#✦ › RE : DR. DILLAMOND

[westfae]

TAG DROP : characters

[andnow-werebel]

First Badge, progress: The Critic.

(... and I'm bending the rules to include film reviews so I get actually get started.)

Film: Wicked Art: Scrapbook ★★★★☆

Holding space for this film and all its whimsy. As a teenager I was a big theatre nerd for this musical and felt those pangs of nostalgia when I learnt it was coming to the big screen. It was a very enjoyable experience (and I would like to give it a re-watch). Grande and Enrivo are powerhouses in their own right and fully held the world in their pink and green hands. It has made me very excited for part 2 - knowing things are going to get a lot more gritty and raw. My review is mostly consisting of visuals and vocals rather than story. Having seen the musical and read the book I think that the film is doing a grand job of providing equal measures from what content is available. Memorable moments included: The reworking of popular First looks at Shiz Defying Gravity The Emerald City Those costumes! This is probably the scene that stuck with me most vividly as Grande did an excellent job of injecting the right amount of silliness and intensity into Glinda. It was nice to be invited into these scenes close up as opposed to being far away on a stage. Seeing the micro expressions of resentment, grief, longing and joy throughout intensified the character relationships. No one mourns the wicked was chilling - and then they wheel out the giant wicker-witch - ooft. I thought that the construction of Shiz and its surrounds were beautiful - truly magical. The scene of Elphaba within the coloured glass was breathtaking. With the boat arrival towards the granduer of Shiz it felt reminiscent of other magical schools but with an added whimsy of animal teachers and quirky uniforms. Enviro's rendition of Defying Gravity was gorgeous. It amplified an already epic song and she did it proud. Visuals wonderful. Goose-bump causing vocals. The Emerald City was stunning. I did let out a small theatre kid squeak at Chenowoth and Menzel ... they may have overstayed their welcome a tad too long in my opinion. More of an Easter basket than an Easter egg - but fun non-the-less. I think a few moments and characters needed a little more screen time to build their importance - notably Dr Dillamond. I am looking forward to see how they handle Nessa's arc and the relationships between Glinda, Elphaba and Fiero. Visually the film is an absolute delight. Each shot is art and does the franchise justice.

[thewomaninlilywhite]

My thoughts on Wicked Part One

Disclaimer: unfortunately, the 3 scenes I judge a production of Wicked on (WWotE, Cat Fight, ALAYM) are all in part two... so, as much as I enjoyed this first part, I am hesitant to get my hopes up.

That being said, the production itself was incredible--set, costumes*, lighting: chef's kiss--the orchestrations gave me chills, the end of defying gravity was even better than I had expected; overall 10/10

*I would have liked them to keep the black and white costumes for Ozdust because that's my FAVOURITE scene (visually) from the musical; and I love the bit of Glinda and Nessa being the only ones in pink (albeit Nessa in a lighter shade; re: her paling in comparison to Galinda in Boq's eyes)

I loved the opening so much

Glad (as a sex repulsed ace) Melena's affair wasn't overly sexualised (I hope this holds true to ALAYM since that's one of my fave songs)

Little Elphie and little Nessa!! (Idk about young Nessa but I love how they actually cast a disabled actress as grown-up Nessa)

Also using Dulcibear as a means of how Elphie takes to the plight of Animals, aside the obvious fact that she's used to being "othered"

(Obvs this character is based on Nanny, but is there a similar character/character with this name in the WWOO books? I've never actually read them)

I like the addition of the Headmistress character; I think it helps abate Madame Morrible's power to make her working with the wizard more of a twist

Genuinely love how dorky/quirky Cynthia made Elphie; Wizard and I might have been the highlight song/scene for me

I liked Nessa but her voice seemed kinda weak so I'm curious how she's gonna be in act two (I had the same opinion of the woman who played the role last time I saw the show on Broadway, and her WWotE became one of my faves so there is hope!!)

I really liked Fiyero riding a Horse, and treating him like a fellow sentient being. It was a little detail that I think gives more depth to his choice to help Elphaba with the cub/her trusting him with the cub

WiTF and Popular were somehow gayer than the stage version which was *chefs kiss*

Also short Elphie my beloved. As someone who is only 5' tall and always identified more with Elphie, I always hc'd her as tiny, even though she's supposed to be tall lol

The subtle accessibility alterations in Dr Dillamond's hut that don't really exist in his classroom (there's a statement here if you wanna write it -- I don't I'm still sick and very tired)

As for the Cameo in OSD -- exactly who I figured it was referring to when I saw people being like "don't spoil the cameo", but way more featured than I'd expected. I wish the story was more based on Oz lore though -- maybe making them Lurline and Ozma instead of just "the wise ones" -- it made the whole thing sound kinda forced

Things from the book I was hoping made the film, since I heard people saying they were incorporating elements from it???:

Boq and Elphie knowing each other as kids

Dr Dillamond dying ???

