Farewell Idina...
I've kinda been putting off writing about the last few days because it feels so much longer in time than that, so much deeper in my body and so much more painful than I thought it would be. This might be a good time to put in my 'I'm not a fangurrl' statement because as amazing and heart stopping as Idina was, my state isn't all about her. It's about the people I met, the laughs I had, the hands I held and the tears I shed. Having gotten day tickets a few weeks ago I met some wonderful people who I clicked with and adored instantly, I'm nothing but a mere beginner only having seen it 8 times but on I went. I promised to bring them food during their mammoth camping week only to find myself in the next sleeping bag along. It seemed like an easy thing to do, camp out for front row, why the hell not!!! It turned out to be one of the funnest things I've ever done, the core group of people were and are some of the most generous, welcoming and warmest people you could ever wish to spend the night with in a sleeping bag on the Apollo victoria steps. So many highlights, many of which included random walks to warm up, coffee breaks and bright red faces, being thrilled that the change machine in the station was broken which meant free bathroom breaks, trying to look smart to sneak into the nearest hotel to use their bathroom. Oliver T stopping by at 2am (dude, we love you but we were asleep, get lost), random 'there goes Idina' as she strolled into the theatre, eating pizza and watching Rent (with full vocals) on the floor outside the theatre and re-enacting Wicked - ish outside the theatre, I believe I made the best Grimmerie complete with stand (thanks Joey) and Dragon (with Kate) there was and nothing beats A and M's Popular complete with Aus accent. Also watching the madness that is stage door without being involved in it and having Idina stop at the end of everyone, turn to us and blow a goodnight kiss with a goodnight guys attached (ok, slight fan gurrl moment) and sweet American's turning up bearing jiffy bags full of random American candy (so many cries of, what the hell is a tootsies roll)! Oh my god, how could I forget the most important member of the campers, THE LIST! We had a list with what tickets everyone wanted, how many were left etc, it became quite famous and box office were thrilled with it. We woke up the morning of Sat all eager to have our grubby hands on the tickets and waited. We were led in 1 by 1 and each box office member has THE LIST with our names circled and our tickets waiting, lots of whooping and yelling and there may even have been some tears followed. We were home free, off to buy wands!
All freshly showered and clean and a hell of a lot warmer we made our way back to our 'steps', as we entered the theatre in a line we called out to the watching box office staff 'we're clean' to which we got a rousing applause. Now, I'm sure people behind were wondering why they don't get cheers for washing but we felt we deserved them. We waited for us all to gather and as a 'family' made our way home (otherwise known as front row). Moments of hilarity followed, general giddiness and lots of 'oh hell, we made it'. Our wands at the ready, our glow sticks hidden, it was on with the show. The music started and I know I'm not the only one who felt giddy and nervous inside, the lights went down and it was game on. I'm not going to write a whole lot about the show cos there are so many great reviews out there; I'm just going to mention my fav bits.
•Idina entered, we screamed, she grinned, enough said.
•I love seeing her and Katie interact whilst they are deciding room allocation, it's always so soft and they always seem like sisters to me.
•WAI - this was AMAZING, stunning and enchanting. We were all waiting for the riff but when it came we were so not ready for it. She riffed the shit out of Wizard and pretty much the whole of the front row bounced in our seats as did the whole theatre. Best thing of all? The look of 'You go girl' Idina gave her self, she was beaming that she pulled it off and it rocked.
•Idina did the funniest face in her Kung phoo moment, each show this just gets weirder and weirder - Gotta love the Idina funky face moment.
•DTL - Because we were at the front we noticed that in each of the ensembles books there was a message from Idina, most said 'I'll miss you *heart* Idina or 'I'll miss you all *heart* Idina, not sure who else noticed it but it was such a nice touch.
•I'll always love 'that's ok, I have no friends' I *heart* Martin…
•Crying during the Elphie, she looked so heartbroken and the look of surprise and joy when Helen takes her hand is so lovely.
•Adam and Helen's random talking off to stage left is so funny, they have a real conversation, I was always over the other side but others heard it all..lol
•Toss, Toss - Idina looked like she was about to fall of the bed with her second toss cos it was so big, classic Helen in this Popular.
•When Helen asked 'is this on' front row all waved furry pink and sparkly wands in the air, silly moment but it made us laugh.
•Just after Adam says she's been Glindafied, Idina got the giggles and they didn't stop, funniest thing ever. They were discussing something that didn't happen (apparently they were going to put the flower in Adam's hair) and she just didn't stop laughing. When she gets up to talk to Dr D she was still laughing and kept trying to look away. Sitting down she put her head in her hands which must have looked like crying to people but we could see her shaking with laughter, she took ages to calm down.
