GHD Farewell Cast Speedpaint - "If I Had my Time Again"

Okay I know this is my third GHD speed paint in a row but occasions just keep popping up. GHD played its final performance tonight. I have been dreading today for a month now, but it's not as bleak as it could have been. Some who follow me on my other social media accounts may know, my parents surprised me with tickets to GHD on September 2nd! Yes that is one day after my last speedpaint where I talked about how upset I was that I would never be able to see the show live.
And this show is AMAZING! I cannot put into words how brilliant it is. Listening to the soundtrack is not enough. You need to experience this musical live to fully appreciate it, and that makes me even more upset that it's closing. The visuals are stunning and the dialogue is spot on. The choreography is so so complex yet pulled off perfectly! The message really hit me when seeing it live, and both me and my mom were in tears by the end. GHD is such a special show, and it's lessons can be applied to your whole life. It really makes you reexamine your actions and the consequences they have, and how some things can't be avoided or changed but you just have to learn to cope. It reflects on how the only true way to happiness is through helping others rather than the short-lasting joy that comes from benefiting yourself. I have trouble letting go of things to the point where they start to consume me, so this musical really touched that aspect of me and in a way that has helped me come to terms with the show closing. The character of Phil Connors is drawn out perfectly in the musical interpretation, really delving into the psychology and philosophy behind his actions and making his development and character arc very present and believable. I never thought I could grow so much sympathy with a character like Phil. They also further develop and round out other background characters more so than the movie, which supports another message that it promotes about the problem with holding on to first impressions. Phil was quick to judge these people without really learning about them, which later came back to haunt him when he faced the same problem, trying to get Rita to like him even though she was quite literally stuck to a first impression of him despite the fact that he began to change. There are lots of ironic lessons such as this where the show forces Phil to experience the impact his actions have on not just others but ultimately himself. All in all the show is fantastic in how it lets these messages and lessons sink into the audience.
And don't even get me STARTED on the cast! I met them twice, once after each performance, and they are the most humble, kind, and gracious group of people I have ever come across. I had prepared a letter for each of them which I gave to them the first time. After the night show it was raining, but everyone still came out in the pouring rain to see the fans. What shocked me is that they recognized me and thanked me for the letter, and what shocked me even more is when I was invited backstage for a private tour! The tour was actor led and included me, my parents, and one other lady and was incredible. It is an indescribable feeling to be backstage on your favorite show, talking with the actors and hearing insider stories. I saw their main office where they had a wall covered in fanart, including my own, and my note was posted on their announcement board for all to see. I was, and still am, so moved by this whole experience. It was unforgettable.
What makes GHD different from other musicals, besides the message and the cast, is how you fall in love with it the more you think about it. Usually after about three to four months an obsession starts to die down a bit or stays stagnant, but with GHD it has grown all on its own. Talk to anybody and they'll tell you the same thing. I'm not sure how they do it, but somehow this show is impossible to fall out of. I have been a fan for almost five months now, and my love for the show was nothing when I first got into it when comparing it to how I feel about it now. With all other musicals, Hamilton, Heathers, Dear Evan Hansen, Be More Chill, etc. I would obsess over them for a month or two but after a while it was never as strong as when I first got into them. There is always something more to love about GHD, and it's a euphoric feeling to fall in love with something over and over again. I can honestly say that recently Groundhog Day has been a big source of my happiness.
This show is closing way too soon, and it saddens me that no one else after the 17th will be able to experience the unbelievable joy that I, along with the rest of the GHD fandom, has gotten out of this show.