Dr Nikidik being NAMED

Fiyero versus the Antlers

Brrr being named -- and the whole "how can you define an animal v Animal before it learns to speak" lecture

Cribbett 

ShenShen and Pfannee being explicitly named -- like, they're credited that way ????

"Hold out my sweet" -- even if they didn't kiss !????

Gelphie road to the emerald city (the definition of the Only One Bed trope smh)

Fiyero being dark-skinned having tattoos

[wickedlyqueer]

Wickedly Queer - Animated

Two years ago I created a gif series where I took Wicked and retold the story by making it explicitly queer with as little changes as possible. Now, it’s time to create the next step: a two part animated queer retelling of Wicked!

This project will take many months as I have to write, animate and edit everything by myself. So why am I telling you about this now? Well, here’s the thing...

I need YOUR voice!

Quite literally so. While I’ll be the narrator, I want to include the community and have you voice these beloved (gay and foodified) Wicked characters! You don’t need to be a voice actor and these days many phones have passable audio recording. Nonetheless, it’ll be a big voluntary community effort.

For this to work I do need everyone to “audition”. But if possible, I’d love to give everyone who sends in a demo to voice at least something! Singing will not be required, but if you can sing that’s definitely a bonus.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 15 November 2019, 23:59 CET

For more information on the roles I’ll be casting, where to sent in your audio and on the project itself please keep reading under the cut!

What to Expect? 

Two videos posted on my YouTube channel BannedFromZoos, both consisting one Wicked act. Expected release dates will be in 2020. 

Much of the plot will be summarized by the narrator, but all altered dialogue (as seen in Wickedly Queer) will be spoken by you! 

The characters will be in the style of the double name witches animatics. For reference what it’ll look like click here.

The script for the first act is around 15 pages and general rule of thumb is one minute per page. The second act is slightly longer with 23 pages. So we’re looking at a total of at least 30 minutes of animation!

Especially if you want to audition for the main cast, be aware this project will stretch several months. Make sure you have room in your schedule between November-February for at least several days of a couple hours of recording and potential re-recordings as not all audio is immediately great the first time around. 

If the main cast wants to, we can do a private readthrough on Discord, so the dialogue flow will be more organic as you’re playing off each other.

Unfortunately, I’m not able to pay anyone! I can’t even pay myself and I’m doing the writing, animating and editing for this beast. I don’t monetize my videos either. All input will be voluntary. Obviously, each separate video will have credits and you can choose to either be referred to as by your name or one social media handle of your choice. 

How to Record

If you’re new to recording here are some basic tips on how to record proper audio:

Make sure you’re in a non-echoing room with no background noises.

Don’t mumble! Actually speak as if you’re speaking to another person. (This is a lot harder than it sounds, as you are essentially talking to the air. So be conscious of this!)

If recording with a phone, keep the mic input near your mouth, but keep a distant of about 15cm (~ 6 inches) between you and the device.

I can’t work around spiking audio. So make sure all of your audio is not too loud. (This counts double for Popping -- when you make a Pop-sound especially with hard p’s your audio tends to spike).

You don’t have to sent in your raw-file. If you want to edit your best takes and sent me that, that’s fine too! Keep your total recording under 5 minutes, but preferably between 30 seconds - 2 minutes. I prefer to have you do a line a few times in different ways than just once and leave it at that. 

What I Expect

To not have you bail on me halfway through the project. Like I said, this will be a longterm project. If for the next six months you can’t commit to at least several hourlong sessions, then either don’t submit or choose a small role. 

Small roles will essentially be ensemble and only be a line or a reaction or two that could be done in like 15-30 minutes. Easily done and the only reason you’ll have to re-record is if the audio is bad. 

That said, I expect that if I want you to re-record something, you’ll do it. I have to mash up about 20 different voices, all being recorded at different times, places, rooms, and level of audio quality. Anyone who has worked with audio knows how ridiculously difficult this is. If I ask you to re-record, please just do it.

If you don’t get cast in the role you wanted, you don’t take it as a personal insult. Right now I have no idea how many people will want to join. But if it’s more than 20, I’m forced to select and choose. The ones with the best audio and acting will get the role.

But more than anything, I want this to be a fun experience! I really hope this will bring the community together as we create an acted-out queer version of this beloved musical. 

Main Roles

The main cast of three. We’ll work closest together and I have to depend on you the most. 

Elphaba Thropp

Non-binary in this iteration, so any voice will do! Elphaba is ambitious, and fierce in their beliefs - to the point they’ll give up close personal relationships to do ‘what is right’. Actor needs to be able to portray a nice balance between snarky commentary and empathetic behavior. Will use they/them pronouns throughout this show, therefore preference goes to someone who is trans. Being able to sing is a bonus, but not required. 

