As the person who made the original comment about how dumb this thread is, I would like to explain that it had nothing to do with Mike Barrett liking or disliking Wicked. It had all to do with how the first posts were worded. If this had been a thread about how Defying Gravity "works" or doesn't, I would have also thought it interesting.
By the original posts, it seem to me that Mike Barrett was deciding on whether or not he'd attend based on the guarantee that this one effect would most likely occur. That was what I found absurd.
I have no doubt that everyone here knows that it is the intention of every cast and crew member to give the best possible performance each and ever time, including each and every set change and effect. Sometimes things happen. They are rarely, if never planned. Deciding whether or not one should attend Wicked based on the frequency of one effect's success rate was the point I was trying to make.
As for Starlight Express being the first to try "unusual" effects... not by a long shot. There have been many many shows many years earlier that have tried all sorts of cool things. Some far more extreme than Starlight Express (not sure which effect is in question) and Elphaba's flight in Wicked.
Theater automation has a huge history and over the years many new techniques have emerged. I go back to the 60s, but I am sure there are examples before even I attended the theater. Some earlier examples I remember:
Dude
Via Galactica
Chess
Actually, I'm going to stop there, because I'm not even really sure what an "unusual" effect would entail. Stage craft is stage craft and there are so many wonderful moments...
ARTc3 formerly ARTc. Actually been a poster since 2004. My name isn't Art. Drop the "3" and say the signature and you'll understand.
Updated On: 8/16/13 at 01:17 AM