Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is getting slaughtered.

[VinnieTheIceman]

Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is getting slaughtered.#0

Posted: 10/30/03 at 6:35pm

I guess in the end, no matter how much is spent on sets, costumes, talent, etc., if you don't have good music, you don't have a good musical. They say Schwartz "has instead composed the most negligible and forgettable score of his career. How the man responsible for shows like Pippin and Godspell was unable to creatively illuminate the slightest bit of personality or drive in the show's characters - let alone write one memorable song! - will likely stand as this Broadway season's single greatest mystery." Ugly...did anyone expect it to be this bad?

[Unknown User]

re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is getting slaughtered.#1

Posted: 10/30/03 at 6:54pm

I have to say in his defence--
There have been many scores that have been murdered by critics for lack of whatever and have gone on to be audience favorites....
Just look at
Sunset Boulevard
Passion
Titanic
just to name a few.+

[VinnieTheIceman]

re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is getting slaughtered.#2

Posted: 10/30/03 at 6:56pm

Sunset Boulevard
Passion
Titanic

What do they have in common?

Three shows that didn't recoup their investment.

[JohnPopa]

re: re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is getting slaughtered.#3

Posted: 10/30/03 at 6:58pm

And 3 scores of very debatable merit that were detrimental to their show's popular success chances.

[tpdc]

re: re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is getting slaughtered.#4

Posted: 10/30/03 at 6:58pm

I don't think PASSION's score got bad reviews. It was the story that caused the disbelief, sort of the reverse of what it sounds like is going on with WICKED.

[Mr Roxy]

re: re: re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is gettin#5

Posted: 10/30/03 at 7:00pm

Believe the story & Wizard of Oz being burned into everyones memory will save the day here. As far as the score, if it is so bad , why is the score being recorded ?

Poster Emeritus

[newyorkuniq]

re: re: re: re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is gettin#6

Posted: 10/30/03 at 7:02pm

Who are you??? Vinniethescorebasher? geez. I think anyone would have to be on crack to think this is a bad score. Updated On: 10/30/03 at 07:02 PM

[JohnPopa]

re: re: re: re: re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is gettin#7

Posted: 10/30/03 at 7:03pm

Apparently someone's slipping something in my soda then because the Wicked score is vanilla and lifeless.

[tkts]

re: re: re: re: re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is gettin#8

Posted: 10/30/03 at 7:06pm

The quotes are from a review at that other Broadway web site.
First Wicked Review

Cake or death?

[VinnieTheIceman]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is gettin#9

Posted: 10/30/03 at 7:08pm

Mandelbaum somewhat negative. Again, knocks the score. Who is on crack?

[tkts]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is gettin#10

Posted: 10/30/03 at 7:13pm

Not as bad but still not good.
Broadway.com review

Cake or death?

Updated On: 10/30/03 at 07:13 PM

[newyorkuniq]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is gettin#11

Posted: 10/30/03 at 7:18pm

Gosh can't they even wait untill the opening night is over to start bashing it? You know Little Shop Of Horrors got bad reviews too and alot of people say it's the most fun, greatist thing they have seen all year. What makes this board great is that we can all see the shows and report back our own opinions, so why are you so set on highlighting the bad critics reviews? Updated On: 10/30/03 at 07:18 PM

[BillyLawlor]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is gettin#12

Posted: 10/30/03 at 7:19pm

WOw! Billy's confused. Why is the review so bad? I heard it was going to be the season's best, but instead I'm starting to hear bad things. I'm getting mixed reviews right now, but I'm going December 3rd- I hope it lives up to what I thought it would.

[Mr Roxy]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in#13

Posted: 10/30/03 at 7:20pm

Mandelbaum's middle name is negative . I wonder if he & Reidel were separated at birth.

Poster Emeritus

[FindingNamo]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in#14

Posted: 10/30/03 at 7:30pm

Gross generalizations like that without citations to back up what you are saying do nothing for your already shaky credibility Mr. Roxy. What would you estimate Ken's percentage of negative reviews to be, approximately?

And also, this is your best clunker ever:

"if it is so bad , why is the score being recorded ?"

Shall we start a list of bad scores that have been recorded? Do you THINK about your arguments before you make them? EVER?

Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none

[Becky]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is gettin#15

Posted: 10/30/03 at 8:00pm

"I heard it was going to be the season's best, but instead I'm starting to hear bad things."

Well, there's a reason you are "starting" to hear bad things, the critics are coming out of their holes. Consider the sources of the negativity. Everyone I know has come away loving the show, and most of what I've read online from theater fans has been positive so far ( although I DO realize not everything has been positive). Some *critics* are being negative, so what else is new?? I fully anticipated that before the show ever played a note. I find myself listening more to the opinions of people I know or online posters who have proven themselves to be credible anyway - and what I've heard from those people makes me want to jump on a plane tomorrow to see the show.




Updated On: 10/30/03 at 08:00 PM

[MasterLcZ]

: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in#16

Posted: 10/30/03 at 8:05pm

I don't want to say that 'I told you so'. But I TOLD you so.


The actors are terrific. The story is so quirky, compelling and subversive. Why is the score so bland and lacking in personality?!

Frankly, it would be a better show WITHOUT the songs.

"Christ, Bette Davis?!?!"

Updated On: 10/30/03 at 08:05 PM

[Mr Roxy]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in#17

Posted: 10/30/03 at 8:06pm

I was getting worried that old Namo had lost his touch. 3 things you can depend on : Death , taxes & old Namo finding fault with whatever I have to say. If I said 2 plus 2 was 4 Namo would find a problem with it. It makes him happy so let the little boy have his fun. I am waiting for a present under my Christmas Tree . A video of "Losing Namo" . I like you also my good man. Have a nice day

Poster Emeritus

[newyorkuniq]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in#18

Posted: 10/30/03 at 8:08pm

I think Namo and Roxy need to go in a room and duke it out so they can stop fighting on every thread:P lol

[Mr Roxy]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are c#19

Posted: 10/30/03 at 8:12pm

I have no beef with him . He is constantly criticizing. If he thinks I will sit here & just continue to take it, he has a long wait. I am perfectly willing to call a truce. I doubt Mr Namo will reciprocate because he hates me with a passion. Rather odd when you consider we have never met . Try asking him for a truce & see how far it gets you . Just to show you who the better man is, whenever he criticizes me from now on, I will say "Have A Nice Day" & nothing else. How's that ?

Poster Emeritus

Updated On: 10/30/03 at 08:12 PM

[mcphan19]

re: re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is getting slaughtered.#20

Posted: 10/30/03 at 8:18pm

Hey VinnieTheIceman,

Sunset Blvd, Passion, Titanic? those three shows also won Tonys for best score and best Musical (1995, 1994 and 1996 respectively, I believe)

Jen

[Cadriel]

re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is getting slaughtered.#21

Posted: 10/30/03 at 8:19pm

I've read some truly negative reviews from the '80s. Even Talkin' Broadway's review is nowhere near as scathing an attack on the director as Frank Rich's NYT reviews of Trevor Nunn's shows after Les Misérables (in his Chess and Aspects of Love reviews, Rich seemed to fault Nunn for even existing). This is nothing so awful.

Wicked is a good show with a strong book and some good numbers, and the critics can't change the word of mouth it's already getting.

-Wayne

[FindingNamo]

re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is getting slaughtered.#22

Posted: 10/30/03 at 8:33pm

Roxy, I would absolutely not say you were wrong if you said 2+2=4. However, the things I criticize you far are much grosser generalizations. A corolary would be if you said, "2+2 is an addition problem. 2+2=4. The sum of all addition problems is 4." That's the kind of logic you use when you make your generalizations.

I don't hate you at all. I don't even think about you. But then you go and make not-very-well-thought-out generalizations that you can't defend, and I point them out. There has to be a war for there to be a truce. There is no war. Back up what you say with evidence, and you won't leave me with anything to point out at all!

Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none

[VinnieTheIceman]

re: re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is getting slaughtered.#23

Posted: 10/30/03 at 8:44pm

Spike, you should be an attorney.

[Mr Roxy]

re: re: re: re: Wicked -- The reviews are coming in and the score is gettin#24

Posted: 10/30/03 at 9:10pm

To Namo

Have a nice day

Poster Emeritus