Wicked discussion

So, I read the book twice, and I saw the musical last April, and am going to see it again in December. I found the musical was just the best thing on the face of this earth, whereas the book was just too dark and political for my liking. What is everyone else's opinion? Are you 'Defying Gravity,' or 'Popular,' or, like some, Glindafied?

I wouldn't say that it was miles better than the book, but I thoroughly enjoyed the musical. It was probably one of the best that I have ever seen. Also, I agree when you say that "Defying Gravity" was absolutely brilliant. I don't think that there was anyway to verbalize how grand that number is. So, in that sense I believe that the musical is better.

Maybe flying monkeys are just something you have to see to believe!

I loved the play and found it entertaining but I loved the darkness and political conflicts the book presented. I usually read transgressional novels so I find books of that nature entertaining. I mean if you loved Fight Club or American Psycho well...

Son of a Witch was also dark and political. As a book, it is probably deeper than Wicked but I doubt it would translate well into a play/movie. Kind of makes me want to read The Wizard of OZ -- I'll bet the political issues are articulated much more so than in the movie... though of course, I liked the movie (Oz) and loved the play (Wicked)... they are just different kinds of experiences.

I loved the musical but enjoyed the books so much more because of "the dark and political" ... The Wicked series prompted me to read all of the Oz books written by L Frank Baum--(all free for kindle on amazon) it is really interesting comparing the Wicked series (I haven't read the final book yet) and the original books.

I read the books, and have seen the musical. I have a weird love/hate for Gregory Maguire. While I can't deny he is a talented writer sometimes I just feel his writing is overcomplicated. Lots of big words that don't seem to be there purposefully, just so he can seem really, really smart.

While I found Wicked in general to be quite dull I was a huge fan of Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister and Mirror Mirror.

That being said I loved the musical. It's probably in my top ten of all time.

I haven't seen it but the musical has got to be better than the book--it could hardly be worse.

Trust me, the musical's better than the book. =] At least in my opinion. I agree with Ashley and Patti-- some numbers are hard to describe, and you just have to see the monkeys to see how wonderfully they are done. The dance routine is just amazing.

I agree. The musical was better in my opinion.

I've seen previews for the musical. It does look better then the book.

Mary wrote: "I haven't seen it but the musical has got to be better than the book--it could hardly be worse."

I agree 100% ...I became so frustrated with the book I couldn't finish it.

And to the person who made the comment about reading The Wizard of OZ; there's nothing political about it. It's solely for children. I still recommend reading it, though. :)

I loved the musical, but I felt it glossed over so much of the story. I could imagine people that have not read the book being confused at several points in the show. I also have too agree with Cassie, the books prompted me to read the original series, which I enjoyed.

Musicals, with a few exceptions, when based on a story created in another medium, are usually lighter and more frivolous than the original work.
Wicked, the musical, simply used the concept from the book, shortened it, and created a show that didn't really require much thought.
The book is a totally different beast with its political undertones, and dark story matter.
I enjoyed both, you really can't compare them

Yeah I loved the musical. I saw it first and loved it so much I decided it read the book. It is very different, very dark for that matter. And yes, full of politics. I thought it was unnecessarily complicated and the musical relieved some tension and made things for fun and easier to understand.

Kyle Dean Massey as Fiyero... :)

I love the musical. The book was okay, but the musical was amazing.

Most definitely, the musical.... How genius to get that awesome music and characterization from the book!

Peg wrote: "Most definitely, the musical.... How genius to get that awesome music and characterization from the book!"

Yep, I agree! I saw the musical Dec 3, at the Pantages theater in LA. I was fantastic, and I'm not even gay! :-)

OzzieDoLittle wrote: "Peg wrote: "Most definitely, the musical.... How genius to get that awesome music and characterization from the book!"

Yep, I agree! I saw the musical Dec 3, at the Pantages theater in LA. I was f..."

I meant IT was fantastic...I wasn't in the play :-)
Though I would make a good Elphaba :-)

:-) Me, I'd make a better Nessa.


Whitney, why Massey as Fiyero? David Nathan Perlow all the way! And Brummel and Daradich as ELphie and GLinda respectively. Also Espinosa and Hilty, and the OBC of course. =]

Glindafied of the West wrote: ":-) Me, I'd make a better Nessa.


