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.