With Tristan by our side, we went to see ‘Wicked’ this past weekend. The Broadway Touring Company was playing in Seattle. ‘Wicked’ tells the back-story of ‘The Wizard of Oz'; before Dorothy, and Toto, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. There was another story, the untold story of the witches of Oz.

This was a special weekend, one we were all anxiously anticipating. Tristan was going to his first “legitimate” theatre production. After the performance we had reservations at one of our favorite restaurants and then retired to our room at the Grand Hyatt Regency.

Tristan has more than just a passing interest in ‘Wicked’. He auditioned for a role in a local theatre group and won the part. Getting him to all the rehearsals after school has posed an occasional challenge. Finding time for school, homework, rehearsing, learning the saxophone, and most of all playing with his friends keeps him (and grandma) very busy.

Mark and I used to enjoy our ‘city weekends’. But they all stopped when our attention and resources were diverted to so many family issues. It has taken awhile, but we have tickets for several up-coming productions from the touring companies as well as concerts. And Tristan will accompany us to most of them. In December, with the Christmas season upon us, we will be attending ‘The Nutcracker’, and spend the following day strolling through the city to enjoy all the lights, decorations, and music.

Back to ‘Wicked’. . . .The story is based on the best selling novel “Wicked: the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire and told from the perspective of the witches of the Land of Oz.

So much happened before Dorothy dropped into Oz, before she arrived in Munchkin Land. Two girls meet in the Land of Oz…. One - born with emerald green skin - is smart, fiery and misunderstood Elphaba….The second, Glenda the Good Witch... beautiful, ambitious and “very popular” (Glenda's signature song in Wicked is “Popular.) Their friendship struggles through their opposing personalities and viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, their reactions to the Wizard's corrupt government, and, ultimately, Elphaba's public fall from grace.

“Popular”



“Defying Gravity”



Each of us should have the chance to “defy gravity" at least once in our lives.