"Wonderful" is one of the songs that has the greatest connection to the Gregory MaGuire WICKED, as opposed to the Schwartz. I personally like its political import -- though the Bush Regime entendre "liberator ... or a traitor") laid a big egg both times I saw the show.
I think the song can't fully be judged, becauset the scene it's in lacks focus and emotional suspense. Both actors, Grey and Idina, play very LOW STAKES, as if the Wizard and Elphaba's getting together again is no big deal. The act starts with everyone screaming about her flying around like a green lizard, etc. Then she returns to the Wizard, and he turns his back on her, not remotely bothered by what she might do. Yes, yes, we know he thinks she's Jane Goodall, and not a witch, but he saw what she did to the monkeys--and he knows she loathes him--so shouldn't they be more WARY of one another? The scene should be a crackling 2nd showdown, but it's written in a too-glib, casual style. So his attempt -- and brief success at -- wooing her back, should be poignant, a turn in the plot. It's hurried, and the place where Holzman's book (and Mantello's staging) seriously drops the ball for me. So "Wonderful, " good, bad, or mediocre, can't land, because the taught emotional undercurrents are missing from the context for it.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
Updated On: 2/22/04 at 06:47 PM