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A Wicked Trip: Bonna L. Nelson
A Wicked Trip
by Bonna L. Nelson
Dressed in Girl Scout (GS)-green knit caps and black hoodies emblazoned with a green witch on the front provided by one of their troop leaders, Mrs. Shannon, the girls were chattering with excitement. The middle school-aged young ladies were waiting in small groups in the parking lot of the Maryland Girl Scout Headquarters north of Woodlawn, Maryland. Two coach buses were on their way to transport the GSs, troop leaders, assistants, mothers and grandmothers to New York City (NYC).
Broadway was reopening after the long Covid hiatus, and we were excited to be heading there. My daughter, Holly, and I settled in for a four-hour ride seated together near the front, while granddaughter Bella sat in the back with her friends. It was a surprisingly quiet (considering the age of most of our companions) and comfortable ride. After a bit of conversation, a bit of reading, a bit of snacking and a bit of napping, we arrived.
I brought along some reading related to our trip and acquired some Broadway knowledge during my reading time. Broadway productions are those showing in the 41 large theaters located around Times Square, NYC, with each theater housing 500 or more seats. Broadway is the thoroughfare that traverses the length of Manhattan. It is the longest street not only in NYC, but in the world. The theaters are mostly clustered near the middle of Broadway and its numbered cross streets in midtown Manhattan, according to Lonely Planet New York, www.britannica. com and Wikipedia.
I learned that Broadway and London’s West End together represent the highest commercial level of live theater in the English-speaking world. This makes Broadway a ma-
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jor tourist destination, with a total attendance of close to 15 million in the 2018-2019 season and with shows grossing close to $2 billion for the mostly musical theatrical productions.
New York theater had its beginnings in the 1750s with productions of Shakespeare and ballad operas until around 1850, when theater moved from downtown NYC to midtown Manhattan accompanied by the arrival of musicals. More theaters were built in the Times Square/ Broadway area in the early 1900s.
The internationally known Times Square, the hub of the Broadway Theater District, is one of the world’s most visited tourist attractions, with an estimated 50 million visitors an-
nually. It was named for the famous newspaper that is still located there ~ The New York Times. It is also fondly called “The Great White Way,” after its bright lights, as well as “The Crossroads of the World.”
Our first stop in NYC was at our hotel, M Social Times Square New York, a busy, modern structure with an amazingly efficient check-in system. The 64 passengers on our two buses were dispatched to our rooms in a matter of minutes. The space was fresh, quiet and inviting. We quickly dropped our luggage in the room, refreshed and met our GS troop for dinner and shopping in Times Square. I was impressed that the GSs accommodated us in a perfect location for exploring on foot without needing to take a taxi and within walking distance of the Broadway Theater District.
Our well-organized troop leader, Mrs. Shannon, and other seasoned GS moms led our group of GSs and adults to Junior’s, on Broadway and 49th Street, near the hotel. Junior’s is bustling but accessible, with just a short wait. It has the appearance of an upscale soda fountain. We were led to two large semi-circular booths next to each other, one for the young girls and one for us older girls. We enjoyed Reuben sandwiches, burgers, milkshakes and cheesecake, and the service was quick and efficient.
Afterward, we followed the group to nearby shops, including the souvenir shop “I (heart) NY,” where the girls shopped for NYC trinkets, keychains, stuffed animals, etc. Back at the hotel, Mrs. Shannon hosted a little party for the young ones in one room and the adults in another, until about midnight. I must admit that this adult crashed and was sound asleep by ten!
After indulging in a delicious Italian breakfast from Angelina’s Bakery, we strolled down Broadway past theaters proudly announcing their productions on large billboards. The first we passed was for The Music Man, starring Hugh Jackman at the Winter Garden Theatre. I would love to see that.
We were headed to lunch at noon and to the theater at two. But first some of us stopped for a brief respite in Bryant Park, a lovely 9.6-acre public green space, while others continued their shopping spree. I had trouble keeping up with the young ones. I was probably one of the oldest gals on the trip but was grateful to be there and to find a bench in the park.
