What's With All the Hatred Towards WICKED?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:14am

It's not the best show, not even close. It has legions of fans, regular ones and extremely overzealous ones.

It's certainly an interesting show - a mix-bag of good and bad elements.

Though I happen to dislike the show itself, I dislike the crazy fans even more, ruining whatever I did like about the show. I now detest the show as a whole, after hearing so many people sing extremely out-there praise.

I've seen many posts on this board, on others, where the hatred is surprisingly extreme. It's gotten new people to go see theater. Why the hatred?
Updated On: 3/12/07 at 08:14 AM

[MovieGuy1031]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:19am

I too wonder this. I mean, as you put, its not the best show. But I can honestly say that it was Wicked that introduced me to musicals. The first two cast recordings I bought were "Seussical" and "Wicked". These two shows made me appreciate and harvest the love for musical theatre that I now have, and, needless to say, due to this, my collection of cast recordings has expanded.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:25am

I think its because the majority of the legion of fans of WICKED are teenagers who overly-hype it as the best of the best. I love WICKED, it is one of my favorite shows and I relate with Elphaba as an outcast and love the music. I think people on BWW and other places where theater and Broadway are dicussed are sick of the "fanboys" and "fangirls" obessive love and post after post of it, its rotating actresses and other overly dicussed topics of that sort. What I think that people who bash WICKED miss, is that its a story that is relatable, I remember Stephen Schwartz commenting on the success of WICKED by saying "In everyone there's a green girl.", its true, everyone in some point in their live can relate to being an outcast. I know I can relate, and several people who I know who relate to it. And the music is catchy and hummable and extremely likeable.


Oh but what do I know, I'm just a big ShizKid or whatever you call WICKED fans.

Updated On: 3/12/07 at 08:25 AM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:27am

I think you said it right there, Yankee. The hatred is a contrast reaction to the extreme praise that its legions of fans shower it with. We tend to think it's just so-so, but the way many people feel they can best get this point across is to point out its every flaw to show just how imperfect it is.

If people who think WICKED is so-so say just that, then the "wIcKeD fanz" will breeze by and not pay attention. So the way many attempt to find middle ground and get a conversation going about why the show the show isn't a brilliant masterpiece, is by showing the same level of overzealous expression as the wIcKeD fanz, but in the extreme negative.

"WiCkEd iz bRiLliAnt!" + "WICKED SUCKS" = "WICKED is so-so"

Updated On: 3/12/07 at 08:27 AM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:28am

It's the overhype, largely. It was the first show I saw in NYC, and I'm a big "Wizard of Oz" fan, so for me it was a guarenteed sell, and I do really like it, I'm just "Wicked"-ed out.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:52am

I think another part of it comes from the fact that, unlike so many musicals that hardcore theater queens treasure (Sondheim, for example), WICKED is one of the most easily tourable shows out there, so the kids who come on here exclaiming that it is the best musical ever known to man really only know about WICKED because it came to their town, and they have never seen anything else. Half of the kids who proclaim WICKED as the best musical ever have never stepped foot into Times Square, so the only access they have to Broadway is the shows that come to their town, and, these easily tourable shows (the ones that most of here here in NYC hate: WICKED, ALL SHOOK UP, MAMMA MIA) are their only exposure to any form of Broadway and the only foot they can get into the door of talkin' Broadway (for lack of a better expression).

Updated On: 3/12/07 at 08:52 AM

[enteng2]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:53am

well, having another thread like this just shows how popular and how successful wicked is.

regardless of how good or bad it is/was, we can never be more intrigued or shattered by any other musical, say - ave q. or spamalot (who the hell watches these shows anyway) as the way wicked does.

say what you want to say, wicked will stay for a much longer time than any of your 'better' bets.

Updated On: 3/12/07 at 08:53 AM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:55am

Honey, we're all well aware of its success. That's beside the point.

[enteng2]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 9:01am

NO 'honey', that IS exactly the point.

you people are all subconciously envious of the shows success that in turn makes you hate it.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 9:08am

I think that we don't like Wicked being so successful is that there are just better pieces of theater. I did like it when I saw it, but didn't think it was amazing. But, I really have to question if I only liked it because of Kristin and Idina and not because of the material. I will find out in April when I go back to Wicked for the first time. Compared to Avenue q, which is very original, Wicked pales in comparison for all its hype.

Posted: 3/12/07 at 9:13am

"The first two cast recordings I bought were "Seussical" and "Wicked". These two shows made me appreciate and harvest the love for musical theatre that I now have, and, needless to say, due to this, my collection of cast recordings has expanded. "

The first three cast recordings I bought were Oklahoma!, Kiss Me Kate and South Pacific and my collection has expanded also

[Dark_Angel]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 9:17am

The "hatred" toward "Wicked" comes from people's need to knock something down that gets too popular or too successful for it's own good (which is also a matter of opinion). "Wicked" is not a bad show at all. It is a very entertaining musical it deserves all the success that has come it's way.

I just think that there are some really miserable people out there on the planet that have nothing better to do than to spread negativity.

