#also act 2 spoilers but I mean. I’m sorry. watch a bootleg and join the fun

[lily-onher-grave]

I’m fucking dying about the Elphaba’s promise scene holy fuck. You could’ve posted this shit on fanfiction dot net back in the day and it would’ve fit right in

“You could’ve picked me” holds so much weight I almost feel like they had to cut it just so it doesn’t seem like Glinda slides backwards in character growth at the train station scene. But I love it so much because yes she’s jealous of Elphie and Fiyero yes she’s hurt she was left behind (foreshadowinggggg) but also this is her vocally and intentionally picking Elphaba right back. It feels as significant as Glinda telling Elphie it was the milkflowers’ fault, not hers. And it’s so freaking delicious because we as an audience know that it’s also not 100% true. Glinda means it here, and she wants Elphaba to choose her, and she would choose Elphaba, but soon that choice will come with too many consequences for both of them, and they won’t be able to choose each other anymore, no matter what promised they made or how much they want to

AND Elphaba promising not to leave Glinda behind again?? Excuse me???? “I won’t leave you behind” then proceeds to bring her to the emerald city, to the wizard’s palace, on a daring but doomed hot air balloon escape, etc etc. Elphaba promised not to leave her behind and then she kept her at her side until Glinda stepped away

And all this of course makes Glinda’s part in defying gravity so much richer, because she’s silently begging Elphaba to choose her, to listen to her, to stay and make this work from the inside. But she doesn’t. And when Elphaba keeps her promise, asks her to come so she doesn’t leave her behind again, Glinda can’t go

(And don’t EVEN talk to me about all the times Elphaba starts breaking that promise in act 2)

Also I feel like the “maybe magic is hard for you because you’ve always had it easy, you’ve never needed it” conversation is either supposed to come in play again in act 2 or it’s just foreshadowing to the passing of the grimmerie but either way I have feelings about it. I kinda wonder if the first half of this scene was supposed to be a lot meaner/pettier, but Cynthia and Ariana kept playing it soft and earnest instead. Either way I’m thinking about post-musical Glinda finally getting her magic to click because elphaba’s gone and the nation is looking to her and nothing is easy anymore, so she needs it more than ever

[bttmbunk]

What is the Heathers AU?

Oh anon, buckle up.

Heathers is a cult black comedy film from the 80s which I highly suggest you watch. I watched it for the first time earlier this year and it opened my eyes. But the musical. The musical. It’s even better. The movie was adapted into a musical in 2010, and (you didn’t hear this from me, but) there’s a bootleg of the 2014 Off-Broadway production somewhere on the internet if you’re desperate to watch it. BUT. Watching the movie, and listening to the musical’s soundtrack on Youtube (do it, it’s amazing), is more than you need.

(this was assuming you didn’t know what the Heathers was. I’m sorry if you did and I just rambled on for nothing)

The Heathers AU is purely self-indulgent for me. Like, this musical is my aesthetic, okay. I love the songs and I have this urge to draw Sterek animatics for all of them (which is gonna happen eventually). I headcanon Derek as the main character (Veronica) and Stiles as JD. I’m taking some creative liberties with the AU, though, and I’m still mostly figuring it out but I can tell you what I’ve got so long (credit to @jaecarjackvice for helping me)

Spoilers (kinda) under the cut

Derek’s family is alive in this universe. 

He’s 17, and he’s getting pretty sick of the competitive social hierarchy at Beacon Hills High. I mean, he’s charming and handsome but it’s apparently not good enough because of the company he keeps, like Erica and Isaac. But they’re his best friends, he isn’t just going to turn his back on them because they’re ‘weird’.

The Hale family are all about doing their best to fit into society, though, so he knows his parents kinda wish he could fit in a little more.

Take note that I take liberties with everyone’s age in this AU. Some people are aged up, some are aged down

Peter is the equivalent of Heather Duke. He’s part of the clique that’s above all the drama (obviously not called the Heathers in this AU, more like…the ‘Alphas’ of BHH or something), and he sways Derek into impressing the Alphas with his note forgery skills

I’m thinking Jennifer would be a good Heather Chandler, and I see Lydia as Heather McNamara

Jennifer practically seduces Derek into joining their clique because she sees his ‘potential’, and Derek’s kinda happy with this development at first, until Jennifer gets him to forge a ‘love note’ from Boyd to Erica. When he tries to refuse, Jennifer threatens to destroy his social life

Cue Stiles. He’s the mysterious new kid that criticizes Derek for his choice in friends.

