Wicked
 

Has anyone seen the play Wicked in New York City - what did you think of it?

As always, Broadway shows are very subjective. If you tell us more about your taste, we might be able to tell you if you think you'll like it!

That being said, it is one of the top-grossing shows on Broadway right now, and in general the response is always very favorable. I personally liked it very much. It is definitely a "big Broadway musical" in every sense of the word.

Following up Tarheels comment, Wicked is THE biggest grossing show in New York right now and is still selling out after more than two years.
We didn't like it, BUT we are definitely in the minority. Most liked the show.

I love musicals, my BH is almost tone-deaf, and even he loved this one.

Hi HowardR - why didn't you like Wicked?

flagging

Keith - what is flagging?

It is the theater equivalent to a blockbuster movie. Sometimes they can be fun, and the visuals are great, but you don't go there looking for a moving challenging experience. I enjoyed it, and thought it was a lot of fun (I saw it in chicago) for what it was.

Wow. I didn't know that and I've probably seen at least 40 to 50 different plays, mostly musicals in my lifetime.

Well then, flag on, because I enjoyed it as much as Music Man, Oklahoma, or My Fair Lady. No, it isn't Les Mis.- that was good and "deep"- but to tell you the truth- after it was all said and done, I actually like Wicked better.

You know sometimes girls just want to have fun.

Why didn't we (both adults and children, I might add) like it? (My comments are sure to provoke disagreement.)
First, we thought it overlong.
Second, we thought the music was repetitious.
Third, a lot of the acting was over the top.
Interestingly, our 12-year-old grandson, who was enrapt at Hairspray and Fiddler on the Roof was restless and bored throughout.
Admittedly, we are in the minority, but the show just didn't work for us.

We also saw the original cast in Chicago. My friend and her daughter thought is was great. My first comment when leaving was: Aren't you suppose to be humming at least one of the songs when you come out of a "musical". Obviously, I wasn't and neither was my friend. I thought it was a really cute idea but somehow it didn't have any interest to me after the first hour.

Howard, you're not alone. I saw it in Chicago a couple of months ago and, quite frankly, found it a bit boring myself. I pretty much kept my opinion to myself because everyone else seemed to love it. A co-worker of mine went the following week. I didn't discuss my opinion with her. She came back and said she didn't care for it, thought it was long and boring, but of course her friend loved it. Different strokes.

"flagging" is posting to a thread so you can find it again, rather than making up something to post.

Keith

If you're not sure if you'll like a show, I would highly suggest trying to listen to the music first, before spending a few hundred dollars on tickets.

You can buy the cast recording, or you can probably download music from a variety of websites. You can also listen to clips on Amazon.com.

That's always a good idea--although I didn't think all that much of the music when I borrowed it from the library(maybe the 1940s--50s spoiled folks for great musical musicals!), I liked it much better after seeing the show, and even bought the soundtrack (tho I saw a better (IMO!) Elphaba than Menzel).

I LOVED it. I had read the book and saw it the week it opened on Broadway. As mentioned, this is always a subjective question , but the critics and the public like it very much.

BTW, I'm really hoping they make a musical of the sequal book ("Son of a Witch") as well.

bardo1 I saw the musical, but didn[t read the book. A friend read the book, but didn't see the musical. We listed to the sound track together and compared notes. The two seemed to have extremely little in common.

Keith

Very true--but probably about as much in commmon as any other musical (Oklahoma--Green Grow the Lilacs) has to the original book! I did read the book, and was taken aback by the show ending--but enjoyed it all anyway, and would see it again. (But I will never be able to sit through another Phantom, phrankly...)

A co-worker and her husband walked out at intermission. They were totally bored.

Usually, I hate musicals and like plays that make me think, but I really enjoyed Wicked. Go figure.

It has such a following in Chicago now that some people, especially the college age people, have seen it two or three times.

I knew nothing at all about it before I saw it, not even that it was OZ or "The Wizard of Oz" prequel. And I walked out with "Popular" in my mind and couldn't get it out for days.

I've liked nearly every musical that I've seen, with the possible exception of "Phantom of the Opera". And I enjoyed it but wasn't crazy about "Miss Saigon" either. "Cats" was another one that I liked the visuals but it didn't send me off into imagination.

The "Defying Gravity" right before intermission put my 10 year old grand-daughter into such a state that I thought she was going to try to fly to the refreshment stand.

I sure hope they make a play sequel and that it still remains about the girls.

I just saw it in Chicago. It is ok..but not one that I would want to see again unlike other musicals I have seen on stage. The staging was nice, but there are no memorable tunes. I think it more hype than substance.

I saw it shortly after it opened on Boradway. Went to take my 12 yr old daughter but I really liked it too. Very entertaining, catchy tunes and fun lyrics. And Defying Gravity blew me away. I went back to NYC to take my 14 yr old son a few months later. I thought it wouldn't be cool enough for him, esp. since it focuses on the 2 women. He loved it and sings the songs all the time. But then we liked Cats when we saw it the first time after it had been running for a zillions years, so some would probably say we are hopeless. I think heavy thoughts for a living and when I go out I mostly like to be entertained. Loved Avenue Q, but didn't like the Producers or Hairspray. As someone has already said, it's all very subjective.

