Aida vs. Wicked

Well? Which one do you prefer? And why?

I personally say Aida, but by a thin sliver (that sliver being the fact that it was my very first Broadway show and so it has that soft spot.). Each show has components that are better than the other. I think, comparing Aida's OBC to Wicked's OBC, it's a draw, because * Heather *, Adam and Sherie, and Idina and Kristin are all amazing in their parts. It's as if it was written for them. Music-wise, I prefer Aida (although Popular and Defying Gravity are so catchy!). Dialogue and plot-wise, I prefer Wicked (better one-liners and cleverly written). Costumes are a draw. Sets...Wicked is more elabrate, but Aida's is more creative. Any thoughts? (A newbie Broadway fan and I were debating this. She's partial to Wicked.)

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I love Wicked and Aida.... but I'm far more partial to Wicked as a whole, whereas, I much prefer to listen to Aida than see it onstage. I was never really fond of the staging of Aida -- I'm not sure why.

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wicked. although i haven't actually SEEN aida.

Oh wow, dont know which is better. I can never compare shows saying which one is better. They are all unique IMO but ill play!

You are right with the OBC. All the people in both shows are fabulous.

Music: AIDA wins on this one. There is not one song i skip over or dont like to listen too. In WICKED the songs i like i LOVE but there are others that if i never hear them again i dont care (i.e. something bad or wonderful)

Sets: WICKED is much more elaborate and i do like it more. I love the bridge in I'm Not that Girl and Thank Goodness plus everything else in that number set wise.

Ensemble: AIDA. I felt i had to mention this. I have to give them so much credit. It is a small cast and each have to play so many different characters and have different costumes and makeup. For example the girls in "my strongest suit" have all their quick costume changes in that number alone, then have to take off all that amazing glittery colorful make-up and be covered in dirt and play a slave in the next scene. And the men are slaves one minute and guards the next. Just thought i'd give them credit!!

Costumes: Draw!! i cant decide. WICKED has the liberty to make up their own costumes because it is a made up place. AIDA's setting is an actual place and time but they took some liberties of their own but they are still fabulous. Cant say enough about "My Strongest Suits" outfits.

Spectacle: Draw: loved the Act I Finale in WICKED, but it was with the combination with Idina's powerhouse of a voice. When i watched the pool scene in AIDA and got sprayed with the mist i loved it. I liked AIDAs because you couldnt tell, or atleast i couldnt, how the girls were swimming, where in WICKED you could see how it worked.

Plot: WICKED. I agree with you. I have a soft spot for the funny refrences to the movie and the one liners. Even the one "word-ers" if you dont mind me making up a new word. "Blonde" cracks me up everytime i see/hear it.

OK so thats 2 for AIDA and 2 for WICKED and 2 DRAWS .. lol i have no clue!

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LOL "Blonde" is a great line. But for me, I only really started to warm up to the show when Kristin bitched, "The artichoke is steamed." Hooo boy.

I would kill to see Adam and Heather back for Aida. THEN the real challenge begins. (PS. NYCBabe, agreed, stunt casting is just wrong - Micky Dolenz as Zoser, to name one of several, has diminished my high opinion of Aida. I'm sad that they're closing, but what would be next? Kelis as Aida, costarring Orlando Bloom as Radames and Britney Spears as Amneris??)

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I would give it 100% hands down to AIDA. If you were lucky enough to see the show with Heather Headley and actually hear her belt out "Easy As A Life" or in "Dance of the Robe", you'll understand why I prefer it.
-Matt

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I totally agree about needing to see Heather in person to rest my case. Her rendition of "Gods Love Nubia" and "Elaborate Lives" give me chills, even just listening to the CD. And she's a phenomenal actress to boot! Deborah doesn't move me the way Heather does, but she certainly seems better than Toni Braxton!

I enjoy a lot of the songs in Wicked, but there's something about it that doesn't appeal to me the same way Aida does. I think it's because it seems like a lot of the Wicked numbers rely too much on the chorus, whereas each Aida song is sort of a showstopping number for someone in the cast. Does that make any sense? Maybe I just need to hear the Wicked recording more often.

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Type-A-Tiff: The point you made about AIDA vs Wicked songs makes perfect sense to me. I know exactly where you're coming.

I loved Wicked when I saw it, but I have to admit that it's not the most ingenious score on broadway. However, imho, Aida is not much better. Both are wonderfully simple and melodic, both need strong actors or singers to pull of the somewhat weak material, and both are rather gimmick driven. The tie breaker for me is Idina Menzel. She's just wonderful.

Yup, that's probably a major factor in me picking WICKED over AIDA. Idina is incredible and very much the heart of that show.

-Jess

Wow I think I'll actually have to go with Wicked on this one.

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Though I love Wicked, I would have to say I like Aida better. It was one of the first shows on Broadway I ever saw.

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I was absolutely ecstatic about seeing Wicked, being the Idina fan I am, and I think seeing the orig. cast made it better because it was really fresh and energetic. Anticipating it so much (reading the book, etc) probably contributed. I preferred the cast of Wicked (became incoherent when I realized I'd be seeing Taye).

I wasn't as excited about seeing Aida but I did enjoy it...saw Deborah Cox's first night. I think the excesses of Disney (that pool that was used for all of three minutes) took away from it a bit, though.