Jackson (the equivalent of Kurt) picks a fight with Stiles, and Stiles unexpectedly wins. And Derek is like ‘hot damn I think I like this new kid’

Anyway, Jackson throws a party that weekend that Derek is dragged to. Before they go to the party Derek runs into Stiles at the 7-11 (in the musical, this is the “Freeze Your Brain” number). He learns a lot about Stiles, like how his real parents are dead and he’s living with his guardian, Kate. Stiles kinda flirts with Derek as he praises the virtues of the slurpee, and how he uses the brain-freeze to numb the pain of his troubled relationship with Kate, the absence of his dead parents, and his nomadic lifestyle . Derek falls even further for him

At the party, Erica shows up because of ‘Boyd’s note’ and the Alphas proceed to try to humiliate her. Derek stops them, and Jennifer tells him he is going to be the social equivalent of dead come Monday

Derek feels like he’s got nothing to lose and breaks into Stiles’ bedroom to seduce him, losing his virginity (“Dead Boy Walking”)

Nowww here’s where the real story starts. Derek decides to go to Jennifer and apologize for the night before, and Stiles tags along. Jennifer orders Derek  to make her a hangover cure, and Stiles ‘jokingly’ suggests putting toxic drain cleaner in it as revenge. Derek tells him to stop, but, distracted, he grabs the wrong cup.

Jennifer rejects Derek’s apology, drinks the ‘hangover cure’, and dies. Fearing no one will believe it was an accident, Derek freaks out, but Stiles convinces him to forge a suicide note. In the process, he makes Jennifer sound more deep and complex than she actually was, gaining her sympathy from the entire school and inspiring Mr Finstock to start a school-wide campaign to prevent teenage suicide

With Jennifer dead, Peter basically assumes control

Peter and Jackson spread a rumour about Erica, telling the whole school about how Jackson and Boyd double-teamed her.

Stiles enlists Derek in a plan to get revenge on the jocks, that involves “Ich Lüge” bullets which apparently break the skin and knock you out, but don’t kill. Derek agrees to it. 

Spoiler alert the bullets are real. Stiles and Derek have now murdered two more people

This is when Derek finally realizes there’s something definitely wrong with Stiles.

Surprise! It’s void Stiles. He’s been possessed by the Nogitsune, hence, all the murdery tendencies. Kate (who is still a murderous bitch in this universe) also factors into this but I’m still figuring that out

And there’s still the whole of Act 2, but, this is all I’ve got for now. There’s a lot I have to think about because I actually want a happy ending for Stiles and Derek. So the ending will probably involve Kate’s death and freeing Stiles from the Nogitsune and then everyone that’s still alive gets to be happy

[thewafflewhat]

30/01/17 (7th time)

So, this is the show that was originally supposed to be my 5th time seeing it. I planned to bring my friend to see it using the excuse of a Christmas present as a way to make me feel less bad about buying expensive tickets, stalls tickets: close to the front, and I booked this trip at least a month before I decided I wanted to see KRJ one last time before she left, which is how I found myself in row B of the stalls.

The real reason I wanted to specifically go to this show was because it was Willemijn Verkaik’s first performance in Wicked in 2 1/2 years (her last show also being in the London production when she had to terminate her contract earlier to have surgery on her back; a lot of people couldn’t go to support her because it was so short notice) to support her and welcome her back to the production in style. It was also Sue Kelvin’s first show back, replacing Anita Dobson as Madame Morrible, so it was nice to be there to support her too.

(I did notice in the programme that Willemijn has a new headshot but they used the same proshots from her 2014 run (which means they also probably reused Sue’s proshots too))

I finally got to see Suzie!!! More about her later but spoiler alert: I loved her to bits :)

I have nothing else to say up here really, I think I covered that stuff in my last two of these, all I want to do is warn you that this is the most rambley one of these I have ever done. Sorry not sorry.

- Willemijn’s accent has gotten a lot better compared to her last run in the West End (at least for the most part, some of her pronunciation is still a bit weird but I imagine that’s because the feeling of saying those words feels awkward for her Dutch tongue (plus, I think it fits Elphaba’s character for her accent to sound a little strange but that’s just me))

- I absolutely adore Suzie! Her singing was stunning and every single one of her acting decisions was incredible! (KRC was who I measured the more emotional side of Glinda off for the past few years and I personally think that Suzie is up-to-par if not better than Katie’s interpretation)

- (This will probably sound stupid but) I also loved how she was always acting even if the main focus wasn’t on her (especially if she’s concerned or upset); it’s so easy to become desensitised to some of the lines in a show when you’re doing the same thing for months on end but if that show was anything to go by it means that every single night she’s performing she goes onstage and acts her goddamn heart out every single second she’s within the audience’s gaze and I love that. Every single little thing that Suzie did just made me love her even more.

