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Making Wicked Broadway-ready 2003
While I was volunteering at the America Festival again this year, I got to catch up with all those friends who do the same. "How was your year?" we say at the beginning and "See you next year!" at the end.
In this case. however, opportunity may arise to get together sooner, since Gary and Cody are big musicals buffs and will be coming up to San Francisco to see Urinetown and a couple other shows soon.
We, of course, talked about the new musical, Wicked. Though we agreed that the costumes, set design and performances were great and that the book (the story & dialogue) was some of the best in years, they were very disappointed in the show overall. They thought the music was just awful with a few exceptions ("Popular", "Wonderful", "The Wizard and I", "What Is This Feeling?[Loathing]") and predicted that if that shortcoming isn't fixed before it opens on Broadway, it will be savaged by the New York critics, who are, as Gary said, cruel.
I wasn't as bothered by the music as they were, but then I'm easily pleased and willing to let a bad song be over-shadowed by everything else I'm enjoying. Still, "Which Way's The Party" is a real dog of a song and Glinda & Elphaba's duet at the end ("For Good") fails to really show off those two fantastic performers, plus it has bizarre lyrics ("a seed dropped by a seabird"? What the fuck?).
After thinking about it a while, I think the best course of action would be to hand the show over to Tony-winner William Finn who wrote Falsettos and let him wash some of that dated, trite feel out of the music. If it sounded a little less 70s and there were some songs with the emotional force of "What More Can I Say" and "You Gotta Die Sometime" in there, it would be unstoppable.
[April 25, 2004: This post gets so many hits from people searching for more information about the show who fail to notice that it was written based on a pre-Broadway version of the show. Before you leap to the show's defense, remember that I didn't see the same show you did. They apparently made a lot of good changes, as the Broadway soundtrack illustrates.]
Posted on July 6, 2003 at 11:44 AM in music | Permalink
Comments
I see that the Broadway cast recording has been announced and I noticed that "Which Way Is the Party" is NOT on it. Whew.
I never did find any review by someone who saw both versions to hear about other changes. I guess I'll just have to get to New York and see it myself. (The odds of that happening while the current leads are in the part are a bit slim, I fear).
Posted by: Dinah at Dec 6, 2003 7:48:15 PM
I saw wicked 2 nights ago. I was very much happy with the musical quality and very much enjoyed the entire performance. I have only heard excellent reviews, so I believe they made the appropiate changes. :)
Spark
Posted by: Spark at Jan 1, 2004 6:43:45 PM
What are you people thinking ?? That show was
fantastic. What ever happened to appreciation of
music?? Honestly i'd like to see you sit down
and write a show as fantastic as that. Let alone
perform in one. Get your ass to Gershwin and see
the show before you open your mouth.
Posted by: Jess at Jan 3, 2004 6:41:23 PM
rock on jess. you tell them! i, 100%, agree with you. the show was fantastic, so fantastic that i even bought the soundtrack the next day. i have to say that stephen schwartz gets older with age, i think this is his best work (followed closely by pippin).
Posted by: feste110 at Jan 5, 2004 4:35:30 AM
This review was of the original pre-Broadway production, folks.
Though I have to agree that Stephen Schwartz indeed does get older with age.
Posted by: Dinah at Mar 4, 2004 9:39:01 PM
I found this site doing a search for wicked. I think the music in Wicked is amazing! I've heard mized reviews from New York critics, many say the book is weak (which you say was strong), and many say the music is too poppy which I don't agree with. I do think the lyrics for For Good could be better and the second act has some low points, but I think this Schwartz production will outlive the majority of current Broadway productions. Idina Menzel and kristin Chenoweth are amazing. Despite what anyone says about Wicked I think it's a new style of musical; kind of a compilation of pop music from Rent and quirky story from Into the Woods. I loved it and hope to go back this summer. Wicked is worth seeing live if only to see the full effect of Defying Gravity- amazing.
Posted by: Tori at Apr 11, 2004 3:23:19 PM
I saw Wicked a week ago in NY and I loved it to death. I wish I could've heard the original version to compare. "Which Way's the Party" must've been awful. Kinda glad I didn't hear it. There were weak spots (the lyrics and power of "For Good" could've been much better and stronger, "One Short Day" just more or less sucks and has no point, what's up with the dragon?, etc.) but overall it took my breath away and left me wanting more. It had heartbreak, hilarity, FANTASTIC leads Chenoweth and Menzel, a lot of emotion. I just adore it. Now I'm obsessed and that's how I found this site. I hope it continues to improve. Can they do that once it's on B-Way? Hope so. I agree wholeheartedly with Dinah about "Defying Gravity" - AWESOME. Absolutely worth seeing if not just to see Chenoweth sing "Popular" and Menzel sing "Defying Gravity".
Posted by: Kelly at Apr 18, 2004 7:06:10 PM
whoops, I meant Tori, I agree with Tori about "Defying Gravity". my bad!
Posted by: Kelly at Apr 18, 2004 7:11:53 PM
The dragon is a reference to the book, which I recommend.
I really enjoyed the show even in it's pre-Broadway form and would like to see it again. However, I have some doubts that it would have come as far as it has without Chenoweth and Menzel's considerable talents.
By the way, if anyone ever finds any pictures of the blue & white Shiz uniforms, please let me know the URLs. They were my favorite costumes and I can't find pictures anywhere.
Posted by: Dinah at Apr 18, 2004 7:35:01 PM
I LOVE WICKED!! All of you downers can just shut up! I like the song "For good" so I don't know what you're all talking about. By the by, the line is "a seed dropped by a skybird" not seabird. Schwartz rules! Everyone should read the fantastic book (WARNING: May make you cry!) because it is sooooooo good! I enjoyed both the book and musical; although different, neither one ruined the other for me.
