A Night at The Kennedy Center: 'Wicked' Fun

After the final curtain dropped at the Kennedy Center, my first impression of “Wicked” was that it was different from the book.

For those of you who have read Gregory Maguire’s novel, you’ll understand this came as a disappointment. I loved the book.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the play – and the songs and the talent of the actors and actresses were unsurpassed – but it was different from the book. That’s all I’ll say about that.

This Tony Award-winning musical is on tour at The Kennedy Center through Aug. 21. It explores the true nature of good and evil through the “untold” story of the witches of Oz. The play is funny and touching and, unlike the novel, definitely family-friendly. I kept hoping I’d run into Sasha and Malia.

My husband and I had no brush with celebrity on Thursday night, although that might have had more to do with the fact our seats were located on the second-to-last row in the highest tier of the Opera House. (I think they’re called the “cheap seats?”) The Kennedy Center’s website indicates tickets start at $37, but I couldn’t find any for less than $55 several months ago. Brent Sausser definitely wouldn’t have gone for the $250 Orchestra Level seats.

Before the show, we had a chance to take in the view from the roof terrace. It was so amazing, I almost forgot I was drinking an $11 glass white wine from a plastic cup. The dark spires of looked like Hogwarts from that distance, and further still, the National Cathedral shimmered through the smog and heat in the late evening light.

It was a great time. We got to take in a Broadway play. We ate cheeseburgers at at 10:45 p.m. The cab ride from Q Street was less than $10. Best of all, I didn't have to step foot near Times Square.

Who needs New York?