•As Helen said 'we're going to have to learn to do without you' Idina wiped a tear from her eyes.
•One of the funniest moments was Helen announcing her name change, we whooped and Adam picked it up causing Idina to laugh out loud.
•The best adlib was next, 'come with me' Idina asked 'where' Helen whined (cos she didn't ask, she sounded like a 5 year old but the cutest 5 year old ever), slight pause for dramatic effect 'New York City' Idina yelled, the crowd went nuts, Idina turned to the audience with a fingers in mouth 'should I have done that grin' 'I mean the Emerald City' got totally lost cos of the laughing. Helen's response of 'I've always wanted to go to….. (Another slight pause where I'm convinced she almost said NYC) and they both laughed and said 'Emerald City', was great.
•As soon as OSD started we waved our green glow sticks in the air, big hit (cast member told us later they loved them). We also didn't get bothered by the ushers once which is prob cos we put everything away after each song.
•For the front row campers one of the best moments was Idina singing 'now that's we're in here, you'll know we've been here' because she pointed along the front row right at us and we whooped.
•Adam riffing in ASAYM, who knew he had it in him.
•When Idina came out of the trap door, Adam held her and she was sobbing, he kept rubbing her back and you could see her shaking, that was the point I cried in the Matinee. Glinda flew off and it was over…
As Helen said to Idina on Sat night, 'I'm not finished yet'………….
Part 2
Leaving the theatre in high sprits the Wicked 10 (like my play on Rent 10!) headed off for the last supper (also known as Nando's, random chicken restaurant in Victoria), we arrived, we took over and funnily enough, we didn't really talk about the show. It was almost like we were not ready, we were giddy before the Matinee because we still had one more show to go but this was it, the home stretch, in a few hours Idina - Elphaba would be no more. Random topics enthused until one of them became 'let's make a banner' 'should we get her flowers' we decided on the banner as we knew she would only give the flowers away as she couldn't take them with her, off we went for supplies. One of the funniest moments for me was standing in WHSmiths behind a cast member (who shall remain nameless) and us chatting about what the campest moment in the whole show was. I declared that it was the Adam foot dance thing with his chauffeur Averick (sp), it's so bloody camp it cracks me up every time. We heard a giggle from in front and said cast member turned around and agreed with us, we were amused! We headed off to make our banner. I don't know if you've ever tried rolling fax paper in a windy passageway but let me tell you, it's bloody hard. The damm thing kept blowing away but turned out well in the end, it read 'Goodbye Idina, We'll Miss You' and inside each letter was a message, I think 'green girls are hot' and 'OyVey Menzel' were my favs.
We arrived back at the theatre giddy with excitement and a little overwhelmed by the whole thing, sat, down, the lights went out and off we went. I feel that I need to say that about 90% of the audience were there for Idina's Farewell and those that weren't soon got into the spirit of things. The audience were very very generous with every entrance which I thought was lovely, every cast member stepped up their game and it really was a show to remember. Helen entered; crowd went nuts, game over! When Idina entered I felt giddy inside, nervous that she got the entrance she deserved but also anxious that it wasn't too much. The crown went nuts and she just stood there, this moment for me is one of the most vulnerable moments in the whole show. Idina Menzel is a fiddler; she fiddles with her hands and constantly touches her head, this moment she could do none of those things. She's wide eyed and innocent and doesn't move, she just had to stand there whilst we cheered and I'm sure she was thinking, 'this is great, I love you all but shut up already I'm dying up here!'
•WAI - this was good as always but in my opinion not as great at the Matinee, still on form though. Still love her and Katie and I esp loved when Katie mouthed I love you as she wheeled herself out
•The Elphie (otherwise known as Idina's complete lack of rhythm) - the dancer in me cried for the last time!
•Popular - this was classic Helen, Idina and her funky faces made an appearance, I love how she claps for Helen as she does her 'lalalala' bit but pulls a face after she does it. Helen sticking her wand in her ear and hitting Idina on the butt with the wand had to be up there in the fav moments folder.
•The Bear Cub - this was the point that I think Idina started to lose it. She brought the cub down and rested her chin on it, up close you could see the light bulb go off above her head that said 'this is it, the last time' she closed her eyes briefly against the onslaught of emotion and took a breath (I think I might have cried at this point)
•As Katie entered and said 'we're all so very proud of you' she really meant it, there was such tenderness in her voice.
