Torn

Posted: 3/30/04 at 5:31pm

I think it is so strange that people are so torn on whether Wicked is great or not. I read the book before the musical was even in production, and was excited to hear they were making one. Then I got the CD recently and listened to it once all the way through. My first instincts were, "What is this poppy crap?" Then I listened to it again, and found the changes they made to the story were inspired, and that the subtle references to the OG Oz found in the score were brilliant. Plus I have been a Menzel fan for ages. Well, anyways, now I am obsessing over the CD, can't wait to see the play in June when I move to the east coast. I guess my question is: Did most of the fans of the show read the book before they heard the play?

[Jack42]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 5:33pm

If only there was another Wicked thread...

Posted: 3/30/04 at 5:36pm

really...you will have to forgive me cuz I am new around here...otherwise you might have recognized Lesley Ann Warren half naked...

Just trying to get a point of view...
although your sarcasm has been duly noted and quickly forgotten Updated On: 3/30/04 at 05:36 PM

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 6:38pm

Now, I'm not speaking for everyone, but I know that most people have read the book and then seen the show, but I know a lot of people who have seen the show and then read the book.

I read the book first.

[NYCbabe3789]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 6:43pm

I read the book after seeing the show, and personally I think that's the way to go...

[Shawk]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 6:45pm

I saw the show in SF, then read the book. I think it was probably better that way, because I would have been very confused had I read the book first, I think.

[VoiceofReason]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 6:59pm

I read the book first and then saw it. i think this has been said many a time before but...
I loved the book, absolutely 100%, thought it was fantastic!
I loved the show (probably more because I love musical theater!) and I thought it was fantastic. I think that the important thing with this show is to recognize, as it seems you have, that although the show shares the same name as the book and the show was inspired by the book, they are indeed to pretty different stories, so in order to enjoy both one must look at them somewhat seperatly....not a sermon, just a thought!
always,
~m~

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/30/04 at 8:19pm

I also read the book first. I actually finished it the morning before I saw the show. Like I've said before, IMO the book is much better story-wise, but a lot of the things from the book that make me think that wouldn't bode well for a musical - you know, a lot of the deeper political stuff. It's a bit too complicated for what they seemed to be going for the the musical.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 3/31/04 at 9:56am

okay - I read the book and thought it was passable - not great but interesting. I saw the play and was truly dissappointed. The book is much more interesting - much darker (I've said a million times that this musical should have been written by Sondheim or someone with a similar sense of darkness)...I DID like a couple of the changes to the show...like what happens to Fiero and the change of the ending...but otherwise I think its basically pretty boring and far to Pop-y for my tastes.

[Zola Q. LaPlaya]

Posted: 3/31/04 at 12:58pm

The music is dreadful. Kristen does a lovely job with "Popular", Idina is fantastic with a lame song ("Defying Gravity") and the duet "Loathing" is inspired. But, that song about the fine day in the Emerald City sounds like a commercial jingle. I found the music better on CD than in the theater where it is overamplified making lyrics from the cute chorus boys unintelligible. Poor little things.

[scooter38432]

Posted: 3/31/04 at 1:06pm

Finally!

I only check out these message boards occasionally because they make me feel old. It seems that most of the contributors have very limited life experience (judging by the number of PHANTOM and TABOO fans).

I'm so glad I'm not alone in thinking that this was the wrong score for this show! When I first heard it, I was shocked at the 'poppiness'. As I listen to it more, I enjoy "Popular" and "For Good" but I cringe at other songs (anything that Joel Grey is forced to sing and "No Good Deed" etc.)

Does anyone agree with me that Idina Menzel yells too much? Her pop trills are uninspired and I really feel that she was miscast. When I said that in another thread (worst casting decisions), I was called "nuts".

Anyone? Bueller?

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 3/31/04 at 2:18pm

Scooter - I can't say that I agree about Idina - though she has trouble occasionally staying on pitch - but I don't think she's yelling. I am not a pop fan and yet I liked her performance a lot. With that said - the show is mediocre at best - and the opening number - OY - what drudgery - totally uninspired. I appreciate that so many of the younger crowd on here seem to like the show - hell, they don't have as much to compare it to as I do..having been in the business since the mid '80s and raised on musicals...But I simply wonder WHO is gonna take the place of Sondheim when he finally stops writing - is there anyone out there with the same feel for music and lyrics? I like some of Adam Guettel's (sp?) music, and Jason Robert Brown can write a good lyric - (I loved Parade)...and of course there's Andrew Lippa. But who's gonna be the next truly great writer of our time?