~ Curious Charlie ~

A Trip Down the Yellow Brick Road @ Wednesday, June 22, 2016

The Wizard of Oz is among L. Frank Baum's greatest works, an American Classic with an iconic 1939 musical film adaptation, staring the amazing Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale (we also loved her in 'Meet Me in St. Louis' (1944)). Overtime its been retold from different perspectives and slightly altered, there are many versions.

Starting with the must see 1939 musical film adaptation with Glinda the Good is a huge pink dress and equally huge puffy sleeves and headpiece. It's quite rare to see a headpiece as big as the dress!

We do believe that it was all a dream Dorothy's trip to Oz. That or she was tripping. Ian once told me one of his biggest peeves was when someone ends the story as if it were a dream, or that its not real. Imagine if Harry Potter woke up in the cupboard under the stairs at the end of the series!

Evil isn't so pretty said the first film. Le beau called it the ultimate chick flick, two girls fighting over a pair of shoes. XD Dorothy wanted them to get home (after she was told they'd get her home), the witch wanted them because they were magical?

The wizard is meant to be the ultimate source of power, though he's just a magician!

2003 saw 'Oz the Great and Powerful' which centers on the magician "wizard" who uses science. 1905 Kansas, Oscar Diggs works as a magician in a traveling circus, he travels to Oz through a storm in a hot air balloon. Interesting and magical stuff happens, he develops as a person, and comes home. There's stunning sets along the way and views.

The wizard is based more on Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.
accidentally transported (back in time to the court of King Arthur) to another realm, where he fools the inhabitants of that time into thinking he is a (magician) wizard, Oz the Great and Powerful and uses his knowledge of modern technology as magic.

The wizard is a mere mortal, though the three witches all possess magic. It also shows that holding your magic all in one object, say a wand or amulet is the worst idea ever.

In OUAT the main antagonist for the second half of the third season, is Zelena (Wicked Witch of the West). The Evil Queen (Snow White)'s half sister and daughter to the Miller's Daughter (Rumplestiltskin). She discovers the wizard is more of a magician and turns him into a flying monkey, with a task to watch Emma.

Like in Oz, Zelena holds her power in an amulet she wears. Evil vs Wicked.

The iconic glitter shoes make a scene, as one of the many items used to travel between portals. The others been the Giant's Beans, Merlin's Box and The Mad Hatter's Hat.

In L. Frank Baum's original novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), on which the film is based, Dorothy wears Silver Shoes. However, the color of the shoes was changed to red in order to take full advantage of the new Technicolor film process being used in big-budget Hollywood films of that era.

Or any drinks in fact! You can spike water and it wouldn't taste any different. Also beware of hot chocolate, something we studied in law.

Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz, the 2003 Broadway Musical starred Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda (Pushing Daisies, GCB, West Wing) and Idina Menzel as Elphaba (Frozen, Rachel's Mom in Glee). That would have an experience of a lifetime.

The musical is told from the perspective of the witches (Glinda & Elphaba) of the Land of Oz; its plot begins before (Act 1) and continues after Dorothy's arrival in Oz from Kansas (Act 2), and it includes several references to the 1939 film and Baum's novel.

We saw CLOC's performance on Thursday 19th May and it awesome! I think I prefer Glinda's princess styled dress over the original bubble dress. The wizard was freaky, a giant golden face. Everyone wore wigs, the school Shiz reminded me of Monster's High with the ragged goth/mis match but in color themed uniform.

Elphaba stole her best friends' guy so Glibda accidentally got Elffie's sister the Wicked Witch of the East killed indirectly. The story goes on to cover Dorothy's arrival in Oz, and beyond. Everyone thinks she's dead but Elphaba lives! Together with Fiyero now a scarecrow they leave Oz. Unknown to Glinda, who goes on to rule oz, it's implied.

Madame Morrible had a Japanese x Bird themed outfit and a personality as loud to match. Later she'd change her hair to blonde. I swear she's meant to be a bird or something, maybe she can transform into one? Or it's a reflection on governing systems.

Madame Morrible as PR Madame aka Spin Doctor to the Wizard

Yes we do want to be dancing through life! Unfortunately I can't keep in time to the beat though... We loved the music! I haven't seen Wicked before when it was in Melbourne, but have heard the two main songs: Defying Gravity and Popular. Loved Fiyero's dance song, and the actor was quite attractive from afar. Not sure about that Flynn Ryder-esque outfit though, white shirt, red vest and cream pants.

OzDust Ballroom - Monster's High meets Nightmare Before Christmas

Popular

Another Day in the Emerald City - Like in the Hunger Games, it's the city that's fashionable.

The costume on the left was a favourite, with a corset like bodice and sequin train. Yes I have stepped on the train/cape and slipped before on stage. Almost the entire cast wore wigs!

One unique headpiece, but what is it?

But how does it stay on?! Oh look a pirate.

The most impressive headpiece was the gear piece, steampunk. Sadly couldn't find a better angle. It's a full on wheels, how does it stay on?

There's a bit of Regency style here.

I hope you're happy in the end, my friend.

Madame Mayor?

The Wicked Witch of the East

The Iconic Shoes

Water will melt her they say!

We had great seats on the left block in the aisle. At $50 it was definitely worth it. CLOC is the largest non-professional theatre and they put on two musicals each year. Tickets are cheaper than at the profession theatres (around $100 with three sets of fees), and it's a great high quality experience.

Have you seen Wicked?