Bright lights, ‘Wicked’ city

Glinda the good witch stole the show “Wicked” and swept it back to her home state of Texas.

Actually, Katie Rose Clarke scepter twirled, cheer led and kicked up her heels in a free-spirited performance at the Broadway musical.

But what I found most charming were the “Bushisms.” They were the side show of the musical that is being staged through April 5 at the Keller Auditorium in Portland. A “Bushism” is taking a long word and making it longer by adding extra syllables as president 43 was prone to do.

It was all part of a “Wicked” weekend where I was acculturobfuscated. That last “word” is a Bushism. A few more Bushisms will be mixerated in below, just for funeration.

Out in the lobby, during “halftime,” my partner in “The Wizard of Oz” fascination bumped into a Channel 2 anchorceleb whose name rhymes with sap. At the moment of bumpintoism, my partner could not remember Deborah’s name and almost said, “Hey, you, I really love your work on TV. You are a really big hero of mine, you TV personality, you” but thought better of it and left Knapp to her souvenir shopping.

The trip also included watching other people shop. We witnessed Six-Pack-a-Day Man shopping at a major bookstore in the finanrichal section. Maybe he’ll get wealthy enough to afford his foul-smelling cigarette addiction.

We also enjoyed a visit to a brand name loud-yelling restaurant. How come in sitcoms the group that dines in such places has a pleasant visit with no major background noise whereas in real life absolute bedlam prevails. The couples could be fighting. No one would know the tenor of the conversations unless it is revealed by body language — and by the throwing of mugs and frozen desserts.

The show itself was entertaining. I did well when the lights were bright and the action was actionating. When the lights dimmed and the action waned, my early-to-rise, early-to-bed eyes wanted to nod off.

The main character, the Wicked Witch of the West, was born green. She was ostradifferentsized by her family and her school, yet hung in there and made a significant contribution to her world. Anyone who has been labeled as different, unique or weird can relate.

The scenery was terrific. Sometimes it was dramatic enough that the backexplodrops arrested my eyeballs and I almost missed the action occurring in front, on stage.

What surprised me, too, was how hilariuproarious the show was. I was not expecting the comedic elements. The twists came as a pleasant spice to an already tasty dish.

The road trip was a great way to celebrate the start of spring. We especilutely enjoyed driving into the Columbia Gorge and witnessing hail, driving rain and what looked like a downspout over the river. The cloud rose 1,000 feet in the air, mirroring the gray cliffs to both the south and the north.

The rainbows were bonuserrific.

Driving until finding a rainbow is an enjoyable hobby for the romantiliciously inclined.

It was great, howthoughever, to get beyond the rain shadow into the desert sunshine.

While I was glad to get further acculurobfuscated, home never looked so fine.

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