Posted by: Lucy at Apr 20, 2004 6:34:16 AM
I'm going to see Wicked next week on B-way...I can't wait! I've been listening to the soundtrack and it is absolutely astounding. "Defying Gravity" it just...wow. Words cannot describe. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth are just absolutely spectacular!
Posted by: Keely at May 11, 2004 2:23:39 PM
I am going to see Wicked on July 7. My mom and all my aunts saw it and they said it was "Wonderful,they called it wonderful!" (Tee-hee!) I have not been able to get the cd out of my cd player for months. I am a singer myself and would like to portray the part of Elphaba. I am an alto soprano like Idina Menzel. I just think she has such an amazing voice. I would love to meet her someday. And Kristin Chennoweth, she was so good in "The Music Man" and she just brings Glinda to life. The "Popular" song just always makes me laugh, "Defying Gravity" just brings me to tears, "For good" makes me cry even more. If you're reading this Idina Menzel, God has given you such a wonderful talent of singing. You are truly a role model to girls, well, at least you are mine. NORBORT BUTZ IS SO HOT!!!
Posted by: Katie McMahon at Jun 17, 2004 6:32:55 PM
Idina Menzel,
wow! i looked foward to watching you perform but i didn't get to see you. i came to the june 30th matinea (or however u spell it) performance of wicked. I was soo disapointed not to see you. I have to say though, your standby did an eccelent job. Your probably not reading this but if by some chance you are i was wondering if you could e-mail me and tell me the next time you'll be performing. I am already saving up for new tickets. You know how much meeting the wizard meens to Elphie in the beginning, well that is how much hearing from you meens to me. You are my idol!
sincerely,
Shaylyn
Posted by: Shaylyn Forte at Jul 1, 2004 7:42:19 AM
My friend from choir has made me totally addicted to the soundtrack. I listen to it and absolutely love everything about it. I really wish I could go to New York and see the musical, but for now I'll just read the book and listen to the AMAZING music. Especially Defying Gravity - my favorite song on the soundtrack, i can't describe how amazing it is!
Posted by: Chelsea at Jul 28, 2004 3:27:03 PM
Wicked is sweeter than sugar! it is the number one musical in the world, and I love musicals. Defying gravity put tears of joy in my eyes! wicked rules
Posted by: Gary Jeans at Mar 18, 2005 10:46:49 AM
WICKED IS AEWSOME and for all you people dissing "For Good" what the hell are you talking about. I think that is the most moving song ever!
Posted by: Rufiana at Apr 25, 2005 10:46:01 PM
O my gosh i live wicked, thought i haven't even seen it. I love ALL of the music especially "For Good" A seed dropped by a skybird refers to the change Glinda had perminatly left in her spirit so if you didn't like this song it's because you have no imagination and you need to become farmiliar with the tearm "read between the lines"
Posted by: Maddi at Jun 25, 2005 3:01:37 PM
...and you dig "Falsettos"! I may be in love. =)
(Also, I'm itching to see "Putnam County Spelling Bee", and I'm kicking myself for not doing it while it was off-Broadway...)
Posted by: M-D at Jun 26, 2005 10:14:14 PM
Heh.
Haven't heard of "Putnam County Spelling Bee". Do tell.
Posted by: Dinah at Jun 27, 2005 5:28:08 PM
Now, weren't you the one lecturing ME on the existence of Google a while back...?
"Spelling Bee" is William Finn's latest musical. It just transferred to Broadway earlier this year, and was nominated for the Tony for Best Musical (which it lost to Spamalot, but still...)
Posted by: M-D at Jun 29, 2005 9:58:57 AM
Guilty as charged.
Sounds like a great show! http://www.playbill.com/news/article/93702.html
Posted by: Dinah at Jun 29, 2005 12:52:11 PM
OH MY GOSH- Wicked is amazing. There is nothing bad about it. You have to understand the concept, and the meaning, not just what you see and hear. You're horrible for insulting Wicked. Seriously you are, call me immature, I don't care, that's horrible for you to say. I love Wicked so much.
Posted by: Tyler at Aug 19, 2005 8:52:59 PM
OKAY, PEOPLE. CHILL OUT. you need to understand its' called critisism. Cursing and yelling at the them isn't a very good response. While I do feel Wicked was AWESOME, I'm not going to say anything about it because Im not a very good critic of musicals. But I will say, to Dinah, if the critics really did put the show down for the music being to popish, then they're just stupid. It IS a new style of music. I think pop music has a bad rap for being immediately associated with people like Jessica Simpson and Britney wats her name, but it is in fact a really creative genre of music. ok there im done.
Posted by: joe at Aug 23, 2005 6:04:00 AM
Wicked is the most amazing musical ever!! Fuck you for not liking it. and by the way its "a seed dropped by a SKYbird." and For Good is the most amazing song ever, and if you would just look at the lyrics, you would see that it is beautiful and has great meaning. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth worked their asses off to make the San Fransisco run work, and you are critisizing them. FUCK YOU! Next time you critisize something amazing, don't put it on the internet.
Posted by: a wicked fan at Sep 10, 2005 9:25:34 PM
I grow increasingly convinced that the majority of people commenting on this thread are failing to actually read my post, see the context - it was the PRE-BROADWAY version folks - and notice phrases like "those two fantastic performers" in reference to Menzel and Chenoweth.
Given that I suspect they're probably mostly around 12 years old or so and I probably would have been just as inclined to fly off the handle over the slightest criticism over something I loved at that age, I think the best course is just to close this one off to comments.
I will say though, that it's odd that someone could love a show with such interesting themes and yet have such a hard time not viewing the world in black & white. I do hope they aren't of voting age...
Posted by: Dinah at Sep 10, 2005 9:43:35 PM
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