•Helen, Helen, Helen...What can I say? I was always a Kristin fan but I think I'm turning into a Dallilover, she cracks me up. Imagine if you will, Idina and Adam talking, Helen standing watching. Normally Helen just links arms with Adam but not tonight, oh no mama, tonight she went all out. Helen rested her head on Adam's shoulder and gave Idina the cutest puppy dog eyes I have ever seen, Adam knew something was up cos Idina couldn't speak her lines, Adam didn't dare look at Helen because he knew he'd laugh and the moment just stretched on. Every bone in Idina's body was on the verge of laughter and finally she mouthed (to Adam's questioning eyes) 'it's her', we all about lost the plot at that point. Some people have said Helen or Adam forgot their lines, no fricking way, they were too busy laughing and hamming it up to get them out.
•OSD - No NYC this time but a cheeky grin from Idina cos she knew people were wanting it
•Helen held 'best friend' so long and Idina gave her a 'you the shoot' look, Helen giggling at the end of best is so adorable like she surprised herself.
•No matter what Idina says, she does DEFY GRAVITY, she flew up and there was NO ONE THAT COULD BRING HER DOWN. This was amazing, girl was on form and sent chills down my spine, so many flashbulbs went off which kinda pissed me off, she's 15 feet in the air, give the girl a fricking break…
ACT 2.
We all knew this would be hard to watch, hard because it was nearly over and hard because we knew many tears were on there way. We needed Thank Goodness to get our breath back as Bella said but even a 24 break wouldn't have prepared me for the emotional journey that followed.
•WWOTE - I've always loved Katie for her performance (and for being an Idina fan girl before Idina arrived) but after this scene I love her more. The things that moved me were her crying after boq rejects her and Idina caressing her neck in such a loving gesture and her voice breaking on 'Elphaba, please don't go'. Normally she screams this but this time it was softer (I'm crying just thinking about it) and there were real tears in her voice. She reached out and stroked Idina's face and Idina's voice cracked right back, it was heartbreaking!
•James cried in WWOTE like he'd never cried before, when he says my 'my heart' I really did thinking it was hurting and breaking in two.
•ALSYM - again Adam riffed, he pulled it off better that in the Matinee, the song was beautiful as always but the hardest thing to hear was 'will I ever see you again' this was Idina and Adam and her voice is so heavy and even listening to it again, I can hear her shoulders shaking, just ugh!
•NGD - As Bella so beautifully put, Idina did herself so proud with this, she sung it as if to say ‘I AM IDINA MENZEL AND THIS IS MY FUCKING SONG’
• Idina singing I am the Wicked Witch of the West and everyone cheered cos baby, you're the only one for us...
For Good.
This was the bit I was not looking forward to, so it deserves its own section. If anyone ever had any doubts about the strength of Helen and Idina's friendship, they evaporated tonight. Helen floated down the stairs on her tears alone, you could tell Idina was not looking forward to this (she takes deep breathes and gulps when she's about to cry), they looked at each other and the song began. I should really call it a conversation, not a song because the first verse was spoken by Helen who was just too overcome. Helen squeaks out her words (esp. we) and it's just so hard to hear. Idina responded and seemed to pass on her strength to Helen who started to sing and they created a beautiful and real harmony up on that stage. There were moments I felt that I shouldn't be watching, moment that were between Helen and Idina because that's who it was on that stage, there was no Glinda and Elphie insight. They may as well of been standing at the airport saying goodbye to each other because it felt so personal, like peeking inside someone's window. When Idina sung 'and now whatever way our stories end' she completely lost it and could barely say it, which might be one of the saddest moments in the whole experience for me. The end was one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard, not because of melody or harmony but because of friendship, Helen returned some of the strength Idina gave her and carried her home, Helen's voice rose above Idina's and it felt like she was saying, 'lean on me, I've got you. They hugged and cried like they never wanted to let go and the audience cried with them every tear. Idina walked behind the curtain and held her fingers to her lips her entire body shaking and she was gone.
As much as I wanted to watch and wait for Idina to come back I could not take my eyes off Helen, she was destroyed on that stage. She picked up the hat, kicked the Wizard to the kerb and approached her bubble. The entire time, esp. in the bubble she was crying. Not just little tears but waterfalls down her cheeks stood in the bubble waiting for her friend. Idina reappeared and seemed to have composed herself until she stepped forward and then just cried through her last song. The curtain came down and the theatre went nuts.