Glinda Upland

Feminine voice. Glinda clings to popularity as that’s the only way she knows how to gain affection. Therefore terrified of coming out to anyone, as she believes that would ruin her status. For this role I’m searching for someone who can have good comedic timing as well as show her very difficult emotional struggle. Please be aware, in Wickedly Queer her emotional journey is far bigger and more present, so that will be most important.

Being able to sing is a bonus, but not required.

Fiyero Tigelaar

Masculine voice. He has no idea what he wants from life and goes into careless behavior because of it. Fiercely loyal, selfless and dependable.  Actor needs to be able to convey the struggle of an existential crisis without wanting to admit to it. As Fiyero is a man of colour, preference for casting goes to a PoC. 

Being able to sing is a bonus, but not required.

Side Roles

These roles are around one scene and most of them interact with another character. Not as much commitment needed, but still a real fun time.

Nessarose Thropp

Feminine voice. Role for someone who can convey bitterness and frustration and somehow coming across not too spoiled (only Act II scene). Being able to sing is a bonus, but not required.

Madame Morrible

Feminine voice. Perfect for someone a bit older (at least for this fandom - lol). Regardless of age, you need to be able to be daunting and terrifying. 

Announcer

You’ll be the first voice people will hear! Like a real theatre show, there will be an ‘intercom announcer’ before the show starts. Practice that peppy customer service voice if you want this role!

Sounds / Animal Noises Person(s)

This role is a lot of fun for someone who has a lot of skill with their voice. I need several sound clips throughout the show for at least the Monkey (Overture), Goat (Dr. Dillamond) and wails from the Lion cub. Might need some more! So if you got that versatility in your voice, this one’s for you!

Small Roles / Ensemble

These roles will be for the people who did not get cast as main or side, or for the ones who do not have time to commit to the larger roles. These roles are either ensemble reacting or a role with one or two lines.

2-3 Guards

Dr. Dillamond

‘Is it true you were friends?’ Loudmouth

Several Ozians (reacting)

__________________________________________

SEND IN SUBMISSION

Send in your audio submission to: bannedfromzoos@gmail.com. I only need audio, I don’t need video. If your file is too big use another site like WeTransfer to sent it. Your audio is preferably between 30 seconds and 2 minutes, but must be under 5 minutes.

Record whatever you like! You can choose to do any monologue, whatever song that is within the range of your role, or any scene of a play or musical you like. Make sure you show the range of what you’re capable of acting-wise and fits with what the role entails! 

For more information on submitting an additional song go here.

In the mail please add:

Your first name (+ pronouns)

Age

Which role(s) you’re auditioning for

If you audition for a main role: choose at least one from side / small roles in case you don’t get cast.

What platform I can reach you at besides mail (preferably, Tumblr or Discord)

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: 15 November, 23:59 CET.

[gliyerabaa]

13

13. “I thought you were dead”

haha time for the angst train.., post-musical, like 10 years after the musical…… this got really dark really fast uhhh sorry 

ps. drunk glinda swears a lot so if that’s something that bugs you, then.., keep scrolling

tw: heavily implied alcoholism, swearing, pretty blatant sexual references (no explicit content)

disclaimer: alcoholism is bad, this is not an attempt to glorify or romanticize it in any way. if you or someone you know has an alcohol problem, seek help or help them seek help.

—

It had been ten years since the departure of the Wizard, ten years since Glinda became the Good Witch of Oz, ten years of re-structuring the government, ten years of political and social reforms…

Ten years of distracting herself…

Glinda sighed as she kicked off her heels and flopped onto her bed, still wearing the elegant dress she had worn to all of the half-dozen parties, festivals, and commemorations she had been to over the course of the day.

She laughed to herself, thinking back to her college days. Wearing the same dress to different events would have been a nightmare scenario back then.

But a simple fashion faux pas was nothing compared to how perfectly awful her life was now.

Overall, things were going amazing. She had helped set up a more or less functioning parliamentary system of government, removing some of the responsibility of decision making from her shoulders. Animals were slowly but surely making progress towards equality: any Animals that had been captured and silenced were rehabilitated and given speech therapy, including Dr. Dillamond. In the most recent elections, Animals had won 6 out of 100 seats in Parliament, so things were definitely improving.

Although Glinda’s professional life was amazing, the same could not be said about her personal life.

It had been ten years since everything changed. Ten years since everyone she had known through college and beyond had either been imprisoned, died, or otherwise grown distant. 

Ten years of unbelievable loneliness.

Ten years since a hug- a real hug that actually meant something.

Ten years since the last time anyone truly cared about her.

It had been ten years- she glanced at the clock- ten years down to the minute, since Elphaba had died.

