WICKED And Other Broadway Plays
 

My sister won a trip to Broadway, along with an "allowance" of taking three people with her to see three Broadway plays of my choice. She went and saw (with my brother and I): WICKED, Chicago, and Fiddler on The Roof. I taped WICKED.

Now, I'm only going to review WICKED.

In the opening scene, where the Wicked Witch of The West dies, which we are happy about (stupid evil demonic wicked witch! Kill kill kill!), we are learn that the play is going to be a flashback of the witch's life. Before she was born, we learn that the father and the mother were drinking "green elixer". I figure this was part of why the witch (Elpheba) was born with green skin. Of course, the parents were in OZ when they had a little "mixer" after the green elixer, where everything is green.

Elpheba geos to "Shiz", OZ's college. She is roomed with Galinda (The Good Witch of The North), and at first sight they loath each other.

We learn that something bad is happening in OZ... all the talking animals aren't talking so much anymore.

Elpheba fixes her sister up with Fiyero, Elpheba's boyfriend. Galinda and Elpheba become friends at the big dance after Elpheba is fixed up with...um...someone else, by Galinda. After the dance, at their dorm, Elpheba is prettied up by Galinda ("Popular") in the funniest song in WICKED. This ends up in a disaster. Elpheba is depressed and sings about "not being 'That Girl'". However, Galinda and Elpheba are still pals, so they go to the Emerald City. The audience meets the Wizard (Joel Grey).

Elpheba and Galinda have a falling-out, and Elpheba learns to fly in the end Act 1. She flies away, singing about not coming back down. She flies off to the west, really belting out the last notes of the song.

Intermission.

Galinda and the rest of Shiz have a big party to get rid of their worries.

Meanwhile, Elpheba visits the Wizard, who turns out to be a fake. He sings about the citizens wanting someone Wonderful, so gives them what they want.

Elpheba and Fiyero are back together. They sing about it.

When something negative happens to Fiyero, Elphaba becomes discouraged and begins in a sense to own the reputation that has been thrust upon her.

The citizens of OZ set out to find the "Wicked Witch".

Glinda and Elphaba, whose friendship has been tested by circumstances and by the challenges of their relationship with Fiyero, find a way to see beyond their issues and feel their mutual friendship.

We have come full circle to the melting scene and beyond, but things are not what they seemed when we started. The Wicked Witch was a good person, forced to be evil by the shallow citezens.

Kind of depressing.

I loved it.

sounds awsome
I hope it runs for awhile so I can get up there to see it.

It will. In 2005 it's going to go touring around the states.

I heard Wicked is a awesome show and the special effects are among the best. I am tyring to go on a bus trip to see and I can't wait. Where did you hear this from? I know it is very early yet but are any dates set or planned? This April Les Miserables is coming to Baltimore and I got my tickets today.

I think he saw it off of various WICKED sites. Anyway, WICKED was really awesome, twisted and devilishly ironic. The big Dragon Clock in the back, the green and black gears around the sides of the stage all made the whole experience better. Calvin's videotape had the whole stage crystal-clear. You can even see the gears in the clock turning the arms. Really awesome. I highly reccomend it.

So far "RENT" is the best play i have seen.

Yes, Wicked is a musical. The music is done by the same person who did Godspell (A show I hate, but the music is good).

Lion King was the only broadway show I've seen, and it was amazing.

I've heard good stuff about that. Supposed to be really amazing. Like you said.

I've seen The Lion King, which was a great production, but one that was even better was The Producers with Jason Alexander and Martin Short. The movie is hilarious, but the play is even funnier. There's the little old ladies with naughty names (Hold-me Touch-me) which Max (Alexander) seduces to raise money for his plays, the homosexual director and his crew who sing a song appropriately named, "Keep It Gay", which had everyone in the theater rolling on the floor laughing (Even now, I nearly cry whenever I play it on my computer, I'm laughing so hard), the pigeon-raising ex Nazi, Max and Leo's (Short) Swedish speaking secretary, it's all non-stop laughter.

Wow! Thanks for the synopsis Calvin! It makes me want to see this musical more and more. Everything, literally everything, I have heard from people about WICKED is great. No one has yet to tell me any really horrible things wrong with it. Now only if I can manage to save money this summer working at CP I might have to check it out! How is Chicago doing with the recently new cast? I heard they changed a while back.

