Hey, all..

I've been trying really hard to get into Wicked. Like, really, really hard. And I don't know what it is about it (save a few wonderful songs), I find the entire thing kind of lackluster. The lyrics are kind of canned, as Schwartz's tend to be; and I'm really over the book-to-musical thing right now. I'm not saying this to start a flame war, I'm seriously interested in what makes you all love this show so much. So, Wicked fans, is it the story? The meaning? The nostalgia? Discuss!

It's a combination of things that make it my favourite musical.

Of course a huge factor is the spectacle. Would I have payed to see the show 7 times if it was performed in a white room with a piano? Probably not. The sets, the costumes, the effects, it all adds to the magic for me.

Is it a masterpiece of theatre? No, I think we can all agree the lyrics are hardly Sondheim. Is it a fun show that takes you on a journey? Yes. I love the story. That being said about the lyrics, the show does has a lot of quirky, interesting lyrics that include a lot of foreshadowing. I also feel that the lyrics (whether quite shallow or not) often relate to the character quite well.

Another reason I love the show (I suppose this isn't really to do with the show, more the production) is they often cast a very vocally impressive actress as Elphaba, and I do love a good beltress. There's nothing really like sitting in the audience (particularly in the London production), listening to the dynamics of the orchestra, how the sound amplifies and crashes out during the big moments (the end of The Wizard and I, the end of Defying Gravity, No Good Deed). That, mixed with the actress' powerhouse vocals never fails to leave me speechless, even after seeing the show 7 times.

I definitely see where you're coming from. Spectacle is probably an aspect I'm seriously missing out on, because I've yet to see the show performed live. I can only imagine that it would add to the magic.

Is there anything in particular about the story that draws you to it? Because I adore The Wizard of Oz, but I can't really seem to combine my love of it for love of the musical.. I know it's supposed to be more of the backstory, but I can't rectify the two. Did that really matter to you when you first fell in love with the show?

And I absolutely understand the power of a good beltress.

I like The Wizard of Oz but that really doesn't have anything to do with my love for Wicked. I just love the story of Wicked. The show goes on such a huge journey (the two girls in particular) and I love watching it progress each time.

I see it as a bit of a guilty pleasure (kinda like my love of dumb romantic comedies). I actually don't think Wicked is as dumb as a lot of people make it out to be. The show actually has some very clever moments and serious themes (racism, political corruption, to name a few).

I see what you're saying. I definitely see the "bigger themes" at work here.. I just have a hard time getting past the score (like I said, minus a few songs) to give it a deeper opinion. I'm thinking I'd love to see a tour of this sometime, just to see if actually WATCHING it will give me a better picture. I'm not a huge Schwartz fan on good day, but a part of me feels like I really want to like this show.

I'm no longer a fan of Wicked by any means, but as you are someone who is eager to expand your knowledge of the show, Lauren, I thought I would bring to your attention the tour stops in North Charleston, SC, and Durham, NC, next spring.

http://www.northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com/ - Onsale date TBD
http://www.dpacnc.com/ - Onsale date Feb. 13

Thanks so much for the info!! I may actually be able to make it to the one in Charleston.. my best friend is in college there. I really just want to give it a fair shot before I decide my true thoughts on the show... something about it makes me want to like it. I'm hoping that actually watching it will be able to let me, haha.

The short story is that its a great show cause its works on so many levels but mostly its a great show cause its has a great score and story. I could easily listen to a concert version off the show any day just to its amazing score and acting in a white room would be perfectly fine just for that reason.

Thrue is that the show is an spectactle and has a lot off eyecandy in just about every scene.

But there is also a number off political themes that you can enjoy from an adult standpoint, like being an outcast and even rasism and what dictatorship leaders can do with a population.

So in my humble opinion its theathre magic at its best.