Since no one is posting
I shall post my review of the new musical Wicked, which I saw at the NAC yesterday (it was opening night).
Review, with very mild spoilers
Really fun. Don't think I will see it again, particularly not for those prices, but solid. Very glitzy/shiny. Not a whole lot of substance.
The basic story is that of a child born with green skin, named Elphaba, who is struggling to fit in. She goes to school and becomes roommates with a ditzy, popular blonde called Glinda, and falls in love with the handsome Winkie prince Thrauil (or however you spell it - I'm totally off), although she thinks she's too ugly to attract him. She is a talented pupil despite her ostracisation, with aptitudes in magic. The Wizard's wife, Professor Marvel (haha, I know) takes her in and teaches her magic, teaching Glinda reluctantly as well since Glinda tried to befriend Elphaba. Unfortunately, when Elphaba finds out that the Wizard is behind an insidious plot to tame all the animals and make them forget to talk (she's an animal-lover), and no one else will back her, she revolts against Oz and his supporters.
Act II follows the story of The Wizard of Oz from Elphaba's point of view.
Plot review: 5 out of 10 (for me personally). What I loved: the fact that you are rewarded with all the little details that end up paying off. Pay attention in Act I, because every little bit has important ramifications for the Wizard of Oz story.
What I did not at all love: the butchery of canon. First, the foundation for the story is a weird mishmash of movie and Frank Baum's book (which have very little in common, I can tell you). Either the author of Wicked the book or the broadway librettists should have chosen one and stuck with it, because they can't be reconciled. Second of all, Elphaba is FAR too sympathetic. So much so that it contravened both book and movie canon. Third of all, I completely disagree with their interpretation of the origins of the scarecrow. I won't spoil it, but they seem to have conveniently forgotten that movie!Wicked Witch tried to burn him to death and that book!Wicked Witch never met him. Book!scarecrow also becomes the next ruler of Oz when the wizard leaves, which is impossible the way the broadway is set up.
SFX, make-up and costumes review: 8 out of 10. Fantastic! The mechanical dragon, the wizard head, the backgrounds, the lights displays, the Emerald City/Munchkin/Winkie/Flying Monkey costumes of the chorus were awesome and here the weird hybrid between book and movie worked. Amazing goat mask head for one of the talking animals. And kudos to them for painting Elphaba in a green that allowed her to be hugged and kissed without it coming off all over them. Unfortunately, some of their brilliantly done SFX was underused. Another point off for some really inappropriate lighting sometimes.
Music, songs and singing: 7 out of 10. Too loud. I wished I had had earplugs for a lot of it. And the orchestra often pretty much drowned out the chorus, which did not have microphones. Glinda and Elphaba were superb singers, along with most of the rest of the women. Professor Marvel was a bit weaker, but still good. The men were weak, I must say. The Winkie prince had a weird I-can't-quite-put-my-finger-on-it pop star imitation, which was annoying although he was the strongest of the male singers. Most of the rest of the male singing roles were cop-outs that allowed them to talk through most of the song with only a few notes to hit.
The tunes were catchy, though, especially Loathing and Defying Gravity (if *I* remember the names of songs, they *must* be catchy). Well composed score, I think, if a teeny bit repetitive. The first act definitely all around better than the second, where the plot clash with canon, the errors in lighting, and the repetitiveness of the score start to become more apparent.
If you liked Legally Blonde, you will like the humour. If you didn't, you won't. There are a lot of cheap shots, but most of the time you can't help but laugh. The running gag of Bushism-like invented words are irritating after a while. This was definitely an everyman's show.
So in all, 8 out of 10 for a first watch, and if I saw it again about a 5 out of 10. Lots of glitz, little substance, but a fantastic novelty.
Review, with very mild spoilers
Really fun. Don't think I will see it again, particularly not for those prices, but solid. Very glitzy/shiny. Not a whole lot of substance.
The basic story is that of a child born with green skin, named Elphaba, who is struggling to fit in. She goes to school and becomes roommates with a ditzy, popular blonde called Glinda, and falls in love with the handsome Winkie prince Thrauil (or however you spell it - I'm totally off), although she thinks she's too ugly to attract him. She is a talented pupil despite her ostracisation, with aptitudes in magic. The Wizard's wife, Professor Marvel (haha, I know) takes her in and teaches her magic, teaching Glinda reluctantly as well since Glinda tried to befriend Elphaba. Unfortunately, when Elphaba finds out that the Wizard is behind an insidious plot to tame all the animals and make them forget to talk (she's an animal-lover), and no one else will back her, she revolts against Oz and his supporters.
Act II follows the story of The Wizard of Oz from Elphaba's point of view.
Plot review: 5 out of 10 (for me personally). What I loved: the fact that you are rewarded with all the little details that end up paying off. Pay attention in Act I, because every little bit has important ramifications for the Wizard of Oz story.
What I did not at all love: the butchery of canon. First, the foundation for the story is a weird mishmash of movie and Frank Baum's book (which have very little in common, I can tell you). Either the author of Wicked the book or the broadway librettists should have chosen one and stuck with it, because they can't be reconciled. Second of all, Elphaba is FAR too sympathetic. So much so that it contravened both book and movie canon. Third of all, I completely disagree with their interpretation of the origins of the scarecrow. I won't spoil it, but they seem to have conveniently forgotten that movie!Wicked Witch tried to burn him to death and that book!Wicked Witch never met him. Book!scarecrow also becomes the next ruler of Oz when the wizard leaves, which is impossible the way the broadway is set up.
SFX, make-up and costumes review: 8 out of 10. Fantastic! The mechanical dragon, the wizard head, the backgrounds, the lights displays, the Emerald City/Munchkin/Winkie/Flying Monkey costumes of the chorus were awesome and here the weird hybrid between book and movie worked. Amazing goat mask head for one of the talking animals. And kudos to them for painting Elphaba in a green that allowed her to be hugged and kissed without it coming off all over them. Unfortunately, some of their brilliantly done SFX was underused. Another point off for some really inappropriate lighting sometimes.
Music, songs and singing: 7 out of 10. Too loud. I wished I had had earplugs for a lot of it. And the orchestra often pretty much drowned out the chorus, which did not have microphones. Glinda and Elphaba were superb singers, along with most of the rest of the women. Professor Marvel was a bit weaker, but still good. The men were weak, I must say. The Winkie prince had a weird I-can't-quite-put-my-finger-on-it pop star imitation, which was annoying although he was the strongest of the male singers. Most of the rest of the male singing roles were cop-outs that allowed them to talk through most of the song with only a few notes to hit.
The tunes were catchy, though, especially Loathing and Defying Gravity (if *I* remember the names of songs, they *must* be catchy). Well composed score, I think, if a teeny bit repetitive. The first act definitely all around better than the second, where the plot clash with canon, the errors in lighting, and the repetitiveness of the score start to become more apparent.
If you liked Legally Blonde, you will like the humour. If you didn't, you won't. There are a lot of cheap shots, but most of the time you can't help but laugh. The running gag of Bushism-like invented words are irritating after a while. This was definitely an everyman's show.
So in all, 8 out of 10 for a first watch, and if I saw it again about a 5 out of 10. Lots of glitz, little substance, but a fantastic novelty.