Why does everyone hate Wicked? — Page 3

And Rent. And audition help. And comparing performers. And when a certain performer's contract will end.


All in a day's work at BWW.

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I have noticed the girls that are into 'Wicked' are the ones 15-20 years ago (or longer) that you'd always find with an Ayn Rand book in their hands...

I enjoyed 'Wicked'. Alot actually. I prefered Maguires book better (I have been somewhat of an obsessed fan of the book before the musical was even a glimmer in Stephen or Winnie's eye). But some of the fans (as mentioned above) really have killed it for me.

Saying that, I am shocked I still have not picked up a copy of "Son of a Witch".

Haven't seen it so can't say I hate it but the reason I haven't seen it is because I was nver into anything even related to The Wizard Of Oz- never really liked that story

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I love this show. I will see again in New York the day after Christmas. I will see it Boston as well.

Why is there BACKLASH against this show? First of all, I think message boards like its distant cousin Talk radio are the places of extremists, the small but vocal element of either extreme side of an issue.

So who are the Wicked haters?

1) I think a small percentage of folks who browbeat this show are actual knowedgable fans who have a stylistic problem with the show. You dig deep in any show and you don't have to dig too deep in Wicked. It is a show of style winning out over substance.... songs like "Popular" underscore that. Confusing character changes...like suddenly noble Fiyero, suddenly "wicked" Elphie isn't really bad just having a temper tantrum, suddenly Glinda develops a back bone and stands up to Morrible, suddenly Boq is a homicidal killer. It's a shallow show, doesn't mean I don't love it but it's shallow. Some people don't like Stephen Schwartz. There is a small segment of Wicked haters who actually have logical and well-contructed reasons not to.

2) There is a segment of Wicked haters who are angry about the lack of respect given the source material. The musical isn't verbatim to the book, and that's a problem. Some people have a problem because it isn't true to Frank Baum's vision.

3) Finally, there is the "Wicked Sucks" folks. That's their response to the show. Every time Wicked comes up in conversation, it "sucks". That's their only recourse. These are those people who are insecure and believe they only can come across as intelligent in a forum such as this if they bad mouth that which is possible. The line of thinking is if you criticize that which is popular then you are now "elite" and therefore you become validated.

You get those folks quite often around here.

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Eliza: Obviously there are several (read: very, very many) grammatical issues with this and other shows, but I wish that when people made comments like that they'd choose actual errors. I may be wrong, and feel free to correct me if I am, but in this case, "The Wizard and I" is used as sort of a "pronounic phrase" whose antecedent (and I've briskly scanned the song, so I may have missed something) is "we". "We" is in the subjective case, therefore any pronouns referring to it, like "I/me" should be in the subjective case.....therefore: The Wizard and I. < /rant > :)

From my perspective, I don't hate Wicked at all. I do resent, however, the little 14 year olds who hail it as the greatest piece of musical theater, and believe that its stars are mere Gods among men and make weekly pilgrimages to the Gershwin as if they were going to the holy land. Wicked is a big fluff ball of a musical. Its ridiculous, campy, loud and crazy fun. There are many things in Wicked that are attracting to younger viewers and to families, and I think that it serves its purpose perfectly. But to see 50 new threads on its stars and to constantly hear people say how wonderful it is (not to mention listening to people who call themselves Broadway enthusiasts, but have never heard of composers like Sondheim) really really irks me. I think that is why there is all this talk of hating Wicked. But, in most cases, I think that its the hype, buzz and consistancy at which Wicked is shoved down our throats that we all hate.

Wicked is not a masterpiece. It has many, many, many faults. The only awards it won were for technical aspects and for its leading lady. That alone should tell you many things. I suggest all your little Wicked gals/guys go out and buy Sweeney Todd, Carousel etc and then come back and tell us Wicked is the best thing in the world.


And quit obsessing about why everyone hates your beloved show.

I think is stupid this sort of snob, for popular and hit show as WICKED...
Piazza and Wicked are totally different kind of musical, and the wonderful of musical theater is that we could see intellectual shows as Piazza and funny and extravaganza shows as Wicked...
I love both, but I think that is thanks to hit shows like WICKED that musical theater will survive...if all shows are like Piazza unfurtunatelly musical don't conquer large young audience and young audince is the only future of musical theater don't forget!
Both musical in their different styles are masterprice for my opinion.
Sondheim and Guettel are genius for intellectual musicals, Schwartz, Menken and Lloyd Webber are genius for the popular musicals...
After some people hate pop and love more jazz or rock, but It's a question of personal opinion....not?
If you don't like the messages from the crazy fans of WICKED don't read them!...It's so simple! If you continue to protest about it, is because you're only gelous or envious for the mega-success of WICKED or you're masochist to read a thing that annoyed you...
This board offer different and interesting subjects, like musical theater offer different and interesting styles...
After that I think Wicked is an amazing modern musical, who offer serius subjects in a movin, funny show and story with a tuneful and beautiful score, right for young and old people...

September 27? That explains why I have not got it yet! LOL (I thought I was just being real lazy). :-p

i do not hate it. I thought it was an engaging piece of fluff but do not think it is the greatest thing since sliced bread like some on this board think it is

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I agree with TGIF..I do like WiCKED but it has it's flaws if you REALLY look for them and I don't want to talk about it 24/7 either.I don't hate it..just people made it really annoying and old.It's kindof died now a little now though.

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Those who can do...Those who can't, pick at it on a message board like this one! "Wicked" ain't perfect, but it's pretty damn good!

I love Wicked, but Hairspray is DEFINITLEY not a stupid 50's show. It's perfectly put together, the score is fresh and consistent, the sets are nice, and the talent is top notch.