Wicked Set Design Observation/Question

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 10/23/04 at 8:41pm

I just remembered today after seeing a picture of the WICKED set design. The day I went to see WICKED, I remember seeing what seems to be a "dragon". And the first thing I thought was
"the dragon is going to fly over the audience" well during a scene I remember stage crew members were moving the "dragon" slightly. What I want to know, what was the purpose of this set?
I made a connection
When Elphaba lost her temper = Dragon moves?
Is this right? Does the dragon have anything to do
with the book (which I did not read) ???????

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/23/04 at 8:45pm

the dragon and clock motif play an important part of the novel. There is a time dragon clock that figures heavily into the story.

[Bal]

Posted: 10/23/04 at 9:09pm

But it doesn't figure at all into the story of the musical.

So it's completely pointless, but another shiny object to distract the audience from other, weaker parts of the show. Like the plot. :)

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 10/23/04 at 9:21pm

exactly- throughout the whole show I was like
"when is the dragon going to fly over the audience"?????

[broadwaybound3]

Posted: 10/23/04 at 11:06pm

if you read the book (which is kind of disturbing) you will find it is very different from musical, you will understand the clock. Examples of the differences in the book are Nessa has no arms, Fiyero and Elphaba have a kid together, and Boq has about 8 kids and is free. Yea....see what i mean? (Sorry if i ruined anything for anyone) If you didnt read the book the dragon and clocks would have you very confused.

[sean martin]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 1:02am

The whole concept of the set seems contingent on knowing the book, which, as a designer, I find a little precious, to tell the truth. It's a stunning piece of work, sure, but it doesn't do anything to help the story move along -- sorta like the carousel of lights in JANE EYRE. And it's all the more surprising because normally Eugene Lee is a little better at this.

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 1:16am

It's a large part of the book, but in the show it's completely pointless.

[broadwaybound3]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 1:19am

a sad attempt at another weak connection between novel and musical.

[habbott]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 1:25am

Yeah, the time clock dragon figures into Wicked the book.

I like the fact that the dragon is there to honor the time clock dragon. It makes a fantastic center piece, too.

[broadwaybound3]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 1:28am

yea...it was a convo piece before the show started to say the least... especially with the herd of young children behind me.... let me tell you...that was an interesting experience- and makes me never want to have kids @ the same time.

[broadwaybound3]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 1:30am

It was one of the best performances of the new cast ive seen-but the worst theater experience I think ever.

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 3:01am

HABBOTT " It makes a fantastic center piece, too. " Funny LOL

I ordered the book and I am planning to read the novel!
This might clear things up.

I am sorry, but if you are going adapt a book into a musical, make it right. I, not have read the book, should know the whole story of the novel after watching WICKED on Broadway!
How would it have been if in the movie THE WIZARD OF OZ, they made it as if DOROTHY and THE SCARECROW fall in love and THE WIZARD kills GLINDA????? Im sure this contracdicts the book THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ.
I enjoyed the musical, but now reading the novel, I know im going to be thinking of the actions from the musical! Updated On: 10/24/04 at 03:01 AM

[broadwaybound3]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 3:07am

really- i suggest you think of them as two seperate entities or you will be weirded out.

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 3:09am

i could manage

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 3:11am

OT but since we're talking about adapting Wicked.
In my mind, I have an adaptation of Wicked where I still keep most of the songs, but change the story a lot to put in a lot of of the elements of the book and a lot elements from my own imagination. Imagine Elphaba more of a softer version of Hedda Gabler, and that's my version of Wicked.

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 3:16am

VIETgrlTerifa
all I have to say is ?????????

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 3:19am

Well, I did say it was off topic, lol.
You guys were just talking about how you didn't like the way they adapted the book to Wicked, and it just got me thinking of the ideas I had if I ever got to adapt Wicked myself. Sorry for the weirdness.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 11:52am

If the musical is based on the book, and that was what Eugene was using as source material, and not necessarily the musical book, of course he would use the time dragon, since it's so integral to the plot. Or perhaps the book had more references at the time, and little by little they were whittled away on the way to Broadway? I remember seeing the set design the spring prior, which looked great even without having read the book, while my co-worker who loved the book raved about the design including the dragon.

[sheckler89]

Posted: 11/5/04 at 7:01pm

yes in the book this is the stage that travels around it has the dragon with it