What is the animosity towards Wicked for? — Page 3

it wasn't you blue .... FindingNamo was the one who I didn't really appreciate. In any case I do think it is great to bring in new audiences. I think thats why producers cast people like P. Diddy or Joey Fatone, who may not really cut it in the Broadway world. Because they do bring in audiences, and I think that exposure is a wonderful thing.

I have a hard time with the celeb casting too, I really do. As an actor it is really hard to see the parts go to people who you know are a lot less qualified than you are. I actually used to HATE the idea, and was boycotting the shows that were doing this. I just couldn't see why they would take away jobs from hard working actors, but when you think about it if it extending the longievity of a show isn't that a good thing? Think of all the actors who are keeping their jobs for a longer period of time. If there is one "celeb" per show, its seems like a small price to pay for the security of the other castmembers jobs. People who are hard working talented actors. I wish this wasn't the case, that people would come see broadway for broadway - but if throwing a boy band in the mix will fill the seats, what can you do? I just hope it won't become an epidemic. If the day comes when a show is totally cast by celebs, then thats the day I pack up my tap shoes and head for the hills. I pray to God that day never comes.

(while we're at it lets stop all the movies filming in canada too!)

To answer the original question:

WICKED was actually the show I was most looking forward to this season, but the end result demonstrated what happens when a first-rate idea is realized by second-rate talents. The convoluted, alomst Wagnerian darkness of the book was transformed into "Dawsons Creek meets Hogwarts". And the score is unmemorable, and with little that sticks in my mind except Kristin twinkling and Idina geshreying. They sold that score for far more than it is worth.

It is interesting that now there seems to be a "Poor Widdle Wicked" mood among columnists. Obstensibly they are angry at the "Big Bad Q" for its ballsy Vegas deal, yet I wonder how many have it out for Q BECAUSE they were all made to look like fools after its surprise Tony triumph. Before the Tonys, no show was more smug than WICKED. And they had good reason to feel that way - it was a word-of-mouth smash, engendering the biggest and most vocal fan base for a Broadway musical since RENT. In retrospect, you could see why they thought "We have this one in the BAG! Oh, and that adorable little naughty puppet show - isn't it just DARLING?!"

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Updated On: 6/13/04 at 04:10 AM

I thought the main point of my argument about Les Miz was that it has a certain universality and power that Wicked doesn't have.

And I pointed out that when Les Mis had been open the amount of time WICKED has, it didn't either.

It's WAY, WAY, WAY too early to tell what kind of impact WICKED will have. It just is.

how can lez mis be compared with wicked...les miz was more of an opera, wicked is a flat out belty, brassy musical...theyre both great but on totally different wavelengths...

That was a tad pointless, Musetta.

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Well, I consider it a public service. If you want to wade through the txttlk spooge, be my guest!

"Also to those of you who think the score is monotonous ... um, have you ever heard a Stephen Schartz musical before. It's his style, he incorporates certian themes throughout the show, reintroducing them frequently. It's just what he does."

Yes, thank you, I stage managed Pippin in high school and I know a LOT about Schwartz's work and, you know what? Wicked is NOT his best and I'm really sick of people proclaiming it to be so when they really know NOTHING. It hurts my eyes to come to the boards and see nothing but "Wicked is Great, posted by wicked4me2day" and "How did Wicked get beat by puppets, posted by idina_cake9489" and "I <3 Wicked, posted by Iheartwickedcheno"...it's really REALLY sick. Ok, so maybe you think it's just the bestest musical "in, like, the whole world"....but we don't need ten billion threads proclaiming it. Go to a WICKED board. They're out there.
As to the music being forgettable....the only reason I remember ANY song ("Popular") is because I have nightmares of Kristen Chenoweth singing the damned thing.
As to Wicked vs. Les Miz...who the hell started this crap? Yes, many shows live past what critics ever thought they were worth (i.e. Les Miz, Phantom and, GOD HELP US, Mamma Mia). HOWEVER Wicked...............



sorry, had to stop typing...I got a migraine just from SEEING that word...
THAT show does not(in my humble opinion)raise the theatrical bar in ANY way. Idina is and always has been great...but that's not....THE SHOW...that's Idina Menzel...if IT does live past the age of 2 or 3, it's because it's following in the steps of CATS and Mamma Mia (no offense to the fans of these) which are spectacle (NOT specacULAR) and a shame to walk by every day...thank god Cats is finally gone. THIS show will be great for high schools...but it doesn't need to remain at the Gershwin. PLEASE MAKE IT GO AWAY!!!!

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You see? secret-soul proved my point very well. If a show is big and popular, diss it and will it's actors and production team out of work. Claim you would rather see these people go unemployed than work on a show the public has chosen to enjoy. It is cool.

Personally, Pippin is my least favorite Schwartz score, but I don't understand all the people who say Wicked sounds like his 70s scores. Listen to Godspell, then listen to Wicked. The same? Uh, no. Completely different.

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"Because dissing the popular show on Broadway makes you look cool". If I wanted to look cool, I'd say I love it as much as my friends do. Can't I just dislike a show, because I...dislike it?

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I honestly didn't think anyone would take me that seriosuly. Least of all Namo. You can love or hate anything you like. It's just funny how the people who don't like Wicked complain about all the "I love Wicked" posts and all the people who love Wicked complain about all the "I hate Wicked" posts. It's very amusing.

And it officially became cool not to like Wicked on Oct 30, 2003 at 11:15pm. You were almost on the cutting edge of Wicked coolness, but you were late a couple of days. Still, you were certainly one of the notable firsts. I commend you.

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"First of all, Musetta, what was with that repetitive post? I didn't get the irony."

I was translating the txt tlk.