Things about WICKED that are annoying

[Zamedy154]

Posted: 5/21/17 at 10:11am

I saw WICKED for, perhaps, the sixth time last night. It was a bit of an underwhelming performance for me across the board, but that's really beside my point here. There were several times in the show when I was reminded of how parts of it just.. well.. annoy me (I know, I know.. then stop going. I will. But literally half the times I *have* gone was because I was basically dragged there by someone who desperately wanted to see it).

Curious if these things bother anyone else...

-The costumes for the Shiz kids are flat, dreary and, well, ugly. 

-The black-and-white 'dress' that the male Shiz dancer wears in the ballroom scene

-The choreography. All the ensemble dance numbers feel the same -- turn, lift, turn, over-dramatic arm movement, turn again

-When Elphaba pushes Boq behind the wardrobe closet for his transformation. Couldn't they have come up with a less-obvious way to do this? They give her no purpose for wheeling him behind there, and then deciding to wheel him to center stage moments later.

-The ending. For such a blockbuster musical, the ending just always comes across as too dark for me.

-The sets/scenery. With a few exceptions, overall very dark and dreary.

Ok. Crucify me.

[Pippin]

Posted: 5/21/17 at 10:13am

The ending is "Too dark"?

 

you obviously have never read the book it's based on, then, Because They "disneyfied" the ending for Broadway. Still wish they would've stuck to the book.

Updated On: 5/21/17 at 10:13 AM

[Zamedy154]

Posted: 5/21/17 at 10:19am

I haven't. And I completely respect your point, as that point from me was arguably my weakest.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/21/17 at 10:21am

Pippin said: "The ending is "Too dark"?

 

you obviously have never read the book it's based on, then, Because The "disneyfied" the ending for Broadway. Still wish they would've stuck to the book.

 

THIS. The novel is one of my favorite books. I would have loved to have seen the musical follow the book more closely.

 

 

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 5/21/17 at 11:30am

I don't understand the purpose of the giant metal dragon that's above the stage that moves once in a while. I saw it when I walked in, and I was like, "Oh cool, giant dragon, where's that going to fit into the plot?" and it never did.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/21/17 at 12:10pm

^ The Clock of the Time Dragon played a much more prominent role in the novel. While the set design is cool, I feel like using the clock theme from the book as the basis and concept for the design of the musical is misguided since  it is only referenced a couple times and never fully integrated into the plot of the musical.

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 5/21/17 at 12:32pm

I think the story would be more powerful if Elphaba died and stayed dead.  I think the ending is incredibly sugar-coated for a sweet "Disney ending."  I think they did this, frankly, so that we don't hate Glinda too much, which is absolutely ridiculous.

Also, there are certain things that really bother me about the score.  The synth stuff in some of the orchestrations makes this score sound like it was written in the 80's.  It sounds waaaay too dated for a show written in 2004.  Also, if we're commenting on the OBC, Idina's voice has absolutely nothing pleasant about it, IMO.  She can get pretty screechy.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 5/21/17 at 2:44pm

It sounds like you just don't really like the physical production OP. It's not my favourite but it is at least relatively distinct among Broadway musicals and is well executed.

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 5/21/17 at 4:07pm

My feeling about the show is that the first act takes its time setting up all of the plot of the show and the second act to me seems to rush everything. It took me quite awhile to understand the whole purpose of pushing Boq behind the wardrobe.  (Not to spoil for people, but there's another person already in the Tin Man outfit behind the wardrobe and they play an audiotape of the Boq actor seeming confused about what happened to him.)  All in all, I think that the show is fine. Having read the book, I would have appreciated more of the darkness of the novel...

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 5/21/17 at 4:13pm

What annoyed me when I saw it recently was how everything was exaggerated and made into a complete kiddie show. The performances acting-wise were way over-the-top and no one stood out vocally, but maybe that was becauseae the sound was particularly bad that night. Wasn't a fan of the changes they have made over the years to the show, especially choreography. 

I was a very big fan of the show in the beginning, but was disappointed in returning to it. I was with three people who had never seen/listened to it & they had a great time, even gasping at "twists" in the story that I have gotten so used to. So maybe I'm biased? 

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 5/21/17 at 4:22pm

Alex Kulak2 said: "I don't understand the purpose of the giant metal dragon that's above the stage that moves once in a while. I saw it when I walked in, and I was like, "Oh cool, giant dragon, where's that going to fit into the plot?" and it never did.

"

Agreed. Not annoyed, but just confused. It's a cool set piece and I like the mechanism of a visible actor animating. At least this is how it was in San Francisco for out-of-town tryout (the only time I've seen the show). After the movement and smoke at the top of the overture, nothing. Why put money into something that's not used? 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/21/17 at 4:28pm

Alex Kulak2 said: "I don't understand the purpose of the giant metal dragon that's above the stage that moves once in a while. I saw it when I walked in, and I was like, "Oh cool, giant dragon, where's that going to fit into the plot?" and it never did.

 

I agree with you.  I have always thought the sets and costumes for Wicked, whether they won Tony's or not, are hideous.  Did they really have to be that ugly?  I have seen the show 6 times, so I love most of it; but I do hate the sets and costumes, and think the direction of the dialogue scenes is terrible.  There is no fluidity to it.  It sickens me to think how much Mantello is making for mediocre work at best.  

Thank God for the basic whimsy of the story, the score, and the opportunities for the leading ladies to shine.  Because the rest is pretty mediocre.