Whitney, why Massey as Fiyero? David Nathan Perlow all the way! And Brummel and Daradich as ELphie and GLinda respectively. Also Espinosa and Hilty, and the O..."

"Toss, Toss..."

I thought Massey was fantastic! I've only heard Perlow on youtube, so I can't make comparisons regarding the singing. Katie Rose Clarke as GLinda was to die for, I fell in love! :-) "Toss, Toss..." *Body slam the bed*

Whitney wrote: "Yeah I loved the musical. I saw it first and loved it so much I decided it read the book. It is very different, very dark for that matter. And yes, full of politics. I thought it was unnecessarily ..."

Yeah I get what yah mean Whitney, I usually enjoy books like this, but it didn't flow for me. And Kyle Dean Massey as Fiyero! Great vocals and the gals tell me he's easy on the eyes too, damn him! Damn Quadruple threats! Sing, Dance, Act and handsome!! Grrrr...there is no God!

ME!!
"Nessa, uh, nessa i have something to confess a reason why, well, why i asked you here tonight. now i know it isn't fair..."
"Oh, buk, i know why, its because im in this chair and you felt sorry for me. Well isn;t that right?"
"No, its becacuse, because, oh! Because you are SOOOOO beautiful"
"Oh buk, i think you're wonderful...
"and we deserve eachother. don't you see this is our chance. we deserve eachother. me and Buk"
"You know what? Let's dance!"
"what!"
"Let's DANCE!!!!!"
"DANCING THROUGH LIFEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE....."

lolz. why'd i put that in? oh well...

Georgia wrote: "ME!!
"Nessa, uh, nessa i have something to confess a reason why, well, why i asked you here tonight. now i know it isn't fair..."
"Oh, buk, i know why, its because im in this chair and you felt s..."

lol

Definately preferred the Musical. I did see it twice though before reading the book.

I loved both but I prefered the way the musical finished. However, Elphaba's sotry is naturally more detailed in the book. There were certain parts of the book I feel could have been shorter but overall, it's just such a clever story and so well connected with The Wizard Of Oz. If I had to choose though, it would be the musical.

I have to agree on KRC. I saw her at the Pantages about a week ago and her 'Popular' was hilarious! And that thing she did where she turned in circled against her bed was just great. And if anyone out here's wondering, the name's spelled Boq. Yeah, I know, those Munckin names are weird at times. :)

I love the musical, the book was boring. Singing and dancing is much more amusing than the book.

The book was not overly memorable to me. Over a year later I took interest in the musical and only vaguely recalled the book, in fact had to reread the book it left so little impact. While to this day the book is uninteresting to me I loved the musical Defying Gravity was amazing.

The book is memorable if you like political and sociological views expressed in a theoretical fictionalization of a debate. :P

I almost *didn't* go to the play because I thought the book was soooo bad! Everyone assured me it was nothing like the book and much better.....

I *loved* the play. Wow, whoever it was that played Elphaba and G[a]linda can really belt out a song! An amazing play that I would love to see again.

Two words: flying monkeys. How could that be bad?

I loved the musical so much, I decided to read the book. Unfortunately, I couldn't even finish it because it so paled in comparison with the musical.

I got to watch the musical and love it a lot but I don't think it miles away from the book. They are both good in their own. The book leaves you a lot of imagination. And the musical makes your imagination comes true!

I think that they are both brilliant in their own way, but I like the book more. The musical was great at showing people a politically charged nation without tons of dialogue. It also edited it to show to a larger age range. The book can go into greater depth, showing her son and Fiyero much better, as well as more thoroughly displaying her character. I love how Elphaba is portrayed as being more grounded in the book, and altogether being broken by society. Sure, the last song in the musical she and Glinda sing tells you, but the book actually shows you. Between her wishing the scarecrow is Fiyero to telling Liir she would wish for a soul, because she can't say forgiveness, is pretty powerful. "No Good Deeds" did a great job of showing her giving up, but it makes her seem more evil, where as the book shows her broken and dissociated from her own identity because she failed to do anything she tried; she couldn't even kill Madame Morrible when she finally accepted her identity as a Witch. She feels like she wasted her entire life. At the end of the musical you see her win, but the end of the book shows how pitifully she failed. I like seeing her failure, seeing the reality that Fiyero is gone, never to return, much better than the fact that she transformed Boq into a Tin Man and Fiyero into the scarecrow. That's like the Disney version of Wicked- Fiyero is in actuality dead because of her and she never got the forgiveness she needed from his widow or the widow's sisters. Boq gave up on Galinda when she changed to Glinda and lived out a happy, hard life in Munchkinland. I also like how Dorothy walks into this messed up world, not knowing what powder keg she has entered. The musical leaves you with a happy ending, where the book gives you reality and leads you into Liir's book. I do love the music of Wicked and the play, but some things in the book just make it that much better.

