Wicked

Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre, 2007

Cast: Kerry Ellis, Helen Dallimore, Adam Garcia, Miriam Margolyes, Nigel Planer, Martin Ball, James Gillan, Katie Rowley Jones, Shone White, Annalene Beechey, Simon Adkins, Paul Ayres, Elinor Collett, Joseph Connor, Nadine Cox, Sarah Earnshaw, Jye Frasca, Maria Graciano, Nicky Griffiths, Simon Hardwick, Pippa Higgs, Melissa Hunte, Kady-Jo Jackson, Cassidy Janson, Caroline Keiff, Joshua Lacey, Andy Mace, Adam Murray, Dominic Shaw, Philippa Stefani, Craig Stein, Oliver Tompsett, Tim Walton, Kerry Washington

Music & lyrics: Stephen Schwartz

Book: Winnie Holzman

Director: Joe Mantello

I saw this seven months after it opened in London so I missed Idina Menzel as Elphaba but I did get to see Miriam Margolyes as Madame Morrible. I think I'd read the book before seeing it and really liked it, and afterwards bought the cast recording which is just extraordinary. There's no greater pleasure than singing along to Defying Gravity on a car journey. I've meant to go back and see it but there's always something new. Perhaps I'll use it as an excuse to visit somewhere it's touring to. It would be a good thing to do before the film opens next winter.

Unusually for me I still have the ticket:

£50 is still generally my upper limit for tickets now. I could afford more but I'm also aware that my Mum manages on a state pension and the idea of spending £250 for a theatre ticket feels obscene. The same seat now is £64.75 which given the way costs have risen is very surprising. The best seats are £182.75 which is far less than lots of shows that are nowhere near as good. I think I've talked myself into going again.