Wicked...who has seen it??

[HomeSweetDisney]

My mom and I just got tickets yesterday to see Wicked in Dallas in April. We are very excited I absolutely love the book and my mom is reading it right now and really likes it too.

I've read that the musical is only loosely based on the book and that a lot of it is very different. I'm fine with that but I just thought I'd ask if any of you all had seen it. If so, what were your thoughts on it? I know it's won about a million awards and gotten tons of critical praise but I wanted some DISer opinions

 

[shirleyb]

I have not, but would love too. I didn't realize there is a book, I'll have to look for it.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

Yes, the book is amazing. It's one of my favorites I actually read the book before I ever heard of the musical. Now I can't wait to see it!

 

[wvrevy]

I've actually seen it twice..once with the original Broadway cast, and once on tour in Cincinnati. It is an absolutely fantastic show, in all respects. The score, the book (G(a)linda is hilarious), the scenery...there isn't anything at all that I don't like about the show. The only caution I would give is that - if you've heard the cast recording - don't get too attached to Elphaba's performance. Idinia Menzel was beyond great in this role, so whoever is playing it at the show you see can only be seen poorly in comparison. Just try to go into it expecting to dislike that particular performer, and you might be VERY pleasantly surprised (we were when we took DD to see the touring production last year).

And if for some reason you don't have the OBC recording...well, what are you waiting for?

Have fun!

 

[sugarpie]

I love it!!! I saw it in Chicago last May.

I read the book first. I liked the book, even though it was hard to get into, but I loved the musical. I want to go again.

 

[Crankyshank]

I saw it last month, and it was amazing. I actually thought it was a lot better than the book.

 

[Parkhopper]

We just saw it January 25th in Baltimore and LOVED it!! I had read the book and was VERY concerned about how they were going to make it into a musical. I was also worried about how appropriate it was (or wasn't) going to be for my DS12. The musical is very lighthearted (where I felt the book was extremely dark).

I also felt like there was a story beneath the story in the book and that I was not quite smart enough to "get" it.

You will enjoy it!

Suzi

 

[agnes!]

I have not seen the musical, but wanted to mention IMO that the book is quite different in tone & rather graphic with descriptions of violent acts, not suitable for younger readers.

The book is very good, just don't want folks to be blind-sided. Also, if you like Wicked, Son of a Witch is a sequel.

agnes!

 

[sugarpie]

Oh, and the ending was awesome!!!!

 

[RickinNYC]

I saw it with the original cast and thought it was amazing. I'm seeing it again, taking my Mom for her Christmas gift, next Friday. She's so excited! I'm looking forward to seeing it again, but mostly to see my Mom, a teeny tiny 71 yr old, bouncing around in her seat. She loves Broadway stuff.

 

[Yzerbear19]

I saw it in Chicago in January 2006 with Kate Reinders and Ana Gasteyer who were fabulous!!! It was actually one of Ana's last performances in Chicago as Elphaba. Then we saw it again when the tour came to Detroit. I *LOVE* Wicked. Its probably the only musical I've ever been able to stay awake during. I also read the book before we went, but found that both are good in their own way. The musical is more lighthearted whereas the book is definitely more dark and goes more in depth into the complicated issues. BTW, the sequel Son of a Witch is also very good, though I still feel that there are a lot of unanswered questions at the end of it and seems to ask some new ones. I'm hoping that Gregory Maguire will write at least one more book to make it a trilogy. It took 10 years to write SOAW so it may be a while, but I will be keeping my fingers crossed. I really need to see it again though. Twice is not enough!

Enjoy!

 

[Wonderlandmom]

Saw it in NY last summer and LOVED it!

The only caution I would give is that - if you've heard the cast recording - don't get too attached to Elphaba's performance. Idinia Menzel was beyond great in this role, so whoever is playing it at the show you see can only be seen poorly in comparison.

That's funny, we prefered Eden Espinosa over the CD we purchased with Idinia Menzel. Too each his own!

 

[wvrevy]

Saw it in NY last summer and LOVED it!

That's funny, we prefered Eden Espinosa over the CD we purchased with Idinia Menzel. Too each his own!

Eden was awesome as well, though. The person in the touring company still likely won't live up to that level. We still thoroughly enjoyed the show, however, and it's not like the actress playing Elpheba (wish I could remember her name) was bad. She was still very good...we just got so used to hearing Idina belting out "Defying Gravity" that it was ...different.

Hey...did you know where Eden got her start? She used to sing at Disneyland! I believe you can probably still find Youtube clips with her in them.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

And if for some reason you don't have the OBC recording...well, what are you waiting for?

I guess I'll have to get on that right away!

Thanks for the replies everyone! Now I am even more excited to see it! I've been waiting so long and the last time it came through Texas I wasn't able to go. I didn't think I would be able to this time either because of school but it ended up working out.

I'm sooooo excited!

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

I'm hoping that Gregory Maguire will write at least one more book to make it a trilogy. It took 10 years to write SOAW so it may be a while, but I will be keeping my fingers crossed. I really need to see it again though. Twice is not enough!

Enjoy!

I just read that Gregory Maguire will be writing a third book in the series. But this one will apparently have The Cowardly Lion as the main character.

 

[azgal81]

I saw it and thought it was great! I didn't read the book though so I don't know how it compares.

 

[tkd lisa]

I've also seen it twice. I took DD to New York to see it for her 13th birthday (it wasn't the original cast, it was the 2nd group, but they were great!)

Then we saw it on tour in Tampa January 2006.

It is an excellent musical! The score really adds to the story line, and the songs stick in your head. The characters are believable, and it's a neat backstory to the Wizard of Oz.

I also agree that the book is deeper and darker. I haven't let my DD read the book (call me overprotective, that's okay), but I did talk about the themes in the book with her so she understood a little more of the issues with Dr. Dilaman.

 

[phisigprincess]

A-freaking-mazing. I was blown away by this show. My dad was too funny. He went into it cold - no idea of the music, the story, etc. He just sat there with his jaw open at the end of the first act. When we got home he made me make him a copy of my soundtrack that night and ordered the book about the musical (the making of, not the novel) from ebay. It quickly became a family favorite. You will absolutely love it.

 

[sugarpie]

I saw it with the original cast and thought it was amazing. I'm seeing it again, taking my Mom for her Christmas gift, next Friday. She's so excited! I'm looking forward to seeing it again, but mostly to see my Mom, a teeny tiny 71 yr old, bouncing around in her seat. She loves Broadway stuff.

Awww. That is too adorable!!

 

[doodlebugs]

I love it! It's one of my favorite musicals.

Get the cd before you go and become familiar with the songs---it will make the show even better.

Have a great time.