Wicked: "Eh" or "Ick?" — Page 8

The problem with distorting the book so much is that Wicked is a brilliant book. Readers of the book hear about a musical- how would they feel when they see it, and see that it is dumbed down, changed, to the point where it's like "We're just using the title, and names of the characters."

Wicked had SO MUCH potential...I think that's what upsets everyone, that it didn't even come close to attaining the brilliance of the original book.

And then we know that Wicked had to make it more accessible for a younger crowd, they're extremely money-hungry and didn't even want to try something new and daring- whatever age it appealed to. That's an extreme turn-off.

And as for the music, I have the cast recording, but when I listen to it, it's only about 5 songs at a time, and then I turn it off. The chorus is horrible, some of the lines leave me thinking "What happened to intelligent lyrics?", and there are too many weak numbers to make this a strong musical.

*******Book spoiler warning*********


"It's interesting that people read anything negative about Wicked as "bashing." I have actually a very carefully considered critique of that show based on the utter disappointment with what I saw onstage. Not only do I feel it blew an absolutely perfect opportunity to make a great musical out of some very clever source material, I feel it isn't even successful at what people claim it's good at, these people including but not limited to Idina's comment at the Tony's that it celebrates the friendship of women. No, I don't think it even manages to do that half-succesfully."

that's nice that you have refrained from being offensive when talking about wicked, but you aren't the only person who posts about it.

As for the book...the book is kinky and political, is that what you wanted? Yes it's very interesting and I loved it but imagine putting that onstage. I'd like to see you try to write songs about half of the things they talk about in that book, most of which are just allegories to world history. It can't be done. You think children, teens or even adults want to see the death of Fiyero portrayed onstage? How about the philosophy club, or the kid in the well? OR they could have a fantastic scene about how all of the children and the sisters were slaughtered by the soldiers. I'm sure that would've been much more successful than the show they made.

The Musical was taking the books story about Animals and animals one step further... I liked the difference in stories, it gave Elphaba more reason to care about Animals and animals.

this show isn't based on the wizard of oz... it's based on the much darker book (and much MUCH better) Wicked...

Updated On: 8/25/04 at 04:13 PM

isn't there a death in The Lion King?

and btw, is The Wizard of OZ really loved by MOSTLY kids? or are there many MANY adults who love this as well?

Updated On: 8/25/04 at 04:14 PM

has anyone explaind the Dragon that hangs over the stage?

no, Wicked the musical is about the wicked witch of the west and glinda the good, characters both adapted from the wizard of oz. the show is losely based on the book, and the book depends on the story from the wizard of oz.

OK...I saw the show and was confused by the ending. I don't know, I may have zoned out somewhere during the second half or something....but can someone PM me and tell me just how that happened!!!


*****spoiler"******







I was like...."What worked"? What the heck did they do for her to return?

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Emutional - what you say may be true of the general tourism infected public - but I, myself, always prefer the darker shows - blood and gore included. Dark stories are SO much more interesting than that trite crap that they are trying to pass off as "theatre" in the Gershwin. Wicked bored me to tears and was just too sugarcoated for my tastes. The book made into a musical (meaning the original book upon which the show SHOULD be based) would have been much more exiting to watch and get involved in.

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again...no good deed...lots of spoilers that are dark...it's a lot of the first act thats sugar coated. and i mean, come on, if you've read the book, you know it would be hard to make it into a musical like that. and again, it says NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN 10 AND UNDER. that doesn't look like a familly show to me.

redhot- maybe as a movie, it would, but think about watching that onstage. Try imagining songs and such.

I also stand by the point that people want to have fun on vacation which is why they go see "trite" musicals like Wicked, which consistenly sells out week after week with 100% attendance, than musicals like Caroline, or Change which, most recently, had 68% attendance and made less than a third of what Wicked did. Wicked is the kind of show that people plan on seeing so that they can be impressed and entertained, and have fun at the same time.

LadyGuenevere - thank you. BTW - I have had the song "Where are the Simple Joys of Maidenhood" in my head for the past 24 hours - and I can't figure out why!!!...Camelot is a fav of mine - and even IT has its dark moments (if directed well)...have you played that part?
joeyjoe - you're testing them, aren't you???LOL...you and I BOTH know what the Dragon was about (at least from the book's perspective)

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really? seems to me it just hung over the stage... it seemed to me that the creator tried to cram as much of the books details into the show without every explaining them...

and i DO know what happens in the end... a HAPPY ending, so that children won't have nightmares...

and Derek2, why not see Avenue Q and make your own objective judgement on it instead of basing your opinion on the fact that it won the Best Musical Tony...

Updated On: 8/25/04 at 04:28 PM