What if nobody had written Wicked?- Page 4
What if nobody had written Wicked?
Matt_G
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/1/04
#75re: what if nobody had written wicked?
Posted: 5/6/04 at 12:59amI swear Homer Simpson said the same thing to Marge once.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#76re: what if nobody had written wicked?
Posted: 5/6/04 at 1:16amJust out of curiosity - what exactly is it that constitutes "good"? I keep reading all these posts that definitively state this is good and that is not. So where, exactly, are these parameters lined out?
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#77re: what if nobody had written wicked?
Posted: 5/6/04 at 1:30am
"Good" is each poster's opinion, DGrant. Some people state their reasoning and others don't.
Namo, your icon alarms me. Or maybe that's because I haven't slept in 2 days.
#78re: what if nobody had written wicked?
Posted: 5/6/04 at 8:14am
You can't define the parameters, DGrant. Everyone has an opion that is based on their personal taste. When I say something is good, I mean that for me it was good. I enjoyed it but realize that other people may not. You can, if you have the knowledge to do so, get into very specific critics about music, orchestration, directing or writing. However, some of us do not have that knowledge, some us never studied theater arts and are unable to comment intelliegntly on these aspecst of a production. So, for us it's based solely on personal taste.
I have no problem with Wicked. I actually think it's not the hype.
#79re: what if nobody had written wicked?
Posted: 5/6/04 at 9:07amPlum - applause - you summed it up very well - when I was on the road in the Sunday In The Park tour, I cried every time I heard We Do Not Belong Together...its just an amazing piece of writing. As are all of his songs, if you ask me. And as for Shira's comment about other great writers out there besides Sondheim - I'd like a list please. I don't know of anyone who compares to his wit, intelligence, phrasing for actors, and just plain beautiful writing. Adam Guettel is good, Jason Robert Brown has his moments, Andrew Lippa and John Michael Lachuisa (sp?) are both good writers - but on the whole - there just aren't a lot of other writers out there at the moment who make me feel the way Sondheim does.
#80re: what if nobody had written wicked?
Posted: 5/6/04 at 9:12amone of my favorites is Would I Leave You... you can't base Sondheim's genius simply on melodies... he doesn't write that way... you have to listen to the music AND the words and LISTEN, don't just hear...
#81re: what if nobody had written wicked?
Posted: 5/6/04 at 9:18amjoeyjoe - I think you hit on a very important issue - a lot of audiences go to the theatre simply to escape reality and be entertained for the night and don't want to have to think. (which is fine for that faction of the population - hell - even I do that sometimes) but, I believe it is those people who mainly dislike Sondheim because you DO have to think - you are challenged by him to listen and understand what all his lyrics are saying, more often than not. I have always loved just listening to his stuff and seeing it performed is an added bonus. (not to mention actually performing his pieces) Sondheim is the thinking man's writer.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#82re: what if nobody had written wicked?
Posted: 5/6/04 at 10:29amYou see this very same schism between people who appreciate Caroline, Or Change for its ambitions and its desire to engage the audience's brain, and those who don't appreciate it (some of whom who've even seen it!).
Corine2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/14/03
#83re: what if nobody had written wicked?
Posted: 5/6/04 at 10:41am
Caroline Or Change is a great show. I went twice when it was at the Public Theater.
Namo you have to see Avenue Q!
#84re: what if nobody had written wicked?
Posted: 5/6/04 at 10:42amGod I wanna see that show - it sounds fascinating to me...
Corine2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/14/03
#86re: what if nobody had written wicked?
Posted: 5/6/04 at 10:50amred, we can try to get discount tix for Caroline!
#87re: what if nobody had written wicked?
Posted: 5/6/04 at 10:52amsure joey- I'm all for it.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#88re: what if nobody had written wicked?
Posted: 5/6/04 at 11:00am
"I went twice when it was at the Public Theater." When did you go the Public to see it a second time, Corine? Or was the second time the Fantasy Players' Castle in the Daydream Clouds production?
EddieVarley
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/4/04
#89re: what if nobody had written wicked?
Posted: 5/6/04 at 12:11pmNamo is that near the I'VE SEEN EVERYTHING DURING INVITED DRESS MADE UP PLAYHOUSE?
#90re: what if nobody had written wicked?
Posted: 5/6/04 at 1:41pmnamo, i see your point, but it isnt really fair to criticize someone for being a theater-lover. if she enjoyed most of the shows or performances she saw this year than good for her. we cant all be as overwhelmingly discerning as you, ya know. Updated On: 5/6/04 at 01:41 PM
ghostlight
Understudy Joined: 12/27/03
#91re: what if nobody had written wicked?
Posted: 5/6/04 at 1:59pm
Now Orion, my old friend, see what you've stirred up! You actually surprised me with this thread. I thought you were a Chenoweth devotee!
So here is my two cents: I love the book, Wicked. I've read it three times (long before the show was written), had countless discussions about it and have recommended it to many. If it were never written, we would have been robbed of a great story. I love the show Wicked. I am one of the few who does not take offense to the liberties taken with the translation of the book into this production. They are both entertaining on their own merits. I really LOVE this show. It appeals to me on various levels. I will never say its the best piece of theater ever created. Not by a long shot. But I love the music, the sets, costumes and especially love seeing these two incredibly talented women share the same stage. Someone on an earlier message talked about the difference between a good show and enjoying a show. Agree wholeheartedly. Also goes back to the old one man's trash is another's treasure. I am thrilled Wicked was written and am thrilled to have seen it on stage.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#92re: what if nobody had written wicked?
Posted: 5/6/04 at 2:17pmThat's not what I was saying at all. At all. I feel as if I have been kept abreast pretty well of Corine's every theatrical jaunt, and I just seem to have no memory of her mentioning going a second time at the Public until now. That's all.
#93re: what if nobody had written wicked?
Posted: 5/6/04 at 3:13pmi was refering to the condesending remarks about "gumdrop island" which i believe were meant to point out that corine is easily impressed, and is too idealistic when picking her tony favs (like saying she wished there would be a tie). if she liked a lot of shows this season, again, good for her. you mentioned that she has provided "many lists of what she loved" with a notabley negative "tone", suggesting that you do indeed have a problem with a board member saying that they really enjoyed all the shows this season, and not mentioning their dislikes as well. you can say that you meant something else, but the hostility that you, and some other posters have towards posters with more idealistic views is very apparent in my eyes.
#94re: what if nobody had written wicked?
Posted: 5/6/04 at 3:58pm
Ghostlight, memory is too good. You're going to remind of way back when I defended Chenoweth against her critics.
You're right, I did like Chenoweth very much before the Wicked over hype. I don't dislike her, I'm just sick of hearing about her for now. It really isn't Idina, Kristen or Wicked that caused me to make fun. It's the multitude of threads devoted to Wicked minutia and the "Wicked Cult" or should I call it a coven?
Actually, a good friend of mine was involved with the production and bringing the show to Broadway and she's able to laugh at the cultiness of it all. She also reaps the benefits so she can afford to laugh at it. And she is going to be royally teed off at me for starting this. I guess I won't be invited to the cast party when the show closes.
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