Professional Time Off

[qos]

Today, instead of going into the office and being a minion, I will be attending the regional meeting of Spiritual Directors International, taking part in fellowship and discussions with my professional/vocational peers.

It's a good feeling.


Also on the agenda for today: a visit to one of the better metaphysical bookstores in the North End to buy candles for my Ereshkigal/Underworld altar, and dinner with _storyteller_.

To do in the days to come: scan and post a couple of photos of my daughter from the Harry Potter paseltongue cruise; post in a bit more detail about what's been going on in my spiritual life; update my LJ profile and perhaps change the name of this journal; balance my checkbook and pay my bills; visit another metaphysical store (this one in the South) to buy an item that's haunted me for months; vaccuum the floors; and work on turning "The Lamp and the Mirror" into a workshop/class series.

Comments

[amqu.livejournal.com]

I miss "The Lamp and the Mirror."

Wicked...

[princesca.livejournal.com]

This is completely unrelated to your current post, but you were the one who pointed me at Wicked, and I happened to find a 16-part recording of a live performance, on YouTube. I also read the book a couple of months ago. It rocks!! I changed my MySpace layout to the promo poster logo, and have 'Defying Gravity" as my song. Thanks so much for the tip!

I have to say though, I do NOT like how they changed the ending of the book, in the musical. I was really disappointed in that. Also - seems like they didn't concentrate enough on the friendship between Galinda and Elphaba - I didn't -feel- it like I did in the book.

Still probably going to see in live on stage in January, though!!

Re: Wicked...

[qos.livejournal.com]

It's always interesting to see what different opinions people have about the book and the movie. They are such different stories it's hardly right to give them the same name.

Personally, I didn't enjoy the book at all, and I thought the friendship between Elphaba and Glinda was much more real on stage. I also liked the ending of the play better, but I'm a romantic.

But I'm glad you like "Defying Gravity"! It's such a powerful anthem.

I'll be interested in seeing what you think of the play if you actually see it in person.

Re: Wicked...

[princesca.livejournal.com]

***Spoiler alert*** If you haven't read the book, seen the movie, stop reading for Oz's sake! I'll try to be as vague as possible.

I dislike what they did with Elphaba at the end of the musical for the same reason I dislike what they did with... jeez. I can't say that either 'cause I don't know if you're caught up on your Battlestar Galactica!

Hmm. Okay. Let's just say that some stories end in a very bittersweet way, but confirm, to me, who the real hero of the piece is. When a revision comes along and changes that all up, it is, for me, like they've stolen the honor that was given to them. I mean, imagine if Eponine from Les Mis was miraculously resurrected by a nearby doctor! Elphaba was never one, in my opinion, for a happy ending. Bittersweet, sure... tragic heroism, definitely, but happy, ride-off-into-the-sunset ending? Meh. I liked what I saw of the musical, I just wish they'd kept more true to the book.

Then again, it's a musical... they've got to leave people feeling uplifted... it's just the way musicals are. :)

Re: Wicked...

[qos.livejournal.com]

I agree with you that some characters shouldn't have happy endings, that it's inconsistent with who they are and the nature of their struggle. I think that I would have felt differently if I had connected to the Elphaba of the book as a heroine. But because I didn't feel for her, didn't respect her, her death was meaningless. She didn't have the stature for tragedy, only pathos.

If the musical had been handled differently, if it had taken a darker, more dramatic tone while having the stronger Elphaba, I could have accepted, even loved, an ending more in line with the book.

Re: Wicked...

[princesca.livejournal.com]

Wow - it's so funny how two people who seem to have similar interests can read the same book and feel so differently about the main character. Then again, I have a soft spot for semi-flawed heroines. I think that's why I love Starbuck so much. Anyway, I came out of Wicked ready to change my name to Elphaba, practically. (Well... not -really-... but you get the idea.)

Funny and neat, in a way. :)

Re: Wicked...

[qos.livejournal.com]

Wow - it's so funny how two people who seem to have similar interests can read the same book and feel so differently about the main character.

I know. queenofhalves really likes the book, even though we have a lot of other things in common.