Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
Well, when I ran the first reaction to this musical, currently onstage in San Francisco, it evidently struck a nerve with a number of other people who had seen the same production, but through very different eyes. I wanted to be sure to give them equal time, so check this out:
Well, when I ran the first reaction to this musical, currently onstage in San Francisco, it evidently struck a nerve with a number of other people who had seen the same production, but through very different eyes. I wanted to be sure to give them equal time, so check this out:
I was rather disappointed to see such an enthusiastic review of the new show "Wicked". It has been showing here in San Francisco before it heads to Broadway, and I managed to get tickets. Let me tell you, it is terrible. The music reminded me of bad 80's pop, complete with electric drums and synthesizers. The first act tried hard to be funny and failed miserably. The second act was a bit darker (and better), but when it overlapped with the "Wizard of Oz" there were major continuity problems. The one thing I can say for it is it had excellent production values. Great sets, amazing costumes, even a large, metal dragon above the stage that was moved by ropes and shot theatrical smoke from its mouth. The dragon, however, was not used at all in terms of plot, and felt to me like it, and many other props and sets, were used simply to mask the poor quality of the script and music. The worst part: almost all of the songs were reprised. In fact, the worst one was reprised several times.
I know there isn't much demand for reviews of plays on your website, so you probably won't post this. I simply felt that the community should have a different take on this show before they shell out any money on it.
If you do use this, call me "Lord Maxwell".
I confess... I didn’t even know this was in the works until that first review came in. Sounds like many of you did, though:
Hi, I just wanted to give you a tad bit more information in the Wicked story you posted.
The musical was written by Stephen Schwartz, who wrote Godspell and Pippin, as well as the lyrics for Pocahontas, Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Prince of Egypt. This basically means that any Broadway Musical buff (like myself) is foaming at the mouth to see this thing.
Graelent
A lot of the mail was in the form of questions (“Will there be an original cast recording?” “When is it coming to New York?”) that I wouldn’t have the answers to. But there was at least one other report from someone who has seen it:
Erock Skywalker here.
I need to chime in on the "Wicked" topic.
I saw the show here in San Francisco last week. Before I say anything about the musical production, let me just say that Gregory Maguire's book "Wicked" is right next to Tolken on my bookshelf. And for good reason. The book upon which the musical is based is a marvel of fantasy writing. Maguire presents Oz to the reader in incredable detail. Much like Tolken's Middle Earth, the Oz of this book is a lived in world with it's own history and myths - beauty and horror that seem to have existed before the story begins.
The novel explores the life of Ephabla ( Our "Wicked" Witch ) from birth to death in a compelling, tragic style. Her life and her choices are not easy. She is a complex woman to say the least.... and at times her actions may be considered wicked.... but is killing a little girl for something that is rightfully hers any worse than Dorothy killing a woman just so she could go home??
The book has a wonderfully dark tone and there is a constant air of sadness to the story...
… and all of that seems lost in the stage production.
The songs are overly peppy, there are dance sequences that are overly flashy, there is camp where there should be sorrow and a horrible "happy ending" that made me wince. Everything that the book set out to do this show undoes. Here Glinda is a silly cheerleader type.... in the novel she is a stuck up bitch who is too concerned with appearences to stand up for what is right..... In the book we learn that the Witch's sister is a dictator over the munchkins and Dorothy is given the ruby slippers to prevent the munchkins using them as a symbol of revolution against Oz...... here the importance of the slippers is not mentioned once. In the book Ephabla is killed by a child..... well, lets just say that that ain't what happens in the play.
The play tries to be clever and tounge in cheek but sadly, that isn't what is called for with the Witches tale. That was done to much better effect with "Into The Woods." I kept feeling that if Sondhiem had done this show it would have been a much different experence......
Don't get me wrong, this show was a good time at the theater. The cast is outstanding, the costumes and sets are a wonder. It simply doesn't do it's source material an ounce of justice. I was expecting a dark, brooding musical in the vein of "Sweeny Todd" but I got something more along the lines of "Beauty and the Beast"
I actually have faith that this show will do well in NYC.... It does have a lot going for it.... but I really suggest reading the novel.... it really is up there with The Lord Of The Rings.
May The Force Be With You - Erock Skywalker
Thanks, everybody. This certainly gives the curious more to chew on...
"Moriarty" out.