Helens Full Speech for Idina (amist lots of ring and hugging)
"As most of you obviously already know, this is Idina Menzel's final show. This is Idina Menzel's final performance of Wicked with us here in London, and probably her final performance as Elphaba - the role she so stunningly created - ever. I think I speak on behalf of everybody on stage, back stage and everyone who has sat in those seats for the last four months, when I say what a joy and privilege it has been to have her here. You all know and love her as Elphaba, but we all know and love her as Idina. That is why.. When my agent rang me and told me I had the part, nothing was more terrifying than the prospect of sharing a stage with the Idina Menzel. With her Tony Award winning reputation that goes with it. I'd heard her on the cd! And I was totally terrified by the thought of having to compete with such incredible talent. But in the 6 months we've been working together, Idina and I never been any competition. Right from the beginning she has offered herself as a collaborator, friend, company lynchpin and a true leading lady" Idina then interupts and says a very tearful "thank you", Helen cheekily says "I'm not finished yet *laughter* having not only created the role from the earliest beginings of the creative workshops but also having played her for a year and a half on broadway she would be forgiven for coming to the rehersal process with some preconceptions, infact it can't have been easy waiting for the rest of us to catch her up, stumbling with our lines, standing in a new position everyday, hitting ourselves on the head with our wands... repeatadly, failing utterly to swing in on ropes,(Adam had the good grace to mouth 'only once') but she was never impatient, or intolerant, in fact quite the opposite, she came to the process to rediscover the story with an open heart, a clean slate and a new family. Idina's generosity onstage and off as an actress and as a girl *Idina giggles* made a daunting prospect the most joyous experience I've had in my career so far, and i know that she has touched every member of this company in a similar way... The word diva has had some bad press *everyone laughs* but to me, the true mark of a diva is how she carries herself and thats got something to do with humility, her groundedness, an ability to laugh at oneself without expectations... Seeing Idina in one of London's poshest bars, holding a small tin of crisps, unable to get a meal and exclaiming "they said I was going to be the toast of the town" or the look on her face as she valiantly tried to learn from someone who shall remain nameless, the true and correct way of how to bow before royalty, made me realise that a true diva is loveable, she is humble, generous, she is awfully talented, admired by all, she is the toast of town. she is Idina Menzel. *cheering that goes on forever* Darling Dee, we wish you all the success with your album and everything you take on next, and know that here in London, you will be sorely missed and on a personal level, you will always be with me, like a handprint on my heart."
My fav moments have to be
•Hearing the clapping and stamping and Helen turning to Nigel and saying 'you might want to go get a cigarette, this is going to take awhile'
•Telling Idina how wonderful she was and hearing Idina sob and say 'thank you' to which Helen cheekily responded 'I'm not done yet'
•The cast reading our banner as they came on stage and grinning at us and seeing cast members crying on stage
•And the absolute sweetest moment that Helen called Idina 'Darling Dee', just ahhhhh!
We left the theatre to be assaulted by SD which was crazy and busy but Idina once again was a Diva (see Helen's speech for a true definition of Dee the Diva). Idina spoke to many and touched everyone and changed some peoples lives for the better, she got to the campers and was just lovely, smiling being very touchy and huggy (cue Idina groping by us and her which she see just smiled at) and getting pictures. We posed for one pic but she as talking to A so said 'let's do it again, I was hugging' after a few minutes of very precious time spent with 'our toast of the town' she was on her way.
We didn't want the night to end and the next 24 hours was full of love and companionship and beautiful people. We headed home and chatted and laughed all the way, we woke up the next day feeling hung over and we'd lost someone, we had but we'd always have the knowledge that we privileged to be in front row for Idina's Farewell to London. We didn't want this feeling to end, I was so glad to have Bish Bosh and Cinderella with me as they 'got it'; we each knew how the other was feeling without explanation. We got a call and all headed off to spend New Year together and I loved it. At one point the London eye was lit up green, cue lots of 'it's greeeeeeeeen' yelling and silly laughter. How will I ever forget Jon's NGD over the square light outside of Westminster and various burst of wicked songs along the way.
This really has been one of the best experiences I've had, to the Wicked 10, you guys are amazing and beautiful and I'm so happy to know you, bring on Wicked Night! To Adam and Helen and all the cast, thank you for doing Idina proud and to Idina, you are a beautiful soul who shared your laughter and charm and awesome talent with us, thank you, come back soon…..
As Helen said to Idina on sat night 'SHE IS IDINA MENZEL!!!!!