- Suzie is also hilarious, her Popular was one of my favourites (for comedic value) in a long while (Dianne Pilkington was who I measured the comedy aspect of Glinda’s character off for a long time and I think I’ve finally found a Glinda with all the nuances of the comedy completely down who surpasses my love for Di’s interpretation)

- Basically, I think I may very well have a new favourite all around Glinda... Don’t get me wrong, I loved Savannah, but I only saw her once and being able to see every little bit of Suzie’s performance that close did wonders for me being amazed by her.

- I’ve also changed my mind about Oliver; in my last one of these I said he was incredibly average and while a part of me still believes that (he’s a very stiff dancer...) I also think that his acting was superb. Being up close and actually being able to see every little cheeky/cocky smile Oliver pulled out during DTL made me appreciate his performance so much more.

- I’m so freaking happy that Sue Kelvin is back! The delivery of her ‘wicked witch’ in DG never fails to give me chills (and it’s so superior to Anita’s delivery)

- Willemijn is hilarious. I already knew this but being able to see her new refreshed comedic timing and how she plays off of what different Glindas give her is always fun; all of her mocking gestures in WITF really did make me chuckle, and the ‘toss toss’ in Popular was so funny! Firstly, Suzie’s ‘toss toss’ is a different kind of funny to anyone else’s that I’ve ever seen plus Willemijn playing off of that different kind of funny was a real treat to see!

- Willemijn came back all guns blazing with her riffs! They weren’t the kinds of riffs that other Elphaba’s have done in the past, more like how she’d been singing all her major songs when she was away from the show (which aren’t really riffs but she also doesn’t sing those parts how they’re written in the score so technically it’s a riff). Her ‘renown’ riff is still my favourite.

- I loved seeing Willemijn and Suzie together so much but I also hated it at the same time because I could barely decide who to watch in the scenes that they were in together!

- The Elphaba dance scene was so damn beautiful! Right from when Galinda realises that Elphaba’s the reason she’s getting a training wand, my entire focus was on Suzie. The regret on her face spoke volumes, and when Elphaba finally comes into the scene and makes her way over to Galinda, Suzie wouldn’t make eye contact and I loved it. It really made me believe that she genuinely felt bad which I’ve never really felt before (and considering I’ve never taken notice of that moment before I’d say I have a new standard for that scene)

- The actual dance started out super funny (again, Willemijn’s hilarious) which Suzie then added her own spin of funny onto, but when it came to the serious part of the scene Suzie’s performance reminded me a lot of KRC in that one Broadway bootleg with Willemijn. To start off with, Galinda clearly still feels bad about being the reason everyone is laughing at Elphaba (it shows on her face), and her expression doesn’t change until she turns her back on her friends to face Elphaba again and carry on trying to make amends, and then when Elphaba starts to join in too Galinda starts to smile (usually just after the first spin that’s just the two of them). It’s important because in the brief moment where it’s just the two of them confidently dancing together, Suzie absolutely refused to look away from Willemijn’s eyes (and in turn Willemijn was unable to look away from Suzie’s eyes), and in that moment Suzie’s Galinda was positively beaming.

- The fact that small moment happens in the show is so important because when they go into their second spin after everyone else joins in, not only does it take Elphaba by surprise but it also slightly takes Galinda by surprise too (which is why they both stop dancing. Elphaba’s too busy taking notice of how no one’s making fun of her anymore (and not only that but also the fact that everyone around her has joined in) that she doesn’t see how Galinda’s eyes never look away from Elphaba until she has Elphaba’s hand in her own).

- Suzie delivered a really believable “milk flowers” line (I’ve noticed that I really love it when the cast deliver lines in the moment instead of just reciting a line they learnt), and I had a make-it-or-break-it moment when she delivered the “Why Miss Elphaba, look at you... You’re beautiful” line because it didn’t sound like she was saying that line in the moment, but she totally saved it by the end of the line and it was another beautiful moment I was proud to have witnessed.

