Wicked Obsessed - Do I Need Help?

What's wrong with me?

(preface - Brand new to this board. I don't live in NYC, I get all my B-Way Theatre on tour, and though an ardent life-long student, participant & supplicant of the medium, don't keep abreast of the very latest ... but I think that's about to change ... )

I first heard about Wicked sometime last year and dismissed it. I glanced at the TV briefly during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day (or was it on New Year's?) parade and saw "the cast of Wicked" lip-syncing, and turned back to my blueberry muffin.

Then I saw the Tonys. And something happened. Something about the performance, Idina's insane intensity, the music .... I didn't run out to Buy Caroline or Change, nor Avenue Q, (I fell in love with Assasins 12 years ago, so I didn't need to go buy that one) ... but within days I had Wicked in my CD player. That was, what, 2 months ago? It hasn't left my CD player since. I Bought the Peter MaGuire book and read it in a week. I scoured the internet until I found a complete (yes, with spoilers) synopsis. I began scoping out flight prices to NY and Tix availability. I just got subscriptions to the Sunday Times and the New Yorker.

I joined a friggin "Broadway Chat room" !

What the hell has gotten into me?? What is it about this show? The last time I felt this way was Urinetown, Titanic before that, Rent, and Passion before that ... and each to a far lesser extent. I was "Infatuated" with those shows ... this time I think I'm truly Possessed.

I think there's something really wrong with me. Is there a 12-Step program for this?

LOL

If you need help, I certainly do. I love Wicked (and bway in general), and I don't live in NY. Idina's amazing, but I haven't been fourtunate enough to hear Eden yet.

I agree with you the book is better, but it would have never worked as the story of a musical, and while I was not eager to see the changes made, I actually found them still satisfying. They work better for a musical. The one aspect of the show which puzzled me was how could Elphaba sing, "I'm Not That Girl" in the rain? Curiouser and Curiouser.

we saw it the night after it opened, so maybe my memory is a bit foggy, but i think she sang the song under a bridge...

**spoiler**

Le Prince Rebel -
um,...Elphaba can sing in the rain because water doesn't actually melt her. The people of OZ just believe it, so she uses the belief to fake her 'melting'...and since you've seen the show, you know how that turns out...

JoJoM - I agree with you about the way Winnie Holtzman adapted the book to make the story work on stage. I do believe the original novel was beautifully constructed to shape issues. It was much more philosophical. But the musical works, too.

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Updated On: 7/16/04 at 12:06 PM

It's funny, I feel the same way. I am completely obsessed. I'm trying to find any way to get to New York to see it (i'm in CA) which is very unlike me. Oh well. At least I'm getting back into theatre:) You're not alone!!

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The book was great, but sooooooo long and sooooo confusing! Id recommend the show over the book any day.

Why in the world did you just randomly throw out a bunch of spoilers? What was your point? Every example you give only highlights how confusing and convoluted the book is - not necessarily how much "Better" the book is. I respect your opinion, I just don't get your argument.

Yes, the slippers Turtle Heart crafted are Silver, but Nessa's father turns them "multicolored". Why not just make them RUBY? And, as I said, as a plot device, it makes more sense to have Nessa's legs impaired (as in the musical) than to have no arms (as in the book).

I'd re-think your statements "Elphaba kills Madame Morrible" and "Elphaba really does melt."

It's very rare for me, but to my surprise, I found the plot of the musical adaptation superior in many ways to the novel. The novel introduces and develops characters which do not connect in any way to the end. Their story lines just peter out. Also, so many of the momentous events happen OFF the page (i.e., in between chapters). More than 3/4ths of the way through, I was about ready to pitch the damn thing, saying "Is Elphaba even gonna get on her damn broom and DO something?"

It wasn't until the last chapter that things started to come together - ideas of fate, destiny, and free will came to the surface. For the last chapter alone I would recommend the book.

Call me crazy but, from what I've read, McGuire is duly impressed with what has been done with his first novel. Do you think it possible that he may feel a bit "Damn, why didn't I think of that?"

haha. the book is better, but i am OBSESSED with the musical more. eden rocks!

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hm....interesting and a tiny bit odd.

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In L. Frank Baum's original story, Dorothy wore "silver slippers".

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That's why I was suprised she used a bad performance as an example for loving the show. lol

it is like a drug! oh! and very good english for someone is is from italy (no offense to you!! i meant that you speak italian mostly)! i think everything that the previous post mention is why everyone loves Wicked.

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