Wicked - What Do People Have Against It?

I admit, I am a fan of Wicked and was admittedly obsessed with it when it first came out until Piazza set me straight. But I was aware of the mixed reception of the show at the time. But I've never really understood people's exact problems with it. I've heard that there are major problems with the book and, frankly, if you told me it was overproduced, I'd agree with you. I'm surprised that that dragon alone perched on the proscenium didn't put the producers in the poor house. So what exactly are people's problems with the show and where specifically do these faults with the book lie?

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OK, I have FINALLY seen Wicked! I saw it last night on tour. My friend and I won the lotto seats. I enjoyed it, I'm not going to lie, but it seriously had a bunch of flaws.

1) Lack of character development. My friend and I both read the book and agreed there is barely any character development. Where is this love between Elphaba and Fiyero coming from? It seemed too random. Then, Nessa. She is severely underdeveloped. Dr. Dillamond, well, he was just ok. They should have developed him more than they did, but they just didn't have time, obviously.

2) The cat fight scene. Seriously? A lot of the dialogue seemed too "teenager" and typical cattiness. It could have been better.

A lot of things just seemed rushed, but, I still enjoyed it. The lights were pretty spectacular.

OH! The lyrics. Some of the lyrics really lacked. And a few of the songs are just plain bad.

Random side note. At the beginning of One Short Day, when Elphaba and Galinda come on and sing, well, they didn't come on. They sang, but they weren't on stage, and they ran on halfway through. Well, come to find out, Marcie didn't have her dress zipped up. So the whole time, she had her hand behind her back holding it together, except for when she was using both hands to dance.
Also, I understand that the cherry pick used during Defying Gravity is MUCH safer, but it seemed a little tacky. You can clearly see the outline of the bucket.
And question, during Thank Goodness, when Glinda first comes on, and she raises her arms, that is an homage to Evita, correct? I told my friend but she refuses to believe me.

Still, it was a spectacle and I am glad I saw it.

Oh yeah some of the lyrics make me cringe. "Magic grand vizier"...yeesh.

Well, yeah, tourboi, that's what I'm interested in hearing: people's opinions.

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Piano, there is no "Bucket". It's just a ring that closes around them with a false skirt attached.



-Direction issues (tying in with the book issues)... why is the Dragon never really explained? How is it relevant in the show? If I hadn't read the book I'd be confused.
-Clockworks are so significant in the design, but never really explained WHY clocks are so important in Oz.

The show set in the traveling "Time Dragon Clock" from the book. The cogs are, as David Platt put it, the symbol of the inerworkings of O. The wizard isn't magical & everything is smoke & mirrors.

Updated On: 5/15/09 at 05:56 PM

I think they just call it the cherry picker, don't they?

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Yeah, it's just a lift.

SJB explaining it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKDnWuCw_2g

I loved it when it first opened...so much that I didn't want to see again...afraid it would ruin the "magical experience".

I finally took my kids to see it just a month or two ago. I was relatively bored. The book was whitewashed, the lyrics are forced, and its all bells and whistles. Spectacle without much substance.

I also agree with the other poster's comment about lack of character developement.

I also see how so many folks enjoy it.

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Piano, it is an homage to Evita. :]

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I'm actually able to enjoy both the novel and the show as completely separate works.

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Its enjoyable but it ain't the greatest show that ever came down the Pike

Truth be told, I enjoyed Shrek much more.

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I was lied to! Okay--color me corrected. I haven't actually read the book but was told that they had the same ending. Regardless, still not a fan.

And Weez, Misery came out 18 years ago. I thought I'd call it obscure rather than have other people tell me I'm old for quoting it. :)

Weez hit the nail on the head: it has been "watered down - from a really interesting political work with lots of great insight and imagination, to a cliched love triangle story with the depth of single-ply toilet paper."

Which is, of course, why it is so wildly "pop-u-ular."

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Weez hit the nail on the head: it has been "watered down - from a really interesting political work with lots of great insight and imagination, to a cliched love triangle story with the depth of single-ply toilet paper."

Agreed. Plus, a lot of the character development and plot are ruined in favor of some cheap references to The Wizard of Oz. Audiences eat them up. And some of the dialogue and lyrics (not just the references) make me cringe.

I like the show, but can't stand people who think it's the greatest thing ever.