- (The more and more that I think about how much I’m comparing a lot of the little Glinda things, the more I feel like they actually made that a solid directing choice rather than it being those actresses and their approach to the role (even though it still is that too). Considering that all the Glindas I’ve seen in the last 2 months gave the same kind of emotional performance, I’m leaning more towards them being given the specific direction to try and make the audience more emotionally invested in Glinda’s story as well as Elphaba’s) (I love the direction Glinda’s character has gone for the last few years; I also think that it’s because I saw so many performances in such a short space of time that I noticed a lot more things than I normally would)

- Willemijn’s INTG is still one of my favourites; that song is so difficult to not only sing well but also get the emotions for it right (I’ve seen way too many Elphaba’s who either get one or the other; never both) but I feel like Willemijn is one of the few who not only nail that but her emotions always feel genuine, as if she’s truly living in the moment, not just acting in the moment (so much so that even my theatre virgin friend picked up on that part of her acting which made me really happy)

- And in true Willemijn form she did the low E!

- The costume change going into OSD was a few seconds longer than it should have been so Willemijn came back on singing her line just as she came back onstage instead of getting to the middle and then starting her line (a bit of a shakey costume change for her first show back which also happens to be one of the most difficult)

- I was finally close enough to see how the broom works! I knew it was brought on by a fly-wire but I could never figure out how it was attached for Elphaba to just rip it off and not have a cable connected to it for the rest of the number; it turns out that the broom is magnetic! It’s so simple but I never figured it out until I saw it; I can’t believe it took me so long!

- The applause after DG was absolutely mad! Willemijn slayed everything with her belting at the end, like what a truly brilliant first performance back and what a treat that I got to witness it

- Suzie’s face for the whole of TG was completely heartwrenching! She also did what I’ve only ever noticed Savannah Stevenson do when the Ozians are spewing awful rumours about Elphaba, Suzie’s face was utterly shocked, like she couldn’t even fathom the things coming out of the people’s mouths. The best part was that in the slight break just before Morrible starts singing, Suzie opened her mouth to disagree but she got cut off (and I loved seeing how that moment has changed over the years)

- The delivery of the dialogue over the Popular reprise in the score was perfect; perfectly timed, perfectly delivered

- The part of TG after the dialogue where Fiyero runs off also broke my heart. Suzie really sounded like she was about to cry until the point in the song where Glinda needs to put her public persona back on

- Suzie did the low G for the INTG reprise!!!

- Willemijn got a note match at the start of NGD! Although it wasn’t as high a note as it has been in the past (not that that would be any trouble for Willemijn, a.k.a. the queen of belting, if it was a higher note)

- Willemijn totally broke the Grimmerie at the beginning of NGD! She was so in the moment that as she was flicking through frantically trying to find a spell she ripped a few pages out and they flew across the stage.

- The Gelphie in FG! Apparently Willemijn’s Glindas have this thing where they need to touch her face at the end, like forget the Tucker nose boop and the hat tip! And even better, Willemijn leans her face into the gesture and closes her eyes and it’s so touching to see even if you don’t ship them romantically.

- Willemijn and Suzie’s accents mean that some of the words they sing have that American twang to them (e.g. ‘gravity’ in DG is sung ‘gravidy’ and ‘better’ in FG is sung ‘bedder’)

- Suzie was having some trouble with her bubble dress neck piece at the end of FG/start of the finale when she was getting into her bubble; it somehow came undone and she had to reattach it before she went up in her bubble for the last time. It actually ended up making for a nice unspoken moment between herself and the ensemble guy who plays Chistery while he waited for her to be ready before handing her the Grimmerie (she even nodded to him to confirm that she was ready to take the book for him and I just thought it was a lovely cast moment)

- I’m pretty sure Suzie was actually crying up in her bubble at the end, and the only reason I’m not sure is because when she sang she didn’t sound like she was crying (so in character!!! It makes my heart ache just thinking about it)

- The applause for Willemijn and Suzie was absolutely insane and Willemijn looked so happy to be back :’)

- Suzie was being a total cutie just as the final curtain fell

- There was also a few sound issues again. It sounded different in the first place because I was so close (and that’s not where you get the best listening experience because of how the rig for the speakers is designed) but I still heard some dropped lines and the mix still sounded weird (I’m pretty sure it’s a new sound person on the show)

- I came into this one thinking I’d be rambling and flailing about Willemijn (which I kind of did) but I ended up rambling and flailing more about Suzie (that’s a feat in itself. Willemijn is my literal bae so for Suzie to catch my eye and keep my attention so much just shows how incredible she is in the role)

- I need to know when Willemijn and/or Suzie’s last show is so I can support them and also see them together one last time

To finish off, apparently, the best way to make up for not seeing your favourite show for over 2 years is to go 3 times in 2 months (and progressively ramble more and more about it the more times you see the show)

I can’t believe I rambled this much... If you read this all the way through, I’m sorry (but also thank you)