Wicked ...

Great, from Endless Love to "Wicked" you say! What have these Greens done, have they turned to the dark side? I heard they were goin' to New York. And now, this! Next thing you know, they'll be goin' to a Yankees game, for Heaven's sake. What's this wicked about anyway? "And there, the wicked old witch stayed for a good long time. And did she ever come out? Not yet." Ah, the truth finally comes out about the wicked witch and the good witch.



Now, before you get all worked up and start wonderin', Wicked is a Broadway play presented each night at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway and 51st in New York City. Connie asked to come to New York to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and I picked the play Wicked to fill our Saturday evening dance card. It helped that I had seen the play before, in New York, and knew how good it was. Austin and I saw the play two years ago with his Beta Club and so we knew that Connie would like it.



The play explains how the wicked witch became the wicked witch and how the good witch became the good witch in the Wizard of Oz. Of course, it's all imagination, everybody knows that the wicked witch was always the wicked witch - and those monkeys in Oz, didn't they scare you too. The live ones in Wicked tonight still gave me the heebies! Funny thing was, there was only passing mention of Dorothy and her dog dodo (er, Toto). Something about the wicked witch having a desire for those little red shoes. Oh, the play also explains how the lion lost his courage, the tin man lost his heart, and the scarecrow lost his mind! You gotta see this sometime.

Wicked good, these performers are (I'm beginning to sound a little like Yoda?) The show was every bit as good this time as last, even though the main characters had changed. Austin still remembers Kristin Chenowith and Idina Menzel from his trip. Kristin Chenowith had this amazing voice. This time, the main characters were played by Dee Risciole and Erin Mackey. God has given these performers so much talent it's unbelievable and yet we found out tonight after the show how 'down to earth' and humble they are.

"Erin Mackey - Glinda (pronounced guh linda) the Good Witch"

We happened to come out of the theatre pretty much last (I had gone down to see the orchestra pit and to thank the musicians) and walked right past the stage exit for the performers. Kristin and Erin soon emerged and signed autographs. There weren't many people hanging around, so we decided to get an autograph ourselves and see what these talented ladies were really like. It turns out they were very nice, especially to the little girl next to us. They distracted the little girl, while Connie made off with her little American Girl dolls - I'm still waiting on a knock at the door from NYPD. I'm just kidding, Connie didn't steal any dolls - I think. Interestingly, after signing autographs, Kristin and Erin just walked off into the night - no fanfare, no handlers, no entourage, or anything, just walked down Broadway and disappeared into the crowd.

"Elphaba - the Wicked Witch - Connie took the photo, so I'm not in trouble, am I sweetheart?, Saks Fifth Ave, OK. Macy's, OK."

If you ever get a chance to see a Broadway show, take it - I assure you that it'll be something you'll remember forever if you have an appreciation for the amazing vocal and acting talents God has given some. Thank you God for giving these talents to some to entertain us and may you continue to bless them each and every day as they do so.

Tomorrow, Statue of Liberty and Fifth Avenue (Dave Ramsay, I'll need a refresher course after that!)

Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart. Hope you liked the show!

God Bless You,
Jerry, Connie, Austin, Lily Grace, and Lia Faith
Green, Party of Five ... Wicked!