 

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 5/21/17 at 5:05pm

Wow, I actually think the costumes are the best part of Wicked........

[South Florida]

Posted: 5/21/17 at 5:22pm

Why do people complain about Wicked?  The OP saw it 6 times yet started a thread like this.  For me, Wicked did something that Rent and Phantom didn't do, it made me an ardent musical theater fan, flaws please.  I saw both Wicked and Avenue Q., and while a smile never left my face during Q, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, it never came close to Wicked for the music.  The Internet is for Porn, compared to the Wizard and I.  If ever the Tony's got it wrong was that year when Q beat Wicked and Idina Menzel somehow won, she may have been the worst Elphaba I've ever heard, check out that horrible Tony performance.  The only thing that has disappointed me as much since then was when N2N lost to Billy Eliot.

 

Posted: 5/21/17 at 6:47pm

OP:

-The costumes and choreography bring you into the world of the play....a basic concept that every well constructed production should do for the text. Are you angry that a male dancer is wearing a "dress"? Yes, he's wearing a dress because maybe in this world, the creators were trying to establish that the everyday gender conventions embedded in our society are merely conventions/traditions. A woman is associated with a dress rather than a man because our society says so. Oz and frankly anyone in our world doesn't have to follow those social confines. OR Maybe he's wearing a dress to suggest to the audience that in Oz there are double standards with the way you are treated for being different. Where is the line people will draw before someone is mocked for being out of the ordinary: a theme that is a focal point for the play.

-Too dark of an ending? The most brilliant part of the ending is if you realize that the ending is the beginning. After the events you just witnessed throughout the play, you have a different perspective on the same material that you first saw in the opening number. What you once thought was a joyous moment in Oz (The wicked witch is dead) has some more substance to it.  That's also one of the main points of the story:To take your preexisting knowledge of these characters and The Wizard of Oz, and to shed some light as to what really went on in Oz during this time. A different perspective. Sometimes life doesn't always work out...Would you say West Side Story has too dark of an ending?

-The sets are too dark and dreary? Maybe you haven't read the book Wicked or even the book The Wizard of Oz is based off of. It's sets are inspired by those. There are few scenic elements that are dark but certainly not dreary.....Bright Green Emerald City....The scenic element shouldn't just be fluffy nonsense. They should sway the way you perceive the atmosphere and tone of the story while providing a visual setting. All the scenic elements help you look at the show with intentional direction. Maybe Elphaba felt bored at school? By conveying a less exciting setting, the director was able to create a WOW moment when she goes to the Emerald City where the set is exciting and brightly in your face.  

 

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 5/21/17 at 6:53pm

OP, here's a canned response for the next time you're asked to go: "Thanks! I've already seen the show a number of times. I don't need to go again, but I really hope you enjoy it!"

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 12:51pm

My assumption was always that the Time Dragon played a larger role in earlier drafts of the script and was designed and built based on those, but then the script got changed. And, well, they'd already spent the money, so...

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 1:51pm

Ok. Crucify me.

So...why do you feel the need to say that?  

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 3:08pm

Love Wicked.

The only things that annoy me relating to Wicked are:

That it doesn't tour in the SF bay area every single year

That the movie isn't out yet

That I missed the preview in SF in 2003

That it lost to Avenue Q for best musical

That people love to pick on this show for some reason....

[JSquared2]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 3:11pm

The MOST annoying thing about Wicked --- THE SUPERFANS!!

[SNAFU]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 3:40pm

The conceit for the Stage Design was that you are actually watching the story told by the Time Dragon Clock. The clock work mechanical traveling cart that shows the truth. That is the reason for the dragon, the large clock face dial and all the gears and machinations and the whole proscenium design. That is why (in the sit down productions) you see the people operating it with pulleys and ropes. It was a nod to the source material which sort of frames the novel.

[mmFan]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 7:32pm

Just saw Wicked this past weekend (in Buffalo) so it's fresh in my mind.  Also did Behind the Scenes in NY in April.  I quite like the costumes with the whole asymetrical thing.

Also, I love the ending.  It's back to the start of the musical, and of course you have Elphaba and Fiero together.

I do agree with questioning why Elphaba brings Boc back on stage after he turns into the tin man.

I will say though, that out of all the musicals I've seen (which has been many over 40-odd years), that to me, Wicked is one of the best musicals made...from the music to the story (cool with the Wizard of Ozz connection) to the costumes to the set.

 

Updated On: 5/22/17 at 07:32 PM

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 5/23/17 at 8:39am

Wicked is one of my all-time favorite shows. Maybe this isn't the right thread to file this under, but I'm always a little sad when I return to the show and miss that the huge, swirling Wicked Witch hat that opened the top of the show back in the early/mid-2000s was cut at some point.

This is, of course, more of a complaint about the production than the show itself. When did they cut the big hat? And why? It was an iconic moment when I saw the show for the very first time as a kid in 2004. 

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 5/23/17 at 10:55am

At the time of the London opening, they incorporated some of the changes from that staging into the Broadway one. That's when the "maybe he saw green and thought it meant go" line came to Broadway, along with some other minor things. Maybe the big hat went the way of the dinosaur then as well.

Updated On: 5/23/17 at 10:55 AM

[loveinnewyorkcity]

Posted: 5/24/17 at 4:58pm

I find the whole show annoying, to be honest.