Also for musical buffs, see Avenue Q, honestly the FUNNIEST musical out there, and currently my favorite! Full frontal puppet nuditiy!

Chicago was good. Different, obviously, from the wonderful movie, but definitely good.

Whoever plays Elpheba (Wicked Witch) has a great voice ("No wizard that there is or was/No person ever here in OZ/ Is ever gonna bri-i-i-ing me-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e do-o-o-o-o-own!" *end act 1*)
She really belts out those notes spectacularly.

I totally forgot to reply to this post a while back on who plays Elpheba, which is Idina Menzel. Now for all of you total musical buffs, Idina played the original Maureen in RENT! I thought her voice sounded familiar, but it's definatly not as "rough" or high as it was in RENT. I personally think she belts like none other in WICKED. If you have the chance, or the cash, pick up the cast album. It's worth the money, and I'm willing to place money this is going to be one of the biggest things Broadway has ever seen (which means it'll be on for decades!)! The songs are showstopper to showstopper, with enough little diddy's in between to keep the pacing perfect. I've also had the chance to hear the full musical, which is just powerful. I definatly think Popular is Galinda's showstopper, and Defying Gravity, wow, is Elpheba at her best.

For once I think someone hit on what musicals USED to be, things of quality the WHOLE family can see, and something that truly leaves you with memories and feelings for the rest of your life. Not to mention music that you sing everywhere :)! I really think Broadway has been lacking in this quality of musicals for a long time. And everyone said WICKED would close on opening weekend! Hah!

<<SPOILER>> I think...

The one thing that struck me when I got through listening to the full length of the musical was how Elpheba had NOTHING to do with her becoming the wicked witch of the west. It was all the Wizard and citizens of Oz's doing, and all because she was different, and all because they FORCED her to believe she was wicked because of her green skin. All she wanted to do was oust the wizard because he was a fraud, and everyone ganged up on her just because she wanted to go against the flow.

Definatly something that truly shows how people are discriminate against people that are different from them. Even in the end when Galinda and Eplehba reminisce at the death of the W.W. of the East, they seem to come to terms, just for a little bit and if only for a short time. Then again, it shows the independence of a person and how we can take charge of our own lives and make a difference if we "try defying gravity"!

Now if I can only get the $100 it takes for a decent seat... I definatly HAVE to see this in action, the music alone is powerful, but I just HAVE to see it in action.

My grade: SSS (Or in DDR terms, unobtainable, unmatched, heehee! A+)

Hey guys i need some help i'm in musical theatre and i have to come up with a monologe explaning the musical wicked and well i dont know the second half of the play. If any one could give me some details on the second half that would be great!!

Not sure if this site will help, but you can try

http://www.wickedthemusical.com/

If it doesn't help you enough, then try a search on Yahoo or Google.

Good luck!

thanx!!!!

I just got back from my senior class trip to New York City. One of our activities was to see Wicked on Broadway. I'm not much of a play person, nor was I looking foward to this but I have to say I really enjoyed it and would go back again.

Elpheba's voice was amazing and Galinda was hot! :D

Sorry, I know this is an old topic, but I absolutely adore musical theatre. The only Broadway play I've seen is Mamma Mia and it was magnificent, but I'm going to The Lion King tomorrow (I think).
My favorite musical (and play, for that matter) is Into the Woods. I saw it first in about 2000 and fell in love. It has awesome music and a tremendous plot. I finally saw it again as a college production last Saturday.
Broadway has grown on me a lot over this school year, mostly through vocal music. We're singing Seasons of Love ("525,600 minutes...") from RENT in regular Chorus. It's the only really good song in the play and movie. In Show Choir, we are singing For Good ("Who can say if I've been changed for the better...") from Wicked. It's a great song and I'd like to see the play sometime. We're also doing You Can't Stop the Beat ("You can't stop an avalanche as it races down the hill...") from Hairspray. I'm begging my parents to get tickets as it is coming to Iowa soon. I even bought the Original Broadway Cast Recording.
My favorite musicals according to their music:
1.) Into the Woods, for No One is Alone and Children Will Listen
2.) Hairspray, for You Can't Stop the Beat and Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now
3.) Little Shop of Horrors, for Be a Dentist
4.) Wicked, for For Good
5.) Avenue Q, for The Internet is for Porn

And that's my two cents. Thanks!

