Magically Blonde

Today is our (P +I) 4th anniversary. To have some idea how crazy this ride has been, you have to know something about how we decided to go “steady” in the first place.

First, Kill Bill, Vol. 1 opened, which we saw in Brooklyn Heights that night. Second, we had Italian food. Third, we somehow went into the city to a bar in the Union Square area. Defenses down, I believe that we were on a bus headed downtown where it happened.

Fast forward four years, and we’re half an hour early for the musical Wicked, which P- has been bugging me to get tickets for, and I finally got her for her birthday this year. A few obstacles came up threatening our attendence. I re-injured my ankle – the same one that I messed up in Toronto – last weekend, and I’m still limping around. P- has been recovering from one of those change of weather sniffles, as well as taking time out to review movies at the New York Film Festival. To top it all off, a Broadway strike/lockout threatened to prevent the show from going on.

Well, the show did go on, and it was magnificent.  As you may know, Wicked is the back story of the Wizard of Oz from the point of view of Elphaba, otherwise known as the Wicked Witch of the West (not easy being green), and her best friend from school, Glenda the Good Witch of the North, who is portrayed as a magical Elle Woods (Legally Blonde). We won’t get into spoilers, but so many questions of the characters’ origins are answered. The songs are well crafted, somehow managing to get exposition out of every verse.  At the close, it seems that the cast truly enjoys each other. If there were strife backstage and in the boardrooms, it sure didn’t show in the front of the house and in the capacity audience. Recommended.

Afterwards, we went to Ellen’s Stardust Diner down the street. They have singing wait staff whose range goes from opera to Kelly Clarkson. I had chicken soup and a philly cheese steak sandwich, while P- had a turkey burger and an orange shake. Not bad. We ended up closing out the place. A little pricey, but Recommended – these people have to support their acting habit.

The countdown begins … T-1 year to the big day. We’re checking out the church on Sunday.