Wicked is not (yet) a movie. But occasionally on our film blog site, Valerie and I take the liberty of going beyond the big screen. After all, a play is a visual experience with many similarities to film...it's just real people on a real stage.Sometimes I feel like David the warrior who takes on Goliath. Audiences everywhere RAVE about this play. Last night, there was a standing ovation that was almost beyond belief. The applause was so loud I had to cover my ears!
Yeah, folks, I'm not an enthusiast. Here's the basic gist of the story, with NO SPOILER, as usual: Those two ladies in the picture above, the good witch and the wicked witch, are back in the Land of Oz. This time, however, it's not about Dorothy and Toto working their way up the yellow brick road.
It's about the two witches. It's a love/hate fest, sort of, with the two girls battling it out.
Not a bad premise, I suppose, except for a few major flaws: The film is a rip-off of the Wizard of Oz, one of the most creative stories ever written. I'm not big on stories that build on others' reputations or originality. Then there's the problem of a play in search of a real theme. Again, no spoiler, but in the play we have touches of the following themes:
Meanness, as in Mean Girls
Valley Girl-itis, as in Clueless
Evil, as in The Bad Seed
Goodness, as in Mary Poppins
Girl Friendship, as in Bridesmaids
Animal Effects, as in Lion King
And so many more, mish-moshed, disheveled, partial ideas or themes that are mildly touched upon and not fully developed.
One might say that there are maybe 20 or so minor stories in the big story. Yeah, it's a topical mess. Valerie, if this were an English essay, you'd red-ink it for lack of focus.
More: It was sooooooooo long! About two hours before the intermission and an hour afterward. This work needed editing!
Songs? None really memorable. I am not singing any, as I often do when I leave a good musical or stage play.
A plus: Costuming, singing (the two leads only...the others were very weak), and effects.
Frankly, I could have left after the intermission. But then, I would have missed the standing ovation at the end...wish I could just be a sheep, sometimes, and join the mindless herd.
Well, no, I'll stay a free-thinker. But I might watch my step today lest someone in the street stone me for my very diverse and negative opinion!
Wow- it sounds like in AZ they give standing ovations even more easily than in Ca. if possible! I'm a NYer at heart and it takes a LOT to get a standing ovation from us- people are used to such mediocrity! Sounds like "the Descendants" of the play arena. Yuk- will not be seeing it, never wanted to anyway! Great review! Now onto the next one!, Ga.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, GA! Yes, coming from NYC, you have seen the greats. Good description, calling Wicked "The Descendents" of stage. I was quite disappointed. In AZ, we stand and cheer from some strange things!
ReplyDeleteWicked is wickedly wicked. What a concept. One is not wicked until they have seen "Wicked". Put your best costumes on and go experience this play!
ReplyDeleteOK, good to have a positive slant to counterbalance my negativity, Pete. That means that readers will have to see it to form their own opinion! Most folks agree with you, by the way.
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