WICKED Storyline Questions — Page 2

I haven't seen it yet, and now I'm thoroughly confused. I guess I shouldn't have read this thread.

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I wouldn't compare the two together

SPOILER, SPOILER, SPOILER don't read if you haven't seen the show.

The whole idea that the wizard if Elfaba's father is a real cop out. How wiered is this idea!!

The book of the show is a real mess and is one of the big reasons it did not win the Tony that year.

The fact that Elfaba lives is a complete perversion of the OZ stories. She DOES die in the book the show is based on.

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Updated On: 7/13/08 at 11:19 PM

AdamisGod.. has offered a pretty good response - whilst I don't agree with everything he wrote, he is pretty much on the money.

Although, the musical ties in closely with the movie of The Wizard of Oz, I don't think Wicked is supposed to provide all of the answers. As Adam said, it is a different view of the classic tale.

Also in response to another poster, everyone except Fiyero believes that the witch does die in the end, that's the whole point - that this is the 'untold story of oz'.

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"The whole idea that the wizard if Elfaba's father is a real cop out. How wiered is this idea!! "

I totally agree. When the wizard discovers he's the father all they say is, "That explains why she had such power. She was a child from both worlds." Which also makes no sense at all. I mean the Wizard had no real power, so why would him being the father make her powerful.

But I choose not to get caught up in these things. I think it's a great musical and for the most part, makes sense to everyone.

my biggest bone to pick with the musical is the undeveloped Fiyero character and the Animal sub plot that goes completely awry. I think the rest is alright.

Fiyero, after his transformation into Scarecrow possibly saw his disguise as a good way to sneak into Emerald City (and what better way than with a girl who wishes to seek an audience with the wizard) and to obtain news of where Elphaba is (perhaps he told she wouldnt head back to Kiamo Ko since that's his home castle and you would think the Gale Force might look there. Anyway, after learning of where Elphaba is and on the pretext of going to kill her, he hatches the melting plan and manages to give her the details of his plan enroute to Kiamo Ko with Dorothy. Boq and the rest simply wanted to kill her.

Doesnt mean Winne Holtzman's book is nt crappy though. I think she read the Gregory maguire novel (which i think all of you guys should take a look at, seriously) and there was a bit when Elphaba has this psychotic meltdown thing towards the end and kept imagining Fiyero coming back to her disguised as the Scarecrow. Hence, Im thinking Winnie decided to put two and two together and I guess that was a pretty ok way to sanitise the whole shebang. I mean, what, have the Wicked Witch die together with Fiyero - whatever would the tweens do? :P (no offense)


"The fact that Elfaba lives is a complete perversion of the OZ stories. She DOES die in the book the show is based on. "

It wasnt stated explicitly she died actually. The whole water melting thing has some link to baptism, existence of the soul (read the book to find out :P) and it makes for a great read. The ending was rather enigmatic which made me think she didnt really die.
Something which goes like that, "Did the wicked witch ever come out of the cave....No,not yet" (Its not the exact quote, i cant rmb it offhand and it sounds a good deal better :P)



I have one question pertaining to the WICKED THE MUSICAL context though. Did Glinda know of Fiyero's plan to "melt" her? I know she says something like "I wish Glinda could know about it...blah blah"; but does anyone feel that perhaps Glinda knows that she didnt die? My friend keeps insisting Glinda does, although I can see no way how she could.So if anyone has an explanation, let me know :)

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Okay, that's quite a stretch there. And I'm sure the powers that be did not have that in mind when they concocted the connection (don't blame Winnie completely, I can't believe a writer who composed the thoroughly truthful "My So Called Life" wasn't forced to include these developments in the plot). But if you need to believe that to enjoy the musical go right ahead. Wait, you think the book is crap anyway? so...huh...?

Out of interest, does anyone else giggle at the oxymoron that is "Fiyero's character development" every time they see it? ^_^

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I think that people are reading into it way too much. It really hasn't changed how I view the Wizard Of Oz at all and doubt it would. It does what the tagline says it will which is offer you the story of The Wizard of Oz from another point of view. It didn't say that it was going to be perfect. In fact it is far from it. But, I think that it does what is telling you it is going to do which is share with you the story in another way.

I still don't understand how the Wizard being Elphaba's father could help her out with her powers. I believe it was Elphaba who said that the Wizard had no real powers and he agreed with her and that was the whole reason behind him tricking everyone to thinking that Elphaba is bad.

I think that people looking at the whole Fyeiro storyline in terms of connecting it to the wizard of oz are looking into it a bit much. I think the one thing that throws me off is this. I understand that she uses the whole melting thing as a way to not get caught and as a way to be with Fyearo. Keep in mind that at the end of the As Long As Your Mine scene he tells her about his family's castle. Even though no one says where she is in that last scene that is where I think she is. But, wouldn't she have had to melt in some way for her to go from being where everyone can see her and wanting to kill her to hiding in the trap door waiting for Fyearo?

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loud and clear!

and really, there are too many versions of the fiyero spelling.

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there was also the clock of the time dragon contraception which put up a play that told her the wizard was her dad... so i mean the musical book simply follows the gregory maguire book.

anyway whats so hard in believing that Elphaba was magical since she's a child of both worlds? That was like one of the more believer elements of the plot.

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First - I love Wicked. I don't take it too seriously, just sit there with a grin on my face the whole time.

BUT - my question is: Why did Nessa have powers? She wasn't a child of both worlds, yet on her first try with the Grimmerie, she changed Boq into the Tin Man.

Adding another question: The dragon is cool looking, but what does it have to do with the story? I read they have a spare dragon on tour, so they can put up the dragon in the new theatre and not have to wait to take down the old one because it is a major process putting up and taking down. Would it be a big deal if it wasn't there at all?

Updated On: 9/12/09 at 10:09 AM

lol you are all taking this way to seriously. Wicked (ecspecially the musical) is in no way a OFFICIAL prequel to the Wizard of Oz. Wicked the book is much much diffrent than the musical, And I dont want to hear anyone say its the same plot only simplified. Its not at all. The entire play cut out so so much from the book including the "in the vinkus" chapter.
This is all obviously to make it more family friendly (which was a smart buisness move).

The musical tries its hardest to fit into the wizard of oz time line (and comes pretty close). I dont think anyone should actually think anything deeper than what is presented. The musical coveres alot of "oz" ground but sometimes it leads you questioning other stuff (i.e in the movie why did Scarecrow try to kill the Witch if that was his "love" Elphaba)

I know when I watch the wizard of oz I do not see "Elphaba" as the girl from the musical, I see her as the evil witch of the west.

Thats how everyone should look at them, as two seperate entities.

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