It's one thing not to like something that is popular. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. But when people go out of their way to purposely attack something (or someone) with a fervor then you really have to question what is being gained or better yet what is going on in the minds of those who take comfort in this type of behavior.

[enteng2]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 9:23am

^^^ I couldn't say it any better...

as simple as this, if you dont like the show or you have prejudice towards it, dont even bother spending your precious money to see it, moreso, wasting your time criticizing it and comparing it to others

Updated On: 3/12/07 at 09:23 AM

[D2]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 9:28am

Tom14850: touché

enteng2: I wouldn't say "envious" of the show's success. I would say resentment towards the outrageous rewards of mediocrity.

[enteng2]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 9:32am

who are we to speak of mediocrity?

Posted: 3/12/07 at 9:46am

Thanks for the touche, D2

[D2]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 9:48am

No problem, Tom.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 9:48am

WE, the royal WE, are more than average theatergoers who know know the difference between great and mediocre.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 9:50am

Its a bunch of teenagers who think its fun to slag it off from behind there computers because its a very commercial show(its not the only hugely commercial show they insult)

Updated On: 3/12/07 at 09:50 AM

[enteng2]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 9:59am

YANKEEFAN

well, if you thought you already know which is great and which isn't, why waste time drooling over the wicked-sh*t? its way beyond sanity, i tell you.

im surprised that you hate the show that much and you even spent time making such thread for it. maybe your one of the zealots who loved the show and in turn hated it for whatever reason, as love easily turns into hatred.... :)

Updated On: 3/12/07 at 09:59 AM

[thetheatrekook]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:20am

I can really only speak for myself, but what irritates me are the fans who proclaim it the most genius and touching musical of all time, but who have absolutely NO other frame of reference, nor do they care to find one (I understand that not everyone can see every show that is on Broadway or on tour). I thought the plot was cute (I enjoyed the novel so much more), some of the songs were catchy (you KNOW when I'm in the car I belt Defying Gravity, I can't help it!) but I didn't leave the theatre changed forever. I understand that different people have different tastes and experiences (I know there have been shows that I have loved that others have hated), but that doesn't mean I can't be irritated by it!

If "who are we to speak of mediocrity?", then who are we to speak of greatness? I guess after my rambling I would have to say that I have come to the conclusion that what irritates me the most (and this isn't just a Wicked thing) are the fans that seem to think that it is OK to come and praise a show to the high heavens, but GOD forbid that anyone want to start a dialogue about it's shortcomings (in a mature manner, not just OMG Wicked SUCKS because I HATE IT.) and must attack anyone who doesn't view a show like they do.

I think it's a potentially interesting discussion, why people "hate" a popular show - is it the show itself? Is it that it makes a show feel less "special"? Can it be so easily answered?

[enteng2]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:34am

No one spoke of wicked's greatness.

I asked 'who are we to speak of mediocrity' is subsequently as good as asking, who are we to speak of greatness?

But is wicked successful?

Yes, it was and is still. It is not great, but we must admit that it is successful.

And at that, I see, people are annoyed of its success all these years, one, because of its ability to defy all the negative things we throw to it - even defying all the combined hate-threads and posts here and over.

Updated On: 3/12/07 at 10:34 AM

[sondhead]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:48am

It annoys me specifically because it is so successful and yet when I see it, all I see is money thrown at a show that at the end of the day has gaping plot holes, an amateurish score, and some of the worst lyrics I've ever heard.

Now, this is not to say I'm sitting at home super bitter about it all the time, but it is sad to me when something I can't find much merit in gets such praise, especially when 99% of the people arround me find out I work in musical theatre and expect me to be obsessed with Wicked.

This is not to say that my opinion is the be-all end-all. Obviously a lot of people love Wicked. I just don't see it.

I like the Light in the Piazza. I like that this underdog beautiful lesser known show ran as long as it did and won the Tony's that it did. It's nice to see the little guy win sometimes.

This is also not to say I hate all commercial musicals. Commercial does not equal bad, but it can often indicate more emphasis on physical aspects of a show instead of the pure content. For every Wicked there's a Hairspray. For every Hairspray there's a Dracula the Musical.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:56am

The show is a BIG, SPLASHY, LOUD musical.

Some people equate that with a good, solid book. Wicked does not have that.

Yes, it IS a very visual show, but that is just a product of our youth being raised on music videos.

I think only time will tell. Future productions, in local theatres will show the faults of the book and score because they won't have the budget to have a giant dragon puppet, or a huge throne with a talking head.

Once the cherry picker is taken away, really, what do you have?

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 11:00am

It's quite the paradox.

Most Americans hate success for anyone other than themselves.

Toss in just the right amount of "drama-queeni-ness" and the availability of an anonymous communication platform, and there you have it.

My first thought is that the show is nothing but entertaining and that most people probably really like WICKED. Perhaps they, in turn, think it's far cooler to hate it in public by latching on to the next flavor of the day instead (maybe Spring Awakening, for example)???

Someone in a Theater program somewhere could do an awesome paper using the original idea here of hatred towards WICKED and expand it out to show how there is similar hatred for just about every successful (or powerful) aspect of society...big business....government....etc.

DAMN! I didn't want to think today.....

HAHA!