Wicked Clock

[LeadingMan051990]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 3:19am

Ok, so I've seen the show twice and this has always bugged me. Why is the clock in the background seem like its been turn about 30 or so degrees. The number on the top where 12 o clock should be is 2 o clock in wicked. Any special reason for this?

Thanks

[DG]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 3:24am

Alternative reality.

And the clock itself only makes real sense if you've read the book.

[knows_too_much]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 3:45am

It's the one real callback to the books, I wish they would abandon the clock and dragon entirly.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 4:29am

The entire set is the Time Dragon Clock. It's as if the whole show is enacted (by tiny mechanical people) inside of it. But if you haven't read the book, I agree that it's meaning and significance is lost on the audience.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 4:52am

This is why it is with out a doubt the ****test set on broadway. :)

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 6:46am

I agree that this set is awful--I was kind of stunned that someone mentioned it as one of the best in that thread, since it clearly makes no sense in the context of the show unless you've read the book. I don't even think that it looks nice enough to warrant the utter randomness of having the Time Dragon Clock thing thrown in there without explanation. Miscommunication between the set designer and book writer?

[Justin D]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 8:21am

I totally love the set, even before i read the book. But i do admit that on tour it looks terrible because the dragon is too prominent. But it could be worse... Suppose they did it to look like the Wizard of Oz movie, that would totally suck.

[Elphabuff2]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 10:08am

If you look at the writing on the opening back set, it says "Sidereal Time" or something of the like. "Sidereal" means "star time", so I dunno' if that has any significance. This time does not coincide with "our clock" because it is measured with respect to stars. In other words, a sidereal day lasts 23 hours 56 minutes. As someone posted previously, I suppose it's an alternate reality.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 3:22pm

Definitely an alternate reality, and the Wicked set does not suck. It doesn't matter fundamentally in the least if the Time Dragon Clock back-story is lost on audiences.

I think it's an excellent design whether you get the unspoken references or not. If you do, it's that much more clever. If not (as people I went with didn't), it still comes off as a fascinating alternate world.

Most people don't get the Flatheads in Wizomania either. Or the Byzantine architectural elements in the Emerald City. Or the turn-of-the-20th-century fashion references, or the blending of gender in the chorus clothing…

It's not going to ruin the show. These researched details add a rich “history” to the visuals.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 3:23pm

It's a beautiful set to look at. That's why it's a great set.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 10:54pm

It's an amazing set and yes- although it is wonderful to look at and stands on it's own- it makes more sense to those who have read the books.

[waddledee524]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 11:20pm

I like how it's put at broadwayabridged.com :

BOTH OF THE AUDIENCE MEMBERS WHO READ THE "WICKED" NOVEL: The dragon is moving! What an excellent representation of the fantastic ideas conjured up from the original source material!

AUDIENCE MEMBERS WHO DIDN'T READ THE BOOK: Uh... so, what's up with that dragon?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 12:20am

Yeah, but I guess it's still a cool effect to start the show.

Also, what exactly is the signifcance? And before you ask, I've read the book, but I was a little muddy on the clock. Not sure I really got what was going on with it. The book is actually pretty "adult" and Gregory Maguire has such a vast vocabulary. Updated On: 7/7/06 at 12:20 AM

[EugLoven]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 12:40am

There is a MUCH easier and correct answer to the original question:

The clock goes up to 13.

Look closely, my friends, and you'll see the Roman numerals go to XIII, meaning the clock face has been divided for an hour every 27.7 degrees, instead of every 30 degrees.

Hence, the tilt.

"The melting occurred at the thirteenth hour, the direct result of a bucket of water thrown by a female child."

Additionally, four is represented as IIII instead of IV. Just some other random "Wicked" trivia to throw into the bucket. I personally love the set and it is and remains to be one of the largest, if not THE largest reason I love the show.

[mathewbrock]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 1:18am

Thanks for mentioning the 13th hour. I was hoping someone was going to bring that up. The "thirteenth hour," also known as "the witching hour," is a common reference when it comes to talk of witches and the supernatural. Just google "thirteenth hour, witches" and you'll see a host of references.