Wicked 二度邂逅 @ Chicago

Wicked
When Lisa first told me that we were going to watch Wicked in Chicago, I was like: "What the hack is Wicked?" I have heard about Blair Witch Project (厄夜叢林) and Wretch (無名小站), but I know nothing about Wicked.

So, I googled the Internet and found that Wicked is a Broadway musical written by Stephen Schwartz, the composer and lyricist of The Prince of Egypt, one of my favorite animation music. I started to feel interested in the show. Few weeks before our departure, I got the CD and the music was way beyond amazing. As a result, I just totally could not wait to see the show. Without any surprise, Wicked turned out to be one of my favorite musicals.

It was November 25, 2005, the day after Thanksgiving and a very cold winter. Lisa, Bert, and I went to the show together. That was my first visit to Chicago, a very beautiful city. Three years later, at the end of summer 2008, Bert and I went to Chicago again. And for a second time, we went to Wicked. Since our last visit, Wicked has become the longest running Broadway musical in Chicago and has played more than 1,500 performances. The Chicago production of Wicked the Musical is one of the most popular theatrical events in the United States. If you visit to Chicago, you must go to Wicked.

Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, takes heart, humor, and warmth into a story of friendship and courage. We see how the green girl Elphaba and the blonde Galinda ended up as Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch of the North, both fall in love with the prince Fiyero. We also see how these two unexpected friends formed an eternal bond of friendship and how they changed each other in ways none of them could have imagined. "What if the Wicked Witch wasn’t really the wicked one?" asked by Gregory Maguire, the author of the novel. "Good" and "bad" will never be so simple, but it is "friendship" and "love" that matter.

"Remember the last time an original Broadway musical made you laugh, cry and think – in the right places and for the right reasons? Wicked is the most complete, and completely satisfying, new musical I’ve come across in a long time." – Elysa Gardner, Wicked Review USA Today

Wicked is the must-see musical in a lifetime. Everyone should be able to learn something out of this experience – at least learn how to look at your friends, or your enemies, in different ways. This is exactly what Elphaba and Glinda said to each other in their last song, For Good.

"I’ve heard it said That people come into our lives for a reason
 Bringing something we must learn
 And we are led To those who help us most to grow
 If we let them And we help them in return
 Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true
 But I know I’m who I am today Because I knew you…" – Glinda

"It well may be That we will never meet again In this lifetime
 So let me say before we part
 So much of me Is made of what I learned from you
 You’ll be with me Like a handprint on my heart
 And now whatever way our stories end
 I know you have re-written mine
 By being my friend…" – Elphaba

"Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
 But because I knew you I have been changed for good" – both

	"The Wizard and I" by Elphaba Idina Menzel received the 2004 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress for her portrayal of Elphaba. http://cid-b8c72f070f38da1c.skydrive.live.com/embedrowdetail.aspx/Public/TheWizardandI.mp3
	"Defying Gravity" by Elphaba and Glinda Leaving Glinda behind, Elphaba rises into the sky on the broomstick, promising to fight the Wizard with all of her power. This song is simply rocks! http://cid-b8c72f070f38da1c.skydrive.live.com/embedrowdetail.aspx/Public/DefyingGravity.mp3
	"As Long As You’re Mine" by Elphaba and Fiyero As Long As You’re Mine is the love theme. You probably will think that this is a movie’s theme rather than a broadway music. You are right about this. Don’t forget that Stephen Schwartz is also a movie soundtrack composer. He can easily integrate thematic film score into any music. http://cid-b8c72f070f38da1c.skydrive.live.com/embedrowdetail.aspx/Public/AsLongasYou|4reMine.mp3
	"For Good" by Elphaba and Glinda Elphaba makes Glinda promise not to clear her name and to take charge in Oz. She agrees, and the two confirm a true friendship. http://cid-b8c72f070f38da1c.skydrive.live.com/embedrowdetail.aspx/Public/ForGood.mp3

Chicago
Chicago is perhaps my number one beautiful city in the United States.

There are some other big cities, such as New York and Los Angeles. However, I am not a fan of the Big Apple, and Los Angeles cannot compare at all with either New York or Chicago. San Francisco is another beautiful city, but Chicago is full of history that none of the major cities in the West Coast can match.

The Great Chicago Fire destroyed the city in 1871. Modern architecture boomed after the disaster and quickly turned Chicago into one of the world’s largest cities and the pioneer of modern architecture. In Chicago, you can find so many buildings that are unique and have their own meanings.

Sears Tower is now the tallest building in the United States. You can see the entire Chicago city up there. However, if you prefer a beautiful night view, John Hancock Center is probably a better choice.

View Chicago Album

There are so many places in the United States, even in the world, that await you to visit. The chance of visiting a cit three times is very small. It’s very likely that I will never step foot again in Chicago. However, if I ever have a chance to visit Chicago again, I will definitely go Wicked for a third time.