Wicked Virgin

[sparkleplenty]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 4:07pm

I finally saw Wicked (in L.A.) last Sunday night (I know,I know..I'm the last person on the planet to do so) and I must say i don't know what all the excitement was about. Not much of a story, NO dance numbers, few memorable songs, unimpressive staging.
I guess it's a chick musical or something. I liked the performers and the ending was pretty cool...but sorry, much ado about nothing. I understand why Avenue Q won the Tony.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 4:09pm

Avenue Q has dance numbers??

[sparkleplenty]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 4:10pm

Well, I didn't say a show HAD to have dance numbers to be a great show. Wicked sure seemed like it had room for some and could have used some. Avenue Q maybe not so easily.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 4:13pm

You certainly implied it given that the "NO" was capitalized.

Sorry I misunderstood the emphasis.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 4:24pm

I always thought Dancing Through Life was a dance number?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 4:27pm

"I guess it's a chick musical or something."

Wow you are full of insight.

[maya5892]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 4:29pm

Actually, there is quite a lot of dancing and movement in Wicked. It's usually in transitions ans stuff. Also, throughout a song called DANCING Through Life

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 4:44pm

Uh it's more musical staging as opposed to choreography. It's not a dance show at all.

Actually, there is quite a lot of dancing and movement in Wicked.

Uh really maya5892? There's weird crouching and spinning but I wouldn't really consider that interesting, just kind of filler.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 4:56pm

Sir, I confess I have not seen the show either. I'll get my chance in about a month, though.

Not much of a story
There are plenty of books, plays, etc. that aren't so much about story as substance: COMPANY, ETHAN FROME (a fantastic novel), etc.

No dance numbers
So?

Few memorable songs
Well, you certainly aren't alone in that thought (I, for one, love the score, but that's me)

Unimpressive staging
Yeah, there are more than a few people around here who'll tell you that Joe Mantello (the director) is a little overrated.

So I'd say you're about 50/50. But musicals are a changing art form. That's why we come here and argue with each other: we love musical theater and want to see it grow.

Updated On: 3/7/08 at 04:56 PM

[jordangirl]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 5:02pm

Uh it's more musical staging as opposed to choreography.

Well...true. It's not touching yourself.. :P Sorry, couldn't resist. I still can't believe THAT won "Best Choreography" last year.

It's not a dance show at all.

Maybe I'm weird, but I never thought it was advertised as a dance show.

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 5:59pm

One Short Day is a huge dance number.

[joleslie]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 6:02pm

I love Wicked, but I was really unimpressed with the LA version.

London and Broadway are millions times better. Therefore I'd be inclined to recommend that you don't judge the show based on the LA production.
Updated On: 3/8/08 at 06:02 PM

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 11:01pm

I LOVE Wicked, but really? Dancing guys? The only time there is "dancing" is during the dance break of "Dancing through Life" and the intro to that same song. There is a little dancing in "What Is This Feeling?". "One Short Day" is a lot of moving around, twirling and flips. Not much dancing. It's a spectacle show with 50% depth. The rest is glitz, color and power. It certainly has a touching story and one that many young people can relate to. It is also a wonderful show for its two leading ladies. But I kind of understand. Don't get me wrong, I love it. I've seen it 9 times. But I agree about the dancing and some of the direction.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 11:22pm

Sorry to hear you didn't like it. It really is a great show, in my opinion.

[Horton]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 11:34pm

I think what a lot of us were trying to say was that Wicked is a show that can't be done without the big spectacle. At heart, it doesn't work without the special effects, if you want to, youtube Wicked, and check out any of the 10000's of illegal school productions.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 12:03am

As with most virgin experiences and with Wicked in particular, after the event is a big letdown. People say it's life changing - it isn't the first time and, I daresay, it wasn't with repeated attempts. I found it to be all hype and little pipe. Clumsy, sweaty, full of itself and, ultimately, unsatisfying.

I far more enjoyed staying in of a night and listening to a good CD of something by Rodgers and Hart and getting Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.

(Well, you started it with that "Wicked Virgin" heading....)

[dshnookie]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 12:17am

LOL millie_dillmount

I was a "Wicked virgin" until this past October and have to disagree. I loved the show, and found it has a great message about friendship, and how rare true friendship can really be. I also enjoyed the "things arent always as they seem" theme with almost every character in the show.

[shh282]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 12:19am

I finally saw Wicked for the first time like two weeks ago and I was completely blown away by it, maybe it's an acquired taste to enjoy?

I thought the staging was one of the most magnificent things I have seen in a while. I also felt that more than a few of the songs were memorable.