I told my Keith-Urban-fan buddies that I was going to see "Defying Gravity" performed live in Des Moines last week. I couldn't resist, since that is the title of Keith's most recent album and there is certainly little I would like more than to get to see him and the band perform every track live! We only got to see some of the songs performed during this year's tour. Hit the Ground Running, Sweet Thing, Kiss a Girl, Only You Can Love Me This Way, and Til Summer Comes Around were on the set list at every show. If Ever I Could Love and Standing Right in Front of You were included early in the tour, but apparently the show was running too long and, sadly, they were dropped from most of the later concerts. I was lucky enough to see Keith sing "I'm In" at a backstage experience, and some East-coasters were treated to "Thank You"as the US tour came to a close. I hope we get to see the remaining tracks (and also I'm In and Thank You) performed live in the spring. So far Keith's presence at only a couple summer festivals has been confirmed. More arena shows pretty pretty please Keith!!

Anyway, the Defying Gravity that I was actually seeing live is one of the songs in the Broadway musical Wicked, now on its second tour to various US cities including our state capitol Des Moines. My daughter Anne goes to Iowa State University, not far from Des Moines, so she and I had a "girls' night out" to see Wicked there. We are both fans of the Wizard of Oz and couldn't resist the temptation to see another side or alternative view of that famous story. I picked her up from her part-time job and we made a quick visit to her new apartment so I could meet her kitty Warhol and see her furniture finds. Then off to the big city, grabbing a quick dinner in Ankeny on the way (where for the very first time I saw my daughter eat chicken noodle soup! can you believe it!? All of my daughters are pretty peculiar eaters, especially given that Mom will eat just about anything that will hold still long enough = LOL).

I had begun reading the Wicked novel some time ago but then accidentally left it behind at the Mohegan Sun Casino Hotel and never got around to getting another copy. So I had been introduced to the main characters and was excited to see how the story would unfold.

The large Des Moines Civic Center was sold out for Wicked even though it had been playing in town a couple weeks. We had decent seats in row U of the sharply tiered main floor so could see perfectly. I thoroughly enjoyed the tale of how Glinda (of "good witch" fame) and Elphaba (later to be THE Wicked Witch) had become unlikely best friends while in school and the various storylines that provided new insight into the origins of the Cowardly Lion, TinMan and Scarecrow. The songs of the musical fit the tale and were enjoyable even if not destined to become classics. The dialog contained many quick references to the old Wizard of Oz as well as more modern day issues so you had to stay on your toes to catch them all (I like smart theatre!). It was a thoroughly entertaining evening I would recommend to anyone who had the opportunity to catch this fun and thoughtful play.