paid it much attention until I heard her sing it ♥
Oops, sorry for the ramble! I just haven't gotten to geek out with anyone else :D
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Date: 2010-06-15 04:55 am (UTC)Yeah, my only (very minor) problem with Natalie was her take on Thank Goodness, or I Couldn't Be Happier, whatever it's called. She did so beautifully with Glinda's character at every other turn but I didn't feel quite the level of ache I expected. I was trying to find a Megan Hilty video for reference, but it seems all my Hilty youtube videos got taken down. Augh.
Ah, yeah, that's interesting. I definitely feel like each Elphaba has one song that defines her particular take on the character. For Vicki it felt like it was "No Good Deed," and it was kind of the same for me; I've always really liked that song but I'd never felt what it meant for the character as intensely until Vicki was in the middle of it. It was gorgeous.
No worries about the ramble! I was thrilled to see it! :D
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Date: 2010-06-15 05:08 am (UTC)Hmm, I'm trying to remember that part. But yep, I think I recall feeling there should have been more... something there. Overall, though, she was really quite marvelous, I thought.
Yeah, I heard she blew that number out of the water :) And I know it's really not a thing that can be recaptured on some crappy recording. Alas.
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Date: 2010-06-15 05:19 am (UTC)Yeah, I honestly will never feel the same about watching recordings. Even really nice ones. I had no idea how different it would be live! I mean, I know it would be different. I just didn't know how much more deeply it would hit. I'm sooo glad I can say things like that to someone who won't nod politely while looking at me funnily.
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Date: 2010-06-15 05:42 am (UTC)I never watched a recording of the show because I was SO determined to see it live. Being in chorus and having most of my friends being hugely into musical theatre, I probably learned 60 percent of the songs through pure exposure. But the thing as a whole, I had never experienced, and I'm kind of glad it was pretty much all new to me because all of it felt so big and exciting, and there was that beautiful, first-time emotional response that will never be matched again. I keep watching clips, hoping that it will keep the experience alive for me, as terribly cheese as that sounds, but it's just not the same. There is absolutely nothing like live theatre.
And I feel you. I like to go on and on about stuff like this, and most people just want you to tell them if you enjoyed the performance and that's all, thankyouverymuch.