Melbourne. So good, it’s wicked.
You don’t have to travel halfway around the world to see truly amazing stuff. I mean, you can. Seriously, don’t let me discourage you if you want to spend 31 and a half hours in a tin can. Go right ahead. There are some fabulous things to see the world over…
But what I’m saying is that we often forget that there are some mighty fine things to see and do right here at home.
On the weekend we wandered into the city to catch up on a few exhibitions we hadn’t had a chance to see yet at both the NGV International and the NGV Potter galleries.
Of particular note was the Andreas Gursky exhibition at NGV International.
While we were in New York, The Poolboy was really keen to go see Wicked on Broadway. But we couldn’t get good tickets, and the ones we could get were really, really expensive. So we gave it a miss.
However, it nagged at The Poolboy and when we got back he looked up ticket availability for Wicked at The Regent Theatre in Melbourne. Lo and behold, we were able to get great seats for a Sunday matinee, at less than half what it would have cost us in New York.
It hasn’t been the happiest of times since we got home, as The Poolboy’s beloved Granny passed away in England the day after we got home. So we thought going to see Wicked would be a nice little boost.
It was good.
I can’t say it was great. I don’t want to sound like I’m all, “When I was in New York,” but… compared with Hairspray, I found Wicked a little forgettable. The set is amazing. The costumes are great. But the storyline and songs were just not my thing. Not nearly enough tapping or jazz hands for my liking.
However, I know other people who have seen it and loved it. Isn’t that the great thing about theatre, we can each take away from it different experiences? And we’re lucky to have a thriving theatrical industry here in Melbourne.
So there’s plenty to do right here in Melbourne. (Although I wouldn’t say no to another overseas trip either…!)
PS. Happy bloggiversary to me. Two years ago I tentatively started blogging, with little expectation of what lay ahead. It has been an amazing journey…thanks to all of you who have come along for the ride with me – you make great travel companions!
