Cushman is far from the best of Toronto's mediocre group of newpaper critics. However, I think he got this one right. I did have problems with some of the lowbrow humor, but it seems this is de rigueur in family shows. But I had no problems with sets, costumes, the score or the performances. I don't really get the problem with Jasmine some people are detecting. She says the same kind of things she did in the movie, but they didn't ring false to me. A Friend Like Me and A Whole New World brought the house down. I would go again.
I spoke with a few cast members and they told me that the creatives are aware of the problems and are taking the time to fix them. They are going back into rehearsal in NYC A LOT earlier than originally scheduled to rehearse new material. So it seems to me that they are trying to make this right. They are also cutting Jasmine's song and adding a new one. Since it started previews they have cut a bunch of material and IMO its made the show a lot tighter and flow much better.
Fixing the ending is the main thing they need to do, I am still hoping that they can include to be Free but I think if they're adding a new song, then its unlikely, I quite liked Call Me a Princess but I sort of understand why they're cutting it.
I'll add to the mix from a good source that certain scenes will be "reworked if there is time".
In other words we won't do a thing and hope no one notices!
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian
Went back to see it again. Although Call Me a Princess and its reprise are still listed in the program, they have been replaced by Jasmine's new song - Beyond These Palace Walls, which is a much better song and makes Jasmine a much more sympathetic character. I loved the show before, and I love it even more now that Jasmine's character is more likeable. I didn't notice any other big changes. Some small ones that i noticed - the Genie performance has gotten bigger and broader, the camels have been removed from the opening scene, and Babkak does a bit of ad-libbing at the top of act two and Genie also does some ad-libbing at the end of Friend Like Me.
Although i loved the dancing and choreography the first time, i loved them even more the second time. The first time they made a joyful impression, and seeing it again made me appreciate even more just how perfect the dancing/choreo is in so many details (the individual movements, the formations, the high energy with which it was performed, the perfect fit with the music and mood of each scene). I predict mid-show standing ovations on Broadway after "Friend Like Me".
Iago is human in the stage show. They do several nudge-nudge-wink-wink nods to his character having been a bird in the animated film that land as inside jokes for those familiar with the film but don't really intrude for those who are not.
With the change to Iago as a human sidekick and all the jokes alluding to him as a bird, I was almost CERTAIN that there would be some magic trick/transformation at the end where the Genie or Jafar turns him into a bird puppet... but alas, that would be too much fun for this show.
Saw the final performance in Toronto today. I feel like this was a fabulous production of a great show. New York is in for a big treat. Thanks to all the cast, crew, and creatives for a wonderful experience!