Just outside the CCP
It's all about Wicked in the Cultural Center of the Philippines. There's even the Oz Dust Boutique in the lobby. They have shirts, caps, key chains, magnets, the original Broadway cast soundtrack, a flying monkey stuffed toy, and of course, the programme which I got for P500. Worth it. I bought the CCP binoculars just before entering the theater for P75.
The Oz Dust Botique. A bit pricey, but you HAVE GOT to get some souvenirs.
The Time Dragon welcomed us on the show. The balcony is so high that my friend was terrified when we were asked to stand up for the National Anthem. Then the Oz map curtain rose, the Time Dragon came to life, and the epic intro of "No One Mourns the Wicked" begins.
Meet the Time Dragon.
Here are some of the things that I loved on the musical (Spoilers, of course):
- Glinda's entrance on a bubble
- Elphaba's flashback entrance
- The whole "What Is This Feeling?" performance
- Was that a guy in a skirt?
- Elphaba's dance - and everything that came afterwards
- Populer -lar. Toss, toss!
- I'm Not That Girl and One Short Day
- That one perfect Defying Gravity moment
- Glinda's heartbreak on Thank Goodness and I'm Not That Girl (Reprise)
- Nessa and Boq
- The set change to Dorothy's house. (What? I just blinked!)
- The witches' face-off and "Let the green girl go."
- Elphaba's wicked badassness on No Good Deed
- For Good
- Glinda's last line and every moment afterwards. "Who can say if I've been changed for the better?"
Musical theater is totally a different experience. The set itself, the orchestra, the cast, and everything in it makes everything alive; and they're doing it all real-time both backstage and right in front of your eyes. The quick costume and set changes are just amazing. We're so high up that but still we got to see it properly. I only used the binoculars for serious scenes where the play is focusing on just one character.
The lobby just after the show
Overall, it's a one of a kind experience - it's a first for me to see a blockbuster musical performed by an international cast, and it's so great, I'd have to find a better word for amazing.
