February's Coffee Refill

Victor, you are alright!
Carrie, we were on the same block.
Pixie, you sure the level of talent on Broadway wouldn't catch your attention?
I love plays. Musicals and dramas. Broadway, regional even a good high school production. A Chorus Line was my first Broadway show. I was blown away! Phantom is my favorite to date too.

Thanks Dave. I agree about Broadway. My wife and I used to go at least twice a year B.C. - before children. Musicals are our favorite. Oddly, we were not overly impressed with Phantom. I think they had a problem with the sound or something because we could not hear clearly. We loved a number of musicals including Damn Yankees, Guys and Dolls and Kiss of the Spider Woman. We were not thrilled with Fosse.

It's funny, individual tastes, individual performances. I could never understand why so many people loved Les Miserable. I thought it was accurately titled.

Sacre Bleu!!! Didn't see that one.

You slept through Wicked?????!!!!!! I had goose bumps with the song..."Defying Gravity"

Artist: Wicked
Song: Defying Gravity
Album: Wicked (2003 Original Broadway Cast)
[" Wicked (2003 Original Broadway Cast) " CD]

Glinda:
Elphaba - why couldn't you have stayed calm for once,
instead of flying off the handle!

I hope you're happy
I hope you're happy now
I hope you're happy how you
Hurt your cause forever
I hope you think you're clever

Elphaba:
I hope you're happy
I hope you're happy too
I hope you're proud how you
Would grovel in submission
To feed your own ambition

Both:
So though I can't imagine how
I hope you're happy right now...

Glinda:
Elphie, listen to me - just say you're sorry...

You can still be with the wizard
What you've worked and waited for
You can have all you ever wanted...

Elphaba:
I know...But I don't want it - NO - I can't want it
anymore...

Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap

It's time to try
Defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
And you can't pull me down...

Glinda:
Can't I make you understand, you're having delusions of grandeur...?

Elphaba:
I'm through accepting limits
'Cuz someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But 'till I try, I'll never know
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love - I guess I have lost
Well, if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost

I'd sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I'm defying gravity
And you can't pull me down...

Glinda, come with me. Think of what we could do - together.

Unlimited
Together we're unlimited
Together we'll be the greatest team
There's ever been, Glinda,
Dreams the way we planned 'em

Glinda:
If we work in tandem

Both:
There's no fight we cannot win
Just you and I
Defying gravity
With you and I
Defying gravity

Elphaba:
They'll never bring us down...
Well? Are you coming?

Glinda:
I hope you're happy
Now that you're choosing this...

Elphaba:
You too - I hope it brings you bliss

Both:
I really hope you get it
And you don't live to regret it
I hope you're happy in the end
I hope you're happy, my friend...

Elphaba:
So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky
As someone told me lately -
Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me -

Tell them how I
Am defying gravity!
I'm flying high
Defying gravity!
And soon I'll match them in renown
And nobody in all of Oz
No wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!

Glinda:
I hope you're happy!

Citizens of Oz:
Look at her, shes wicked!
Get her!

Elphaba:
...bring me down!

Citizens of Oz:
No one mourns the wicked
So we've got to bring her...

Elphaba:
Ahhhh!

Citizens of Oz:
Down!

Victor - 29th street and 20th Ave - over by Con Ed. I spent summers there in the late 60's and 70's

I still say "achoooo" LOL

Wow Anita - two blocks away! I went to Immaculate Conception grammar school (and church) on 29th street.

Dawn - Gesundheit!!

Anita and Victor,
My husband lived on 21st Street near 20th Ave, also near ConEd, in the 70s. He went to high school right near where you lived, Victor. Small world.

Funny J. B. stories, Victor.

It really is a small world. I've learned several times that one must be very careful about what one says!!! You never who knows who.

Where is 20th Ave.??

Good morning all,

Wow Loretta - another one! Yes, I lived on the street of that High School. Spent a good chunk of my childhood playing in the yards that surrounded that school. My mom still works in the cafeteria there!

Dave, 20th ave is the northernmost street in Astoria. It runs along the Con Edison property for quite a long stretch. That tract of land that Con Ed has is huge. That is the area where the East River turns and joins the LI Sound.

Thank you. I guess I was too stuck on how the avenues run in Manhattan.

Here ya go Dave

Well, thank you!

I got up c. 3 am for a 5:30 flight from Logan to JFK, we took a cab to the Gershwin. Had exactly enough time for one piece of pizza each, then to the matinee. I have the constant fatigue of MS. Besides, Anita, I read the book and my kids have both memorized the soundtrack while I was listening! My pianist daughter is working on the accompaniment to 'Loathing' and they both sing it. I'd love to see it again, and I've never seen Phantom. Dave, your kids will remember the experience long after you've finished paying for it, LOL.

We saw more shows when I was a kid and Mom was paying. Little Shop of Horrors, Starlight Express, The Nutcracker, etc.

xxx, Carrie

Never seen anything on Broadway (I have been to Radio City to see the Rockettes). I saw Phantom in Toronto and loved it.

When I was was young (about age 11-14) my dad was the office manager for a real estate firm. the owner also owned a summer tent theatre-in-the-round, and dad was his accountant. they did musicals with companies that came in with a star and maybe a few supporting cast members. I think the rest of the actors/singers were local. I didn't get to go to every show, but quite a few. and I had some signed programs...no idea what happened to them. I remember Bye-Bye Birdie & Oklahoma! were 2 of my favorites, but I don't know who the stars were.

Wow, that must have been terrific! I still remember when you had to wait at least a year before they'd get around to showing The Sound of Music or Oklahoma on TV. When the started putting them on videotapes I bought them all, well, all they had in that store that day. I suppose now I have a vintage collection of videotapes!

xxxx, Carrie

Gram, My wife & I are pretty sure we saw Nathan Lane as the visiting star at the tiny Stoney Creek Puppet theatre production of arsenic and old lace. He was a "known actor" then but not the megastar he is now.

Then I can totally understand Carrie - they tested me last year for MS. I think I dodged that bullet and it was just an isolated incident.

Wicked was base on a book by Gregory Maguire. It's on my 'to read' list as well as a few of his other books like, Mirror Mirror, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister and Son of a Witch.

Anita, My daughter loved the book Wicked.

I hear that the musical was only 'loosely' based on it.

I know that I read it, but nothing was particularly memorable sticks in my brain. I disliked Son of a Witch. But I read so much, it has to be very extraordinary for me to remember. I think I liked the plot of the musical better than the book.

That's great, Anita, that you don't have MS. When I first was diagnosed, I had no idea what it was! I found out the hard way, LOL.

xxxx, Carrie