My school did Grease last year, and this season, they performed Little Shop of Horrors. I enjoyed both, and one of my great friends was the dentist, and he did an excellent job. The 'monster' flower looked great, and the set was amazing. I also saw Fiddler on the Roof performed by the theatre dept. at Sam Houston State University, that was pretty cool.
If you want a *REAL* Broadway musical, I have only seen Beauty and the Beast in New York City. Christy Carlson Romano (Ren Stevens from that Disney show) was Belle! Haha, I was close enough to throw a rock at her if I had wanted (and I don't play baseball!) She was pretty good, but the overall sets and cast were amazing! I can't wait to see another one if I have the chance.

Wicked came to Houston but sold out quickly, so I couldnt make it! :(

I've acted and played roles in Godspell, Footloose, Kiss me Kate, and My Favorite Year (All musicals) This spring I am taking a trip with classmates to New York where we all get the chance to see Wicked, Spamalot (Monty Python) and Avenue Q (Sesame Street Rated R) on Broadway and I'm pretty pumped. I never really liked Musical theater until I acted in it myself. Now it's pretty cool.

I have seen a few but have yet to see Wicked or Hairspray but those are the next on my list.

I have seen Mama Mia, Lion King, Phantom, Cats, & Little Shop of Horrors. I also tray and se my favorite musical RENT atleast twice a year.

I saw RENT just last month in Asheville,NC and going to see it again in June at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta.

im going to see rent at the fox in june also. Avenue Q rox my sox!

Going to see Little Shop of Horrors this Saturday when it comes to town!

^ You wont be dissapointed. I saw it on Broadway and it was Great! If you like comedys, you'll love it. Just watch out for the plant at the end :p

^Little Shop of Horrors was never on Broadway. It was an Off-Broadway production.

I love the movie version of it. I'm dying to see the play, and I was born to play Seymour.

"I've given you sunshine! I've given you rain! Looks like you're not happy, 'less I open a vain! I'll give you a few drops, if that'll appease... Oh please! Oh, oh, oh please! Grow for me!"

^^^^^^^^^

Right on one count, wrong on the other. Yes, Little Shop did start as an off-broadway show, but in recent years they did a revival and it is now on tour. If you don't believe me go to the website. http://www.littleshopofhorrors.com.

I know I won't be dissapointed tomorrow night!

I saw Phantom Of The Opera today for the third time, and I was quite disappointed. First, we had terrible seats (highest balcony, third row from the back), but the cast (especially Raoul and Meg) was not very good... except for Christine. I was worried, since because we saw a matinee, we would get a second-rate understudy, but the understudy we had was actually very good.

If you go see POTO, make sure you have good seats. Pay the extra to get in the first ten rows; it's worth it.

*

Oh, and steel- my favorite musical is Into The Woods as well. Sondheim's music and Lapine's book are hilarious, biting, and poignant, and I wouldn't think twice about getting to see it live again. I actually got to be the Narrator in a production a few years ago; it was great fun.

Just got back from NYC today after seeing 3 really good musicals. First was Wicked which lived up to the hype I've heard about it. Alphaba's voice was incredible and the understudy for Glinda wasn't bad either.

Spamalot was good, but the entire first act I could have gotten by singing along to the movie. Second act was better but I was still disappointed as it had won best musical Tony award last year. Not bad, but not great.

Avenue Q was a hit. While you probably won't understand most of the humor if you are under the age of 15 it was totally helarious. I was amazed about the amount of talent the actors had with those puppets, it was totally incredible!~

I was an extra in Fiddler on the Roof when I was one year old. Sadly, I haven't seen a production of it since.

So I'm going to Hairspray on Des Moines opening night. Has anyone else seen it? If so, was it as good as I've heard?

I've seen a few plays...
-Phantom of the Opera...I was third row and 6 at the time. Scared me, great play though.
-Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat...saw it when Donny Osmond was the lead. Very good play
-Tommy...by far my favourite play, great music and story.

The next play I plan on seeing is Monty Python's Spamalot when it comes to Toronto.