Tears began to fall, a rather common occurrence in the past decade. Usually she would try to hide it, she would try to be strong. But today was different, today, she decided, she would just let it happen. 

Glinda had discovered early on in this new, lonely chapter of her life that drinking helped ease the pain of the soul-crushing despair and hopelessness she so often felt. She didn’t drink that often, but when she did, she made a point of drinking enough to forget everything, even if only for a few hours.

She knew she had a problem, but it’s not like anyone was close enough to her to feel the need to stop her. And besides, today was a special occasion. Ten whole years of being completely and utterly alone deserved a night of sitting by herself in her unnecessarily extravagant bedroom, drinking whatever alcohol she happened to have on hand, didn’t it?

She grabbed the first bottle she could find- she didn’t fucking care what it was- and sat on the floor, slumped against the wall, only her booze and her thoughts to keep her company.

She had everything she’d dreamed of as a kid: popularity on the national scale, unimaginable amounts of wealth, and…. that was it. She’d achieved her life’s dreams, and yet she was still miserable.

Miserable. One bottle.

Absolutely miserable. Two.

“Miss Glinda?” A voice, one of her chambermaids, called from outside the room.

Glinda stood up, took another swig from her third bottle of whatever the fuck she was drinking, and opened the door. “What?”

The young woman who was at the door seemed taken aback by her superior’s disheveled appearance. “Your Goodness, have you been drinking again?”

“Only a little. It’s been a long ten years. Why are you here?”

“You have a visitor. Someone in a dark cloak, who refuses to reveal their identity.”

“Send them to me, please.”

“Are you sure? You want me to send a cloaked stranger to your chambers?”

“Yes.”

Glinda didn’t particularly care anymore. If this stranger was an assassin and she was going to die tonight, then so be it.

In no time at all, a shadowy figure stood in her room.

“Who are you? Why are you here?” Glinda tried her best to sound sober.

“Glinda,”

That voice, sweet Lurline, that voice…

The stranger lowered their hood, and sure enough, it was her. No one else in all of Oz had that same distinctive green skin, raven black hair, and silky voice.

“Elphaba Thropp,” Glinda closed the gap between them, and slapped her long- lost friend directly across the face.

“Woah, that’s not exactly the greeting I was expecting.” Elphaba groaned as she raised a hand to cup her stinging face.

“It has been ten fucking years, Elphaba.”

“Aren’t you happy to see me, though?”

“Of course I am, but I’m also furious, absolutely furious.” 

Glinda was crying. She’s not quite sure when that started.

“I thought you were dead, Elphie. It’s been ten years, and it never once occured to you to tell me that you were alive?”

“It’s a long story-”

“Oh, I’m sure it is!” Glinda wiped the tears from her face with her arm. “Do you see what you’ve fucking done to me?” She held up the half empty bottle in her hand and gestured to the two she had already finished, “I’ve been so unimagineably empty without you that I try to drink away the pain, and I tell myself it helps but it really doesn’t” Glinda choked out a sob, “Instead of just being lonely, I’m piss drunk and lonely, which is probably worse.”

“Hey,” Elphaba carefully pulled Glinda into her strong arms for her first hug in ten years. “I’m here now. I’m sorry I couldn’t come back sooner, that’s a story for when you’re sober.”

“Yeah… you’re right.” Glinda shifted as she settled into her lover’s arms. “I love you, Elphie. And I missed you, a lot. No one’s hugged me like this in ten years.”

“Hmm,” Elphaba took the bottle from Glinda and finished it off, “I’d bet no one’s kissed you in ten years either?”

“Not the way you do, love.” Glinda practically melted as Elphaba’s lips brushed across the side of her neck. 

“You know,” Glinda hummed, “No one’s fucked me senseless in ten years either.”

“Language, Miss Glinda,” Elphaba smirked as she reached for the lacing of Glinda’s dress.

“Oh, shut up and kiss me, you wicked thing,”

—--

(and then they have super steamy drunk make-up sex that I don’t have the guts or the -ahem- experience  or the motivation to write)

thanks for reading sorry it got so dark and angsty also a lot of this feels out of character until you remember that Glinda has been depressed and on the verge of alcoholism for ten years so that’s my justification for Glinda being so.., out of it. 

[jheuzdumaop]

💚💚💚 With the spellbinding cast of #WickedManila2017. Feeling sorry I can't come to the harana tonight. #TeamBusy let's sing together! 🎶"It well may be, that we will never meet again in this lifetime so let me say before we part, So much of me is made of what I learned from you, you'll be with me like a handprint on my heart. And now whatever way our stories end, I know you have re-written mine by being my friend..."🎶 #ForGood (L-R: Elphaba, G(a)linda, Fiyero, The Wizard/Dr. Dillamond, Madame Morrible, Boq, Nessarose, and the rest of the ensemble.) (at The Theatre at Solaire)