Since I haven't been able to make it to an actual city that has Broadway musicals...I've had to resort to watching the movie versions or reading the books. The latest on my list has been this one...
Can I just tell you how good this book is? The basic plot is how the Wicked Witch of the West became, well, WICKED. But it is so much deeper than that. The time is pre-Dorothy and actually begins with Elphaba {the Witches real name} still in her mommies tummy. And, instead of being mostly about the fantasy of the Land of Oz, as in the Wizard of Oz, this book focuses more on the Land of Oz itself. The different cultures and races and religions....it gets into the politics of the land as well. It is truly interesting and one of the better books I have read in a while.
I haven't finished it yet, but am getting closer. As I have continued on in my reading, I keep thinking about how impossible it would be to include all of the information in the book into a Broadway musical. I wonder if they have left anything out. Anybody out there that has read the book and seen the musical...fill me in. Otherwise, I guess I'll just have to wait. :0) I did download the entire Soundtrack today from iTunes. I have had 'Defying Gravity' in my collection for a bit, but have gotten so involved in the lives of Elphaba and Glinda that I wanted to hear the rest of the songs.
And, um, is it only me that gets teary eyed at some of the songs? That's what I do when I read a good book. I get INVOLVED and feel like I know the characters personally. And this book honestly makes me feel like I have misjudged the poor Wicked With my entire life. :0(
And....guess what I just found out? Wicked....is going to be made into a movie! Oh yeah! Sure, it's going to be a couple of years before it comes out...but still! That means there is truly hope for me to actually SEE what it would be like to go to the musical. Minus the stage...and props....and atmosphere...but you get the idea. :0)
7 comments:
This one is on my "to-read" list...my sister LOVED it, too.
Read it and seen the play twice on stage.
Here's some thoughts:
They left a ton out of the book, which I actually think was good. The book is a heavier, darker story than the play. The basic gist is the same, but the play has a happy ending where the book *might* not. I actually thought the book was well-written, but when you see the play, you will see that it is really the basic bones that became the play. The tones of the characters were changed and lightened a lot for the play. I definitely enjoyed the play more.
That being said, it is one of my all-time favorite broadway shows that I've ever seen. It makes me cry STILL to listen to the soundtrack. You need to find a city to go see it. It truly is amazing.
P.S. Incidentally, the guy who wrote the book lives in my friend's town in Mass. His son was in her son's class at school. How cool is that?
P.S.S. Don't read the sequel, "Son of a Witch." HATED it. Just my opinion. :-)
I have heard great things about Wicked although I haven't seen it or read it myself.
so you know wicked will be in Salt Lake City in April at the Capitol Theater. I would love to go but I will be kinda busy that month.
Rachelle
Tyler read the book and then we both saw the play, he highly recommended I do not read the book since it was so much more dark and disturbing, the play was amazing, love it and I want to go back!
I saw Wicked in person last week and it was AWESOME!!! If you have been teetering on the line about whether or not to go then get your tickets NOW! Seriously! And if you can't find any... Do I what my husband and i did and use eSellOut to get them: http://www.esellout.com/ResultsGeneral.aspx?kwds=Wicked ~ You will seriously enjoy it the ENTIRE time!
-Lindsay
Post a Comment