It's better that it's not on the recording: the first couple of times people see it, it's a surprise, making it even more funny. I bet it will be really great when Jennifer Laura Thompson says it the first time. I know that it is with Kristin, even when she's been in the show for awhile.
Musicpos - on one level, I agree with you - but since the cast recording is a record of the show, I still think it's a shame that it's not included. It perfectly sets up her character.
I see what you're saying, but I think that's what makes the OBCR of Wicked better than Avenue Q (other than it's an infinitely better show), but it doesn't give away too much. Someone can listen to the Wicked CD and get excited about the show and love it more when they see it. With Avenue Q, they give away all/most of the jokes and the majority of the plot, making the show ALMOST anti-climatic.
I love the show Wicked but I have to say I was throughly disappointed when the cast recording came out. I felt like it tried too hard to be a Broadway/Pop crossover. And I was so pissed with what they did to Defying Gravity; I've heard bootlegs that are better. Fire away.
I don't really LIKE what they did to Defying Gravity on the recording, but I'm kind of glad they left some out...so the really powerful dramatic moments and some important parts of the show aren't completely given away.
I still maintain, in an environment where visual representation is not possible, the cast recording is the only representation of a show we have. As an example, I was EXTREMELY grateful for the full symphonic recording of LES MIZ that was done (even though I TRULY WISH Colm had sung the lead!) I appreciate all the different cast recordings that were made, I was just happy to have the full score as written.
They really didn't take out any of the song out from "Defying Gravity" other than the "It's MEEEEEE" part, they just cut out the dialogue, which they did in the entire CD, and putting that line in, wouldn't make much sense. Again, I think that this makes the experience of the show that much more. With that said, when I do my recital, I'm getting someone to sing Glinda's part so I can do the version from the show (I'll skip the levitation chant). Thank goodness that this song isn't gender specific. Neither is "No Good Deed." Btw, what do you guys think about "The Wizard and I"? Too gender specific or outside of the context of the play, could it be sung by a man with career ambition?
I don't think any of those songs would make sense sung by a guy. I know they don't write parts for men quite like they do for women, but seriously, find something else to belt.
Well, I figure either ditch the chant, or figure it's a friend? What do you think? I'm just getting stuff together now. They're such great songs, I want to sing them...
I remember reading an interview someone had with Stephen Schwartz months ago when the recording was first released. He said he spent a lot of time and put a lot of effort into crafting the cast recording of the show. He said he did not want to give away all of the plot twists and surprises that happen during the show, which in my opinion, was a good idea. That is probably why he left off Nessarose's "big" song, "The Wicked Witch of the East".
It's good to see me isn't it. *Huge Grin* No need to answer. That was retorical. Fellow Ozians: *then goes into the beginning of "No one Mourns the Wicked"
"It's the little things; the details, that distinguish the Barbra Streisands from the Rosalyn Kinds."~Gilmore Girls~
"He said he did not want to give away all of the plot twists and surprises that happen during the show" Well that's all good for now, but when the show finally does close, all of that will be lost to the general public.
No-One Mourns the Wicked is AWFUL on the recording but BRILLIANT in performance.
And personally I like stuff to be left off the cast recording, it means there's an incentive to see it in performance. I mean, half of these people with names like 'WickedForever' or 'IdinaLover', etc, haven't even seen the show, yet claim it's their favourite..
But it has to close sometime. When it does no one will remember those parts left off. I think the point of a cast recording should be to preserve the show.
agreed BwayBoy, i saw the show again last week, and Wicked Witch of the West is something I would have liked to remember, but have already forgotten. I really wish they would have included it on the OBCR, all this talk of plot spoilers is sort of pointless, the whole idea IMO of a OBCR is to preserve the show (plot and all) so one can enjoy it even after it has closed.
How wouldn't the songs make sense sung by a guy? I know in the context of the show, but in recital, there is no context. Don't the words hold their own? Btw, there is no such thing as belting for a guy that's only for female voices.