June 22, 2006
Last night E.S. and I finally saw Wicked, the musical adaptation by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman of the novel about how the Wicked Witch of the West got to be wicked, be a witch, and live in the west. The Wicked Witch (who in the book and the musical is named Elphaba; this may in fact be her name in the Oz books but I've never read them so I don't know) and Glinda the Good meet in college, where they share a room and get to be friends. Glinda is of course graceful, charming, and beautiful while Elphaba is awkward, off-putting, and green.
During intermission, E.S. and I were talking about how much we loved the show. "At least now we know what we're going as for Hallowe'en," I said.
"Didn't everybody already do that last year?" he asked.
"Hmph," I said. "Well, I don't care. The only question is which of us is going to be Glinda and which is going to be Elphaba."
"Oh, please," he snorted. "Everybody knows I'm Glinda and you're Elphaba." I gasped, I called him a bitch, and then the lights dimmed to indicate the imminent start of the second act.
Afterwards, we revisited the issue on the subway home. "Maybe you are Glinda," he said, "and I'm Elphaba."
This wasn't much better, given that Glinda is annoying and untalented. "Why do you say that?" I asked, my eyes narrowed.
"Just to annoy you."
"That's it," I said. "I'm Glinda and Elphaba."
"Then who am I?"
I thought for a moment. "You can be Elphaba's paraplegic sister Nessarose."
"Do you want me to drop a house on you?"
Then I spent the rest of the evening calling him "Nessa" until he made me stop.
Posted by Faustus, MD at 06:48 AM
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Comments
1) campbell said (on 06/22/06 at 07:10 AM):
College roomates? I thought they were sisters. I stand open to correction.
Also I'd have just dropped the house on you without asking; he's obviously terrifically forbearing.
C
2) Lauren said (on 06/22/06 at 08:52 AM):
Campbell: They're college roommates with benefits.
- Anyway, she's not untalented in the book. Not that the book has anything whatsoever to do with the musical.
3) David said (on 06/22/06 at 08:55 AM):
How did he make you stop?
4) Travis said (on 06/22/06 at 12:09 PM):
You crack me up.
Travis
5) Sin said (on 06/22/06 at 01:17 PM):
Look, does it really matter what your names are? The real issue is, who has control over the winged monkeys?
6) David said (on 06/22/06 at 01:42 PM):
Shoot, the other David beat me to it.
I'm relieved you liked the musical. I don't know how I would have dealt with your contempt of something I enjoyed so much.
7) Jere ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.joelderfner.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
said (on 06/22/06 at 02:10 PM):
The name Elphaba for the Wicked Witch of the West was invented by Gregory Maguire, the author of the novel WICKED, on which the musical is nominally based.
Maguire's purpose was to honour the author of the original OZ books, L. Frank Baum, and the name is a sort of stylized corruption of his. EL-PHA-BA.
I remember this information from the myriad interviews he gave around the time of the musical's opening. Apparently, he's very happy with the show, but, since the show discards most of his actual work, my theory is that what he's actually happy with are the checks that roll in on regular basis. I guess I can't blame him for that.
He bears NO responsibility for the bloated sequin that shares the name of his very interesting novel.
8) hot toddy said (on 06/22/06 at 04:10 PM):
Do you really need to be told by another person how FUNNY and CUTE you guys are?
Okay.
You guys are so funny and cute :)
9) KB said (on 06/22/06 at 11:06 PM):
Oh Lord - Please please tell me that you only said you and E.S. loved WICKED in order to have a new starting point for yet another clever tale demonstrating your obsessive need to *always* be the most popular, fun, interesting gay boy on the block at any given moment.
You, of course, may e-mail me privately to tell me your honest and true feelings about WICKED so as not to blow your cover here on Adorably Clever and Witty Blog 101.
Though I'm not sure which is more damaging to your credibility and integrity: admitting you lied for the sake of yet another adorably clever and witty blog entry - or letting everyone think you actually did love that piece of overblown, over-sung watered-down bit of musical (and I use that term loosely) theatre tripe that will seemingly be kept alive forever by the never-ending hordes of naive and idealistic pre-pubescent girls who identify with the central friendship only to wake up one day not far from today, smite their foreheads, and scream "WHAT was I thinking?!"
Perhaps I'LL have to drop a house on you, too...
10) tim said (on 06/23/06 at 12:07 AM):
...I'm flying high, defying gravity... kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity...
I love love love love love the musical. I also adored the book so much I read it twice. Plus now, there is a sequel to it.
11) Brian said (on 06/23/06 at 01:05 PM):
Ugh, you liked Wicked? You might as well join the gay men's chorus and lose all sexual appeal.
12) Paul said (on 06/24/06 at 12:15 AM):
Nessarose? :) Damn, sounds like an interesting plot - should really get the book.
Paul
13) wilde said (on 06/25/06 at 06:21 PM):
Seems ya gotta lot of controversy here about this musical. Didn't see it in NY but it's touring here in Philly. Worth going? Or should I throw a pail of water on the theatre. Hey, anyone who can sing that role has got to have chops, Besides, "It Ain't Easy Being Green."
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