What I love about London (Part 2)

This, in all respects, is my number one reason why i love London. Musicals. The West End.

"The songs are the heart and soul of the musical..."

And top of my list is "Wicked".



I have watched Wicked 4 times in 15 months because it is one of those musicals where you walk out trying to remember as many songs as you can because they were all meaningful and memorable.

Wicked is the untold story about the Wizard of Oz. Its basically about the relationship between two reluctant roommates in school and about friendship and about life; about how life isn't always what it is and how your dreams really aren't all what they seem.

My favourite song from the musical is "For Good" because it is a turning point for the two witches when they come together and realise their lives have to take a different path.

For Good

(Elphaba):
I'm limited
Just look at me - I'm limited
And just look at you
You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda
So now it's up to you
For both of us - now it's up to you...

(Glinda):
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...

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

(Elphaba):
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...

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you

(Glinda):
Because I knew you

(Both):
I have been changed for good
(Elphaba):
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for

(Glinda):
But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share
(Both):
And none of it seems to matter anymore

(Glinda):
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood

(Elphaba):
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood

(Both):
Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better

(Glinda):
And because I knew you...

(Elphaba):
Because I knew you...

(Both):
Because I knew you...
I have been changed for good...

~~~

Les Miserables

Top of Dave's list is Les Miz. This is a close second for me, but it appeals for different reasons.

There are 2 camps - one camp loves Les Mis and the other, Phantom. We're in the Les Miz camp. Les Miz is an epic. I will never tire of watching it. Its grandeur themes of loyalty and friendship are explored in a very traditional age-old scale but i feel it is less accessible as it will be loved because you will stand in awe of the barricades, of the anthems and solos such as "One Day More" and "Who am I". But it is amazing to watch over and over. I have watched this at least 7 times in the last 10 years and I am still moved to tears when Eponine and Fantine join Valjean in the finale.

We love this so much I got Dave backstage passes to the show (through Red Letter Days) for his Christmas present. But the present turned out more for me since i got the chance to wear the Cosette costume (which was super heavy) and swish around! They let us try on quite a few costumes and then brought us to the set.

You wouldn't believe how absolutely small the backstage area is. Its less than 1 metre wide on both sides of the stage!!

~~~

There aren't close 3rds, 4ths or 5ths. But if you are making a trip to London and have already watched the musicals above, the ones you could consider are (in no particular order):

Love Never Dies

This is Andrew Lloyd Weber's sequel to Phantom of the Opera and is set in New York. It hasn't got rave reviews but i put that down to high expectations of any sequel - everyone expecting a sequel to have knocked them off their feet just as the original did. We're watching it later on in April and will be able to tell you how it went after that!

Billy Elliot

The 9 year old boy who plays Billy Elliot has magic feet. The music was forgettable but the dancing was spectacular.

The Lion King

I love the costumes and the Disney music. How they make the "lion" wear a mask so that he can fight as a lion, then lift his mask gently over his head so he can sing.... And the leopard lady with a leopard body and puppet sticks.... very impressive.

And its Disney. You know how i love Disney. And if you don't, now you do. Enough said.

Oliver

The set is like a playhouse - it has 3 tiers at one point and the boys look like they're having so much fun. Even if you have already watched Oliver before, you should catch the Drury Lane version. The accent is difficult to understand at times when they sing particularly but all in all, it is worth watching.

Other musicals (Still showing)

Thought it would kinda cool to list out every musical we've watched in London together:

• Avenue Q
• Chicago
• Blood Brothers
• Mamma Mia

Other musicals (No longer running)

• Miss Saigon (twice!) - real pity this stopped running
• Beauty and the Beast (3 times!!!) - the 1st time on our first date too. :) He knew the Disney way into my heart :)))
• Starlight Express - real pity this ended too. It was so fun!
• Martin Guerre
• Jesus Christ Superstar
• Rent
• Sunset Boulevard (although this i watched with my parents, not Dave)
• My Fair Lady
• Witches of Eastwick

Guess this is another reason why we came back...