We caught up with the entourage at a famous NYC Italian restaurant, Tony’s Di Napoli. The GSs and adults mixed and mingled at this meal, and Holly and I ended up with our troop’s leaders and moms and GSs from various troops. Many of our girls were eating with girls from other troops and troop leaders. Good for them, I say, independent! We stuffed ourselves with authentic Italian delights, including lasagna and chicken parmesan with crusty Italian bread followed by luscious tiramisu and cannoli. A glass of red wine fortified me for the speed walk, or half run, to the next destination.
This is where the most “wicked” part of the trip begins. You have
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probably guessed by now that we were headed to see the wonderful musical Wicked (The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz) at the Gershwin Theatre, named in honor of one of America’s greatest composers, George Gershwin, and his brother, lyricist Ira Gershwin. The Gershwin, on West 50th between Broadway and 8th, opened in 1972 with 1,900 seats. Fully masked, we showed our tickets, required ID and CDC Covid vaccination cards and rushed breathlessly to our plush seats located in the front side mezzanine, ready for the show to begin. Our view of the stage and scenery was amazing.
The origins of the Broadway musical version of Wicked get a bit complicated, as it is based on numerous books and a movie. I will try my best to unwrap its origins. Wicked is a fabulous prequel and a retelling of the popular 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum and the 1939 Metro Goldwyn Mayer film based on Baum’s novel, The Wizard of Oz. The musical Wicked is set in Oz leading up to the arrival of Dorothy and Toto from Kansas. The longrunning, award-winning Broadway production follows the friendship between two young girls, Elphaba ~ smart, fiery, misunderstood and green skinned ~ and Glinda ~ beautiful, ambitious and popular. They grow up to be the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda, the Good Witch, characters from Baum’s treasured book.
The show is based on the bestselling 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, a prequel based on Baum’s setting, story and characters. It has been described as a political, social and ethical commentary on the nature of good and evil. Maguire wanted to imagine how the two witches evolved, and so he created their childhoods and friendships to explain their personas in the land of Oz. Some of Baum’s original characters ~ including the Wizard, Dorothy, the Scarecrow and the Tin Man ~ appear, but there are also new characters. Spoiler alert: Maguire devised a happier and romantic ending for the Wicked Witch.
With music and lyrics by Stephen Swartz and book by Winnie Holzman, the musical premiered
in May 2003. The universal themes of good and evil, lies and truths, betrayal and loyalty, power and corrupt governments are explored in the relationship between Elphaba (name created from the phonetic sounds of L. Frank Baum, el-fa-ba) and Glinda. It is a romance, comedy and drama all rolled into one that explores the notion that things are not always as they seem on the surface.
Emerald green dominates in the scenery, costumes and the Wicked Witch’s coloring. Visually appealing sets and creative costumes combined with outstanding acting and singing keep audiences applauding and returning for repeat performances.
The themes of good versus evil, lies versus truths and government corruption in the musical carried over onto the streets of Times Square that day. Folks were gathered with posters and signs announcing their support for Ukraine and denouncing the invasion of that country by Russia. Ukrainian fl ags of blue and yellow were waving in the breeze, and there was music from a few musicians and singers in the crowd. Life refl ected in theater, or theater refl ected in life?
A few of my favorite quotes from Wicked by Stephen Schwartz include:
Some things I cannot change, but ’til I try I’ll never know.
Everyone deserves a chance to fl y.
It’s just life, so keep dancing through.
Well-known theater and movie actors Idina Menzel, starring as Elphaba (for which she won a Tony Award), Kristin Chenoweth, originating the role of Glinda (for which she was nominated for a Tony) and Joel Grey, playing the Wizard of Oz, headlined the early productions. The show won two other Tony Awards. The production accrued 64 Tony nominations in 8 years and is one of Broadway’s highest-grossing musicals! In a first for the production, a Black actress,