Future of Wicked...uncertain???

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 1:06pm

since there's much worry from Wicked goers about missing Idina and Kristen at a performance, think of the future of the show once they leave. The thing that happens when you have amazing almost irreplaceable leads is that its hard to find two leading ladies to live up to it. I definitly hope that if and when Kristen and Idina leave, the show will still bring in as much people as it did before. I'd hate to see it close.

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 1:07pm

leave ur thoughts if u want

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 1:09pm

It will do as well if the two replacements are excellent.

I don't think that Idina and Kristin are irreplaceable.

Actually, I'm waiting for them to leave so I could see the show.

They can survive, people. And pretty damn well too. Updated On: 3/21/04 at 01:09 PM

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 1:11pm

i agree with you about the replacements, and i said almost irreplaceable, im just worried that all the people seeing the show for the actors might affect the show

[wickedfan]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 1:12pm

we've just been talking about this in the other post! still, i'll say it again. People aren't as depressed about missing Kristin as they are about missing Idina. However, in the other posts we've sayed how Eden is great and she will carry the show. No one can beat the originals, everyone knows that. But many people love Wicked also because of the score and book. Believe it or not, there are some who don't find it as anthemy as others.

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 1:13pm

sry about the repeat message, im new to the site lol
i think its great that there is a definite hope for the show as it goes on, im hoping for a long run.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 1:17pm

many of us are. It's one of those shows that tourists love, but unlike CATS, not the reason it will run forever. When tourists are your target audiences, you're gonna have a bunch of trouble aftre the summer and christmas. Luckily, WICKED isn't like that. I predict a healthy run for it.

[broadway1564]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 1:17pm

Ya know ... THE PRODUCER have had the most issues replacing the irreplaceable. Poor guys, Nathan and Matthew will probably be in and out of the shows over the next few years to give it a boost.

Personally, I think THE PRODUCERS is a good piece, but I saw it with a replacement cast and I was only impressed by the original company members still in the show. I saw it during the Brad Oscar reign ...

But WICKED is so totally different ... the show concept is sooooo there. Remember the major element of Broadway productions is that they are huge on tourism. Most tourists don't know who Idina is and some may not know Kristen. It's a show that works on its own. As long as the leads are capable of a grand performance, they will be fine!

[wickedfan]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 1:20pm

WICKED IS like PRODUCERS and RENT. Energy and talent are the key. as long as that's there, the show will be fine.

[JakeB]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 1:33pm

Wicked is not sold on star names. It's sold on Wicked. The star names are there, but they're hardly Nicole Kidman and Brad Pitt, are they? Being a tourist (and yep, I have booked for it) before reading this board, I had never seen or heard anything of the two leading ladies.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 1:39pm

The people going to see the show for the star names are the people on theater boards and what not. Neither performer is a name to the majority of the audience who is seeing the show every night.

The show will be fine without them. That's not to dismiss them but 'Wicked' like every show before it will go on with replacement casts.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 3:22pm

yes, but for how long.....

[NYCbabe3789]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 3:45pm

Very few people, IMO, go to see this show just because of Kristin or Idina. It is the "Wizard of Oz" theme and the family show that draws people in. I agree with everyone else in saying that this show does not need names to get an audience, it just needs a heck of a lot talent.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 3:49pm

I think you're right, NYCbabe, about the theme being the major draw for the show. After all, it's advertised as "the untold story of the witches of Oz." I mean, if you've seen the Wizard of Oz, wouldn't you be curious to see what happened before? I was!

Updated On: 3/21/04 at 03:49 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 4:34pm

SOILERS...!
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IMO I wouldn't be curious at all. Because the book wasn't written by L. Frank Baum I think it's a little contradictory to his vision. I don't think he ever planed on THE SCARECROW! and the Wicked Witch of the West on being lovers. It's kinda' creepy. The witch was ugly because she was evil. She wasn't born that way. Only bad witches are ugly. We all know that.... And the wizard was an old man from Kansas. Who did he sleep with in order for him to be Elphaba's father??? Quite a few loose ends.... but, I suppose if it's all intended to take place in Dorothy's unconscious mind...anything can happen. I have weird dreams too. Updated On: 3/21/04 at 04:34 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 4:37pm

Read the book. That will answer your questions, and IMO, it's better than the musical. Also, remember that the book came first, and that the musical is based on the book. A lot of things from the book have been twisted around so that they'd better suit a musical, which is where many of the things you mentioned came from. The book is a lot more true to L. Frank Baum's original idea, with only a few *very* subtle contradictions.

Updated On: 3/21/04 at 04:37 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 4:54pm

Hmm... Based on that, I'll read the book, but I still don't think I'm going to be very happy with it. Updated On: 3/21/04 at 04:54 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 4:55pm

Definitely give it a try. There are worlds of difference between the book and the show.

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 4:55pm

yeah, even though the musical is based on the book, i've heard it is VERRRY loosly based

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 4:58pm

and yet Maguire was still happy with it, which I find very strange.

[NYCbabe3789]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 4:58pm

There are VERY few similarities between the book and the musical, and for good reason. Both stories are excellent but there's no way Maguire's book could have been put onstage as it was. You have to learn to love each as seperate identities.

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 5:01pm

im sure maguire was extremely flattered to hav his idea be put on stage, thats why i imagine he wouldnt care too much if tehy just loosly based the show on it

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 5:01pm

The only musical that, I think perfectly captured the book (almost word for word) is PETER PAN. Especially the Cathy Rigby version with all of the revisions and the Marooners Rock scene... It's practically if not, plain perfect. It even opens the same way the book does with the "Stars are beautiful..." prologue. Updated On: 3/21/04 at 05:01 PM

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 5:07pm

I think a big problem in this show is that they cast based on vocal talent. Most of the acting in awfull. Hopefully they pull in a new cast with more talent in that area.

[Benzy92]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 5:10pm

Wicked is definitly not sold on Idina and Kristin. It is sold on "The Wizard of Oz."

The two times I went there were a lot of young kids in the audience, IMHO, this is not a kid-friendly show.