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 Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 3:16 pm
PERFORMANCE
Performance Title:
Wicked
Genre:
Broadway musical
Starring:
Bret Andrews as a chorus member
Description:
Wicked is a musical about the untold story of Oz. Set before Dorothy sets foot on the yellow brook road, it tells the tale of two girls who grow up to be Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. The set, the costumes and the lighting all set the scene for the magical tale.
Bret joins the cast as a chorus member for two weeks while the original member recovers from a minor leg injury. She performs in many of the numbers, spanning the length of the show. Detailed below is one of the songs from the first act, One Short Day, in which the two main characters travel to the Emerald City.
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 4:24 pm
Though the other actors in the show had done many performances, it was opening night for Bret!! It had been so exciting, trying to learn the choreography and lyrics for the many number that she was in. So far the show had been going great! She found herself a bit out of breath more than usual, but she boiled that done to nerves. She was determined to give the best performance she could. The next number was one of her favorites from the whole show. Galinda and Elphaba, the two leads make their way to the Emerald City to visit and to see the Wizard. Before they meet the leader of Oz, they tour about the city, whilst other tourists and locals buzz around in the back. The song was energetic and infectious, and the costume had to be her favorite that she wore. A crazy Edwardian sort of get-up, it was all frills and lacy and layers. And all in dizzying shades of green. Her red hair was tightly curled and coiled up under a large hat, topped by a massive feather. If that wasn't green enough, a pair of green round shades sat on her nose. She held an equally emerald parasol in her hand, a prop she used in the dance.
Standing in the wings, she waited anxiously with the other actors for her entrance. The stage lights had flooded the stage with the one color you could imagine for it. Then it was time! She quietly sped over to her spot upstage between a few other actors. One actor, holding a ribbon, was one one knee a few paces ahead of them. As the curtain came up and the music started, he was the only one moving, twirling the ribbon. Then, after a deep breath, they began to sing in unison.
One short day
In the Emerald City
Still in a tight bunch, they moved about slowly, creating an almost alluring movement. They then stepped quickly forward, stood still for a moment, before moving slightly apart.
One short day
In the Emerald City...
Here began some intricate harmonies. They danced apart here, moving quickly about the stage. Bret rushed to the wings, tossed her parasol and grabbed a cane before running back on stage. Here she met with Robert, who she danced with as a couple for a few measures. She stuck to the choreography, swinging her cane and dancing with her partner. Both wore excited grins. They wanted to draw the crowd in. Along with another couple, they danced forward to the downstage area.
One short day
Full of so much to do
Ev'ry way
That you look in the city
There's something exquisite
You'll want to visit
Before the day's through...
They then exited off downstage stage right to drop their props and come back out upstage as Elphaba and Glinda ran downstage center singing.
ELPHABA:
There are buildings as tall as Quoxwood trees!
GALINDA:
Dress salons!
ELPHABA:
Libraries!
GALINDA:
Palaces!
ELPHABA:
Museums!
BOTH:
A hundred strong
There are wonders like I've never seen
GALINDA:
It's all grand
ELPHABA:
It is all green!
BOTH:
And I think we've found the place where we belong!
I wanna be
In this hoi polloi
ELPHABA:
So I'll be back for good someday
BOTH:
To make my life and make my way
But for today, we'll wander and enjoy...
During this time, the ensemble danced in the background, at times by themselves, and at times together in unison. A man rode across on a bike and then another across on a scooter. Bret danced at the back in a group of six and then eight. She took the time to breath for the next point she'd have to sing, but made sure to smile and keep it natural. It wasn't hard. She was having a blast!!
ALL:
One short day
In the Emerald City
One short day
To have a lifetime of fun
One short day
The chorus came back singing, everyone spread out onstage behind Glinda and Elphaba as they received green glasses of their own from another chorus member.
BOTH:
And we're warning the city
Now that we're in here
You'll know we've been here
ALL
Before we are done!
As the two girls sang again alone for a phrase, the chorus came together in a tight bunch before fanning back out slowly. After they joined in the last line, Bret and the other chorus members marched straight upstage as a curtain came down. The two leads shared a few spoken lines before the song continued. The curtain split to the sides to reveal the chorus in the back as three members came out front dressed in ridiculous costumes that reminded Bret of punching bags. The kids in the audience seemed to enjoy them as they hopped about on stage while the chorus sang.
WIZOMANIA CHORUS:
Who's the mage
Whose major itinerary
Is making all Oz merrier?
Who's the sage
Who's sagely sailed in to save our posteriors?
Whose enthuse for hot air ballooning
Has all of Oz honeymooning?
Woo - oo -oo
Wizn't he wonderful?
(Our wonderful Wizard!)
One short day / Who's the mage
In the Emerald City / Whose major itinerary
One short day / Is making all Oz merrier
To have a lifetime / Whose the sage who
Of fun / Sagely sailed in to save
What a way / Our posteriors
To be seeing the city
Then they all marched forward, the woman singing the main chorus, the men singing the Wizmania part together. It blended surprisingly well, having been written to do so. They spread completely out, and then quickly flooded back into a tight crowd upstage center as Glinda and Elphaba returned to being the focus downstage.
ELPHABA AND GALINDA
Where so many roam to
We'll call it home, too
And then, just like now
We can say:
We're just two friends
ELPHABA
Two good friends
GALINDA
Two best friends
As the two girls sang, the chorus slowly swayed in abstract movements before freezing as the song got quieter. The lights changed to warmer spots.
TOURISTS
Sharing one wonderful
One short...
As the chorus jumped in, they suddenly moved about the stage. Everyone paused as the guard came out for his line...
GUARD
(spoken) The Wizard will see you now!
Everyone unfroze to dance in unison as they held out the last line. The lights changed and everyone froze on the last beat. The scene left on the stage was a picturesque pose. Bret stood at front, just to the right of Glinda, left hand poised on the cane, right hand in the air, like most of the others.
ALL:
Day!
Applause rang through the audience. Bret was breathing rather heavily, as were a lot of the others, but she made sure not to show it as she held still, beginning to slow her heart rate and her breath down. The music resumed and Bret strutted offstage right, a grin spread across her face. Triumph!
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