Wicked discussion

While I have not seen the musical, I own the soundtrack, and find it curiously uninspired. I only found one song that I thought above the mundane (but then again, I am a professional actor, daughter to two musicians, wife to an actor and mother to a musician). I loved the book enough to buy not just the sequel, but EVERY sequel. The political aspect is one of the most interesting parts, to me.

Gaenolee wrote: "While I have not seen the musical, I own the soundtrack, and find it curiously uninspired..."

As with any medium, it is better to see it than to base your like or dislike off the music alone. I heard "Defying Gravity" long before I saw the musical. The song did nothing for me at the time. Then I saw the musical. Hell, I cried at the musical. Nothing like the book, but wonderful in its own way. Reading the book does at least explain the time dragon.

I cried at the musical too, probably more than once. Don't know if the music would do anything for me on its own, but the musical was one of the best I've seen.

Book was MUCH better to me!!

I did really enjoy the musical too. I agree with Emily (above) that the two are really not all the comparable except for the shared story line, but the musical (like a movie) can never be as good as or better than the book.

I don't think you can compare the two, considering the musical is condensed into a very short time span whereas the book spans about 40 years.

However, I loved the musical with all my heart and I cried during defying gravity. If I hadn't be embarrassed about my emotions, I would have sat in my chair and sobbed happily during the entire intermission.

For me, the musical blew away the book, and I tend toward the darker stuff.

I liked the political tones of the book, but I felt like the characters were sacrificed to a degree to make room for the plot.

In the end, they were two separate entities, and it's a preference thing.

I'm scared to read the book only because I LOVED the musical. Wow! What an experience that was. I can't even describe the emotions I felt after watching the musical. I want to see it at least once more before taking on the book. I have heard it's not as good as the musical.

I really liked the musical. But I feel like I enjoyed it even more because I read the book. Several people around us didn't like the musical and were confused as to what was happening because they hadn't read the book. I also checked out the cd of songs before seeing the musical, so I enjoyed seeing them live even more.

Licha wrote: "I'm scared to read the book only because I LOVED the musical. Wow! What an experience that was. I can't even describe the emotions I felt after watching the musical. I want to see it at least o..."

During Defying Gravity, which was the song I was waiting for YEARS to see performed on stage, I sobbed out loud when she sand "it's me!!!" and started rising up in the air, and I sat there, trembling, trying to not just burst into tears. My whole body kinda went numb too. When it was over and the theatre went back, I let myself cry a little, because I was so overwhelmed with emotions about the song. If I was one of those people who didn't mind people seeing me cry, I probably would have sat and sobbed during the whole intermission. It was just... awesome. Like you said, you can't describe it fully.

Nikki wrote: "Licha wrote: "I'm scared to read the book only because I LOVED the musical. Wow! What an experience that was. I can't even describe the emotions I felt after watching the musical. I want to see..."

Okay Nikki. I was too embarrased to say it but I was so overwhelmed too that I wanted to cry, and it felt like the bawl your eyes out type of cry. I don't know if that was just because I was holding my emotions in throughout the play or what, but I felt emotionally exhausted by the end of the play. The feeling did not go away for several days as I gushed about it to anyone and everyone. I was so embarrased to even express the full extent of my feelings towards this play because you wonder why you want to cry since it's just a musical. I'm glad I was not the only one who felt this way about it. Just reading your post is making me emotional about it all over again. Thanks for sharing your experience with me.

Licha wrote: "Nikki wrote: "Licha wrote: "I'm scared to read the book only because I LOVED the musical. Wow! What an experience that was. I can't even describe the emotions I felt after watching the musical. ..."

I still get teary eyed just thinking about it! Don't be embarrassed. It means you're a living, breathing, feeling person! I don't understand either, why this musical had such a profound effect on people. It's crazy. I've seen a lot of musicals, and none have ever made me feel that way.

Nikki wrote: "Licha wrote: "Nikki wrote: "Licha wrote: "I'm scared to read the book only because I LOVED the musical. Wow! What an experience that was. I can't even describe the emotions I felt after watching..."

It was the best money I ever spent. It was a bit of a splurge for me and my daughter at the time. I really wanted to see the play and so I decided to just go on and buy them and think of it as a birthday present to myself. Not one regret after watching this play and I can't wait to do it again next year.

I DO!!!!
And I enjoyed the book.....but, the musical didn't include all that 'extra' stuff....THANK GOODNESS!

The book made me think and disturbed me. The musical was mostly just fun. :)

I like both, but the book kind of depressed me

I saw the musical, which was amazing! While I awaited my library copy of the book, I read his Ugly Stepsister book, a biography of L. Frank Baum, a book about the shoes from the movie, and played the sound track over and over. When I finally read the book, I was so disappointed. I was totally impressed at the clever conversion from such a dark, detailed book, pulling the best parts from it for the much lighter, happier show.
I looked forward to seeing the show again...and enjoyed it even more the second time.

Love the Musical, saw it in New York. The stage sets were AMAZING!

If anyone is interested I am hosting a poetry contest and giveaway at lbeaumont.blogspot.com I would love for you to stop by.

Have a great day.

I tried to read the book a few years ago and couldn't get through the first 100 pages. Saw the musical last year and absolutely LOVED it (would see it 100 times). I tried to read the book again last summer and made it through the 1st two parts before deciding I was done with it. It makes me appreciate even more so the work that went into creating such a beautiful, fun, and enjoyable musical from such a dark novel.

I agree with Emily You cannot compare the two. In my opinion the book is way better than the musical. It gives a depth to Elphaba that cannot be explained in the musical. The musical is simply commercial and happy with a nice neat ending.

