which is better: the book? or the musical?

In my opinion, the book is a million and one times better than the show. The characters are far more developed, and there is much more time spent on the complicated backstories, relationships, and geography of Oz. Also, the book explores much broader and more profound themes than the musical could ever hope to touch upon. Read the book, and you'll realize how silly this show actually is.

Amen, Yankeeboy!

And, this may be a little off-topic, but does anyone else think that the novel Wicked would make a great miniseries, a la Gulliver's Travels, except for cable?

Updated On: 8/4/05 at 02:48 PM

I read the book before I saw the show. Liked (not loved) the book - dark and mysterious, interesting. The musical, by comparison, is fluff. I don't know what Schwartz was going for, but to me, it missed the mark by a longshot. I'd have liked it better had it been written by someone with the sensibilities of a Sondheim.

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I think Wicked, if done correctly, would make a phenomenal mini-series!

And yes, the book and the musical are two entirely different entities, but I feel as though the musical is a lot of green gels, a flying bubble, and little else. It lacks heart in my opinion, and it has since it premiered. That is not to say the cast is untalented or doesn't put forth phenomenal effort on a nightly basis, but rather that it seems as though this was a production always intended to be a long-running blockbuster like Les Miz, Cats, or Phantom. Because of this, a lot of artistic elements seem to have been sacrificed.

We're in agreement again, Yankeeboy.

Going back to Red's comments regarding Schwartz's score... although it's not one of my favorites, it's never really been the score that I've had issues with. I've always thought the book was the biggest problem with Wicked, the musical. Granted, it's a tough novel to adapt to a 2 hour musical, but I think that Ms. Holzmann's attempt fell tragically short. I felt that I was bombarded with glitz and special effects to mask the fact that the story was terribly weak, and I couldn't help but find the show annoying, and stupid. The guys in dresses and Cilento's vogue-ing choreography didn't really help matters, either. I wonder if they were targeting 12 year-old girls to begin with, maybe that's why I found it forgettably silly.

Updated On: 8/4/05 at 03:14 PM

Yeah, it def was targeted at a tween audience. I mean, just look at the lyrics-- very cliche. "Something has changed within me/Something is not the same/I'm through with playing by the rules of someone else's game"

That aside, I still love it =) Not bc I think it's a magnificent work of art, but because I love stuff that makes me happy and feel all warm inside and Wicked does that.

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I like the show's storyline better. It's clear and simple and makes a great show. I also really enjoy the novel, but there are many different themes and political ideas, it's deep, but makes for a good read. I suggest it.

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Libraries are nice, too...