Why I Love the Wicked Witch of the West
When polled about who is the worst villain of all time, did you know that The Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz is usually in first place?
I never thought she’d be my all-time favorite character; after all, don’t we love to hate villains? I loved watching this beloved movie every year on TV as a kid, but never thought the green meanie would become a sort of role model for me.
I was shy in high school, but I had a hideous laugh. When my friends dared me to try out for the spring musical, I took them up on it.
The choir director asked me to read Dorothy’s part, most likely because I was a well-behaved student, but I had other plans. My chance came and the first thing I did was belt out the wickedest laugh I could muster and then speak my lines in the voice characterized by the late Margaret Hamilton – who, by the way, was a sweet kindergarten teacher before gracing Hollywood.
Needless to say, I landed the part.
It changed my life. The quiet, shy, make-no-waves teenage girl broke out of her shell and hit the stage with fury, surprising many. This experience proved to me I can do anything I set my mind to and that I love participating in theater. It gave me confidence and birthed in me a love for public speaking.
That experience was more than forty years ago, but I look to it as a turning point for me and consider The Wicked Witch of the West my hero.
Who’s your role model, hero, or person who changed your life for the better? Tell me about it in the comments!
I remember that first performance night as if it were yesterday… sitting in the audience, knowing my sister was about to come out on stage with her witch’s cackling laugh… my heart was pounding. I think I was more nervous than you were! You did an amazing job, I wish we had video recorders back then. But my mind is still clear, when I close my eyes i can still picture the stage an you coming out! So proud of you! You are my hero!!