I saw it last December, and enjoyed it very much. My 19-year-old son loved it, too. And I had both "Popular" and "Defying Gravity" stuck in my head for days afterwards.

My husband and I saw it a few months ago and loved it. Starngely we think we had an understudy for Elpheba and she was the best part of the show - I think she was Shoshanna Bean? Anyway thought it was original and funny and entertaining. Really enjoyed it.

I just saw it last month on Broadway with a girlfriend and we both thought it was very enjoyable. The music is very upbeat, the acting is fun and definately over the top (they are in witch school for goodness sake!) and the cast including Rue McClure was very good. Do you like fun stuff like Hairspray, Mama Mia, etc.? I think this is on the same level.

My "Wicked" T-shirt gets more comments than any other I own. Though the people that know me complain that it is false advertizing:-)

I would pay to see Wicked again. I didn't get Cats.

Keith

My Grand-daughter is getting the pink "Popular" one from my daugher, her auntie, for Christmas. She wears the black "Wicked" one about every third day.

One of my students from England just had the "Defying Gravity" tattoed around her wrist. OUCH! I'm not into it THAT much.

Went last December when so many Fodorites told me it wasnot to be missed and they were right. Awesome! I have made my kidslisten to the cd so many times they know the words by heart even thought they did not see the show.

I loved it! It is a big show with a awesome set. You cannot go wrong with this one. I was annoyed people told me Avenue Q was better and they were crazy, no comparison. It is no wonder this show is so "Popular"! Have fun!

Looking for anyone who has seen Wicked in Chicago.....I saw it first in San Francisco and on Jan 20 in Chicago. I was very disappointed that Elphaba didn't fly in Defying Gravity. Is this not part of the Chicago show, or is it something that went wrong on the night of that particular show?

imrosed,

I shocked and appalled! So, what exactly DID Elphaba do while singing Defying Gravity? Jump?

JJ5...you didn't like "Phantom of the Opera"???
And I thought there was something wrong with me for not liking 'Producers'
HA! I am cured now!!!

Love the soundtrack. I'm on my second CD because I've worn out tracks 14 and 18.

Maybe the Chicago theatre didn't have the capability to allow Elfie to fly. Cathy Rigby flew as Peter Pan at the Fox in Atlanta - so I sure hope Elfie can fly there in May! :-)

That's very surprising to hear. A national tour that comes straight from Broadway is supposed to remain intact. Theatres are usually booked based in part on the technical capability of the space. Perhaps there was just something wrong on that night (a pity!)

Oh, she flew! With the lighting effects it looks like her cape and skirt, flow down over the stage and across the orchestra at her apex. The stage itself is overhung by a huge dragon that does it's own thing as well. I don't want to ruin it for you. I think maybe something went wrong.

Honestly, it just is so subjective. Ziana, I didn't care for the "Producers" either. To me it was way, way too much an "inside" joke for those in the entertainment field.

And every one of my kids and grandkids liked "Wicked" much more than "Hairspray", which I enjoyed but didn't think held a candle to "Wicked".

One of my own Christmas presents was a pink Popular shirt from my daughter. I've worn it about 5 times already. I just LOVE it.

I hear they are going to do a follow up with "Son of a Witch". I hope they still keep it in the rhelm of the girls.

I'd say it was probably a tech problem that Elphaba didn't fly that evening.

As for touring companies recreating the show on B'way, it depends where you live. The "National Touring Companies" are usually the first ones on the road and most closely follow the Broadway production. They play the major cities like Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, etc. for several weeks.

A year or so later, a "bus & truck" company may set out. It will play the smaller venues like Duluth or South Bend and may spend less than a week. The main difference is that it will have fewer chorus members and some minor characters may have been eliminated.

Much as they try, national tours may not always be exactly like the Broadway version because some theatre managers get upset if you say you hack a hole in the stage so X can make a dramatic exit after the third scene. ;-)

Citylghts, thank you for elaborating on that point. The distinction I made in my post was probably too subtle- by "tour that comes straight from Broadway" I meant exactly those referred to in your first example. Those are generally created by the Broadway producers, and often the original creative team as well. On an actor's resume, the "official" national tour ranks nearly as high as Broadway. These tours are always Equity productions.

However, there is not always a time limit on the tour (as in, the first year after Broadway, etc.). Sometimes a producer will sanction more than one national tour over the years. For example, the Phantom of the Opera is on the 3rd national tour, and has been out for years at this point. But this production is still considered to be "direct from Broadway."

Far more information than you all wanted to know, I'm sure :) Sorry about that!

Actually, the information has been very interesting and helpful. Thanks. I learned something cool today! :-)

Adding to this course on "Theater 101": *The bus-and-truck versions are usually cast with Equity actors as well.
*A big hit like Wicked will almost always be replicated in size, etc., for its initial road tours. (I would assume that there was some mechanical problem the night imrosed saw it.)

Thanks to all who responded to my question about the flying during Defy Gravity. In answer to one person's question, she just stood there in one spot and I kept waiting for that magical moment to happen. I will go on the idea that it must have been a technical glitch that night.....Galinda came in on the bubble in the beginning and all else seemed to be the same. My daughter lives in Chicago and definitely wants to see the show again....hopefully she will get to see it the way it was intended.