When I saw it? Hell yes!

I read it at the very begining of my year eight (so around 11/12 - probably 11) and was kind of traumatised temporatily.

Bear in mind that 'the real world' was never hidden from me, but I probably wasn't ready to be reading about a sex club and an act that was probably not so consensual...However, I had been reading Maeve Binchy books the year before and was entirely fine with the whole sex aspect.

But I found the musical such a more appealing plotline that gives you that happy, 'they're alive!' feeling, while the book's plot goes: Die from kindness and leave your miserable life behind!

I just saw the musical for the second time and loved it even more the second time around....it that is possible. Although I usually enjoy the detail of a book to the abridged story usually found in movies or shows, in this case I agree with you 100%. I did not love the book,for the same reasons you mentioned, but the musical is definitely in my top 10 of all time.

I heard so many good things about the musical, that I started with the book. Kept pushing through hoping it would get better and show me what all the hype was about. It never improved, and I don't really want to see the musical now...

I hated the book and haven't seen the play. I definitely wouldn't recommend it.

The musical was wonderful -- a flight of fancy for tweens and teens regarding female empowerment. The book had its moments, but it got bogged down in political theorizing. I enjoy political theory -- but somehow, it just didn't seem appropriate for this story. At least not to the extent that the author delved. In this instance, the adaptation was an improvement!

I loved the musical and the book had a painfully slow beginning but it was overall good. But to compare musical was better-especially with Kirsten!

I have seen both and I love both, but I love the book more.

I feel that the overall message of the story got drowned out in the musical. Yes, it was still there...but I don't think it was as strong.

The book spoke to me in a way that the musical didn't. And, yes I am ok that Elphaba didn't get her happy ending. I think it was necessary. Not everything can end happy all the time and Maguire was strong enough of an author to not have to give her one.

I was anxious to see the musical because everyone had raved about it and couldn't wait to go see it again. Maybe I expected too much. I enjoyed it, like I enjoy any broadway play, but I certainly didnt think it deserved all the accolades it had received. Memphis the Musical was far better.

I will say, I usually enjoy the books better than the movies and this fallowed suit. I really enjoyed the book. The musical fell short.

The musical was beautiful and hilarious. My new favorite, I would love to see it again. However, I also think everyone should read the book. It was dark and sometimes over-complicated, but a revelation in terms of writing.

I loved the book, and I thought the musical was all right. I felt they just got an idea for a musical from the book. They seem like two different animals to me.

Not everyone will enjoy this type of book, but if you love musicals, this was a good one.

I don't think you can really compare the book and the musical other than to say they come from the same beginning.

The book is a deep, political/intellectual story with multiple layers that can be dull if you are looking to simply be entertained.

The musical however is just the opposite. It is a watered down version of the book that adjusts/focuses on the parts that provide entertainment.

Kind of like comparing H.P. Lovecraft to Steven King...they are the same...and yet nothing alike.

I don't think the two are that comparable other than sharing the same name and the same plot. The musical and the book take radically different paths to tell the story. Each should be enjoyed as its own entity. I loved both the musical and the book!!

Glindafied of the West wrote: "So, I read the book twice, and I saw the musical last April, and am going to see it again in December. I found the musical was just the best thing on the face of this earth, whereas the book was ju..."

I'm a Elphaba fan!

I haven't seen the musical i bet its wonderful but i honestly dont believe it could be as good as the book.

There's enough research out there to suggest that "Wizard of Oz" IS a political allegory. This would explain the politics of "Wicked", the stage was already set.
http://www.usagold.com/gildedopinion/...