Even with the deaths removed, it's not exactly what I'd call a happy story (or ending). Upbeat musical numbers, yes, and it's happier than the book (doesn't take much). But a very bittersweet ending as far as I'm concerned.

And I agree that the musical was miles better than the book... I just never got into the book despite multiple tries. The musical was awesome. I wish I could read that book.

I loved the musical and almost hated the book. It is like they took a concept in the book and based a whole musical around it. The book was too political and religious for me. I also greatly disliked Glinda in the book but I loved her character in the musical. She was still snooty but in a likable way.

Honestly, I think the similarities the book and the musical share is the name Wicked and a couple character names. They are completely different stories and should be enjoyed that way.

Watched the musical twice and read the book twice, the second time right after seeing the musical. Hmmmm... kind of a Popular person here , but I prefered the darkness of the book. They are very different.

I won't decide. The musical had a nice story for everyone and beautiful songs. The books are way more darker, political and even sometimes a bit erotic.

Both were amazing.

miles better then the book. agreed.

The book was amazing.
The musical was amazing.

I read "Son of a Witch" and "Lion Among Men",too. Liked both!

I think it would be difficult to create musicals for them, though.

I consider them two different stories, to tell you the truth. Both are great in their own ways. I enjoyed both immensely, but they really cant be compared.

"I consider them two different stories, to tell you the truth. Both are great in their own ways. I enjoyed both immensely, but they really cant be compared."

Ditto!

completely agree! The book was so underwhelming I didn't finish it, but have seen Wicked 3 times and plan to see it again!

I hated the book. dull. writing not at all up to par. good concept. terrible execution. i kept waiting for the good part and felt cheated that i spend a whole 3.98 on this reading experience that seemed like sandpaper in my eyes. i was hoping someone would throw a bucket of water on me and melt the book way from my hands but I always finish what I start when it comes to reading. bright spot: i am still wondering what art project I can make from the cover

I was actually disappointed by the musical. I thought the book was many times better.

I had to read the book twice, because of the complexity of the story. I loved it. When I saw the musical, I went in fear that they would trivialize the material, and was apprehensive of the differences as they arose. However, by the end of the first act when Elphaba was "defying gravity", I was sold. The 2 really can not be compared, as they are completely different media. I appreciated both, and the musical has become one of my all time favorites.

The musical was good, and I LOVE the album (Kristin Chenoweth is the best!)
But I had read the book prior to seeing the musical, and I do love the book much more. They were both so different in terms of plot, that it's really tough to compare them anyway. I love the book for it's intricacies and dark characters and settings. The musical is fun and light, which is okay too.
But, I do prefer the book, hands down.

I'll be seeing the musical the end of September in Las Vegas. I'll certainly let you know!

I hated the musical and loved the book! How odd am I?

Saw the Musical in Chicago, and have read the book 3 times....Personally I love the book way more. So much more detail and character developement in the book, but the musical was lovely.

Well, I was one of those people who watched the musical first, loved it, and then picked up the book afterwards to see what might have been left out. I read two thirds of the book, before I simply lost interest.
I love the musical far more, the book disappointed me. I'll have to re-read it, to see if age makes a difference. (I read it when I was a pre-teen, so maybe that changes things)

Agreed. The musical was far more entertaining. I liked the book enough to read the next one, Son of a Witch, but after that one I could read no more. Too heavy and political as others have mentioned.

I will admit I love both but I love the book more. Maybe its my book worm side but I almost always side with books. I was truly disappointed that they didn't kill Fiyero in the musical.

Wicked is a must see if you enjoy theater and fine arts. Awesome creation. I would always recommend this first. The book is not a must read but it is also a very clever creation. Yes, it can be overly complex in comparison.

I listened to Wicked on Audio CD. A fine performance by John McDonough, I was mimicking his Elphaba for a week. A great middle ground way to get story.

The musical was 50 times better than the book. I have the sequel, but have never been able to bring myself to read it.

I also agree that the musical was better than the book. I thought the book was too dark/weird? and had a hard time finishing it.

The book was okay, but I only read it because of the musical. One of my favorites!

To me, the musical (which I love) is pure entertainment. The book, which I also love, is a dark story about betrayal and judgment.

I haven't seen the play yet but, what I liked most about the book was reading a different perspective on a story I have known about since I was a little girl. The book is certainly dark. But it shared so much insight on the motivations behind all the character's of Oz and showed that there is always more than one side to every story. Even the classics.

I don't. They are both amazing, don't get me wrong but I liked the more dark elements of the book, made it more interesting to me.

Ha, I just saw that I commented in this thread last year saying the musical was miles better than the book. I need to retract that now--that was based on my boredom with it as a teen who was just not ready for the book. But I loved the musical so much that I went back and gave the book another try as an adult, and.... well, "loved" it isn't the right word since it was a very painful reading experience, but in the way the author intended it to be. Now I'm with the folks who say they're both great, but very different.

Emma wrote: "Ha, I just saw that I commented in this thread last year saying the musical was miles better than the book. I need to retract that now--that was based on my boredom with it as a teen who was just n..."

Ha! You're so funny! It's true...opinions differ depending on our perspective when we're reading. Age, mood, time constraints, personal crises...these all influence me when I read.

I loved the book and the musical. Both took place when I was in the mood for them. I especially liked seeing the show after reading the book. I liked knowing all the background as I watched the show.

It's like comparing an apple with an orange. I absolutely love the entire series, but they are dark and heavy. I had to see the play twice before I could separate it from the book and enjoy it.

There can be no comparison, really. The musical is fabulous, and yields a completely different result than the book. Still, I prefer the musical to the book because the musical panders to my need for a happy ending. ;-)