Another good article about Wicked

[theaterbuff]

Posted: 6/2/03 at 7:29am

http://ae.bayarea.com/entertainment/ui/bayarea/stage.html?id=47337&reviewId=17321

Great quote about Kristin "In fact, Chenoweth, whose personality is so sparkly she doesn't need a magic wand to light up the room..."

I am really looking forward to this one!

TheaterBuff

[Deannaizme]

Posted: 6/2/03 at 11:16am

Has anyone seen this who'd like to post? I looked for a review in the Chronicle, but didn't find one. I'm curious! :)

D

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/2/03 at 11:18am

you won't find a review until after the press opening.... june 10th. how can you find a review when the press hasn't seen it yet??

[Deannaizme]

Posted: 6/2/03 at 11:19am

Didn't realize that the press opening was later with this show.

Thanks.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/2/03 at 11:30am

the press opening isn't later with wicked. that's how it always is is. every show has a preview period before the press opening and reviews come out.

[babyface]

Posted: 6/2/03 at 11:59am

I'll be going to see it soon. The early buzz that I've heard is all fantastic, just the the show is running a bit long.

[Cyndy]

Posted: 6/2/03 at 2:34pm

I saw WICKED 5/31. This was an early preview so I'm pretty sure some things will change a bit...but I loved this show! It's a fairy tale...but so much more. I went to it not knowing anything about it beyond who the main characters were and that Ms Chenoweth was in it. The show ran 3 hours and change but I hardly realized that an hour and fortyfive minutes had passed by the intermission. I think/hope that they will tighten the show a bit before opening though. The characters of Glinda and Elphaba are so well written and are a treat to see brought to life by Ms Chenoweth and Ms Menzel. Their characters kept moving forward throughout the show and gave me a feeling of wanting to know what would happen next. Standout songs for these two were Glinda's "Popular" and Elphaba's "Defying Gravity". Although I'd need another hearing or two to be able to hum the songs from the show...I thought most of the music was really good...looking forward to that OCR. Supporting cast/characters are all very good. I loved the costumes of the Emerald City...especially the hair and hats. Fun and clever dancing in the party/nightclub scene. The only character I thought was weak was the wizard. I just didn't like the character...maybe it's just me. Loved the plot and character twists and turns and please don't let people give them away to you before you see this show....it's one of the main things that makes this show oodles of fun! All the technical glitches that some people saw in the first few performances seemed to be worked out at this one. Oh...a couple things about the set...I think an award should be given to the dragon as the best *underused* set piece in history....too bad he didn't have a larger role and I think they could have done better than pulling a curtain across the stage and showing the "melting scene" in shadow. I would most definately go back and see this show again.

[Amneris]

Posted: 6/2/03 at 6:59pm

what "type" of dancing was in this show? I read somewhere that Hip-Hop dance was a big part of it?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/2/03 at 7:00pm

The curtain might be used at the curran beacuse of technical limitations in the theatre. I know that they we're allowed to fly out there, but will be adding flying for broadway. hopefully that effect will be more eloabotare.
I am huge fan of the novel, so i am looking forward to seeing the show eventually.

I have a question. How do they handle the second part of the second act when the story catches up to 'the wizarad of oz'? i know they use the ruby slippers instead of the origal silver slippers and the witch is green like in the film, but are the costumes and os story structure closer to the film or book version of 'oz'.

[Cyndy]

Posted: 6/2/03 at 11:34pm

hummm...I'm not very good at giving dance a "type" (especially when it comes to hip-hop...sorry...way past my time...go ahead, make me feel old! *lol*) but you might say that the school dance scene is kind of hip-hop meets West Side Story???...don't know just how to describe it, just have to say I liked it.
The "ruby slippers" are indeed silver-ish and are boots.
The one costume item that gives a nob to the books is green spectacles worn in the Emerald City.
I haven't read WICKED and don't remember the original books very well. Is the wicked witch not green in them? The green thing is quite important to the plot/character here.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/2/03 at 11:59pm

In the original books, her skin color is never mentioned in words, but in the color illustrations, she isn't green.

I can not wait to see the reviews as well as production photo graphs from the SF run. As great as the set looked in the one photo of it I have seen, it is supposed to be larger in New York so it will be just a hint of what is to come. Updated On: 6/2/03 at 11:59 PM

[Alvin and My Sheepdog Rex]

Posted: 6/3/03 at 8:59am

The more I hear about this show, the more a weekend excursion to San Francisco seems in order.

[Alvin and My Sheepdog Rex]

Posted: 6/4/03 at 2:27am

I just read that they have added one final performance of Wicked in San Francisco on Sunday, 6/29 at 7:30 pm to make up for a previously cancelled show.

[Alvin and My Sheepdog Rex]

Posted: 6/4/03 at 2:43am

Another Bay Area newspaper chimes in with a PRE-Wicked preview. This one from the Contra Costa Times.

See Link Below:
Oohs and Oz for Wicked

Updated On: 6/4/03 at 02:43 AM

[Alvin and My Sheepdog Rex]

Posted: 6/4/03 at 4:54pm

Interesting fact:

The American Film Institute just released a list of the top 100 movie heroes and villains of all time and the #4 villain on the list was The Wicked Witch of the West played by Margaret Hamilton from The Wizard of OZ.

Good timing for Wicked!

[John4763]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 6:58am

When do you think tickets will go on sale for NY?

[Alvin and My Sheepdog Rex]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 9:17am

Tickets for Wicked on Broadway go on sale June 22 at 10am. They are already listed on Ticketmaster's web site, but currently only available to Am Ex Gold Card members as part of a pre-sale.

See Attached Link:
Wicked on Broadway Tickets

[Rypm25]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 10:54am

In the book "Wicked" which the musical is based on, her GREEN color is very much discussed and talked about.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 11:02am

of course it is. that is a major issue in wicked, but in the baum and thompson books, her skin isn't green.

[Alvin and My Sheepdog Rex]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 9:08pm

I was just playing on eBay and was very surprised to see Wicked tickets for New York this Fall already up for sale. Those scalpers are quick!

[KB]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 9:12pm

Quick and evil!

[MsNina]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 9:42pm

Alvin! Take your weekend trip already!!! you are missing out.

Cyndy, I completely agree with what you wrote. I wrote this horribly long thing on the bway.com forum. The show was great. I liked how the guys wore snazzy Addias and Diesel shoes, very mod.

The one thing I think I'm screwed up on is the ruby slippers. I swear when I saw it (May 2 Nessarose was wearing some cherry shoes. They must be fiddling around with how they want to deal with that.

[Alvin and My Sheepdog Rex]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 11:08pm

Ms Nina,

Your suggestion was prophetic, as I got tickets today to see Wicked this Saturday in The City by the Bay. So tomorrow Rex and I will pack up our Tony Bennett "I Left My Heart" CD, the Milk Bone dog biscuits, and our copy of Wicked the novel and head north up Hwy101 to see The Wicked Witch of the West!

By the way, I appreciated your b.com critique of the show along with Cyndy's here, thanks for the insight.

[Cyndy]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 1:42am

MsNina, I think I was thinking about the silvery sequined boots that Glinda gives Nessarose...I forgot about the cherry red shoes that she wears earlier....oops.
Does anyone know what changes were made that they took the Wed. Mat. off for? And is Kristin back? Also, has anyone gotten discount tickets in Union Square before? I'm not familiar with how this ticket booth works...is it like TKTS?

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 2:20pm

Wicked tixs couldn't go on sale on the 21st when I am in the city to see Nine. Well, good excuse to go back in again to buy the tixs.