iSm, you should go re read the original Wizard of Oz too, I did when I started the Wicked books, just for 'reference' and was pretty surprised at the artistic license they used on that book as well. Not as bad as the Wicked play vs book but still pretty big ones.

The theatre I did "Duck Hunter" at is doing this version of "Forbidden Broadway" next. It's going to be hilarious.
:)

I don't think iSm was saying that the book Wicked was more faithful to the original book than the play. I think he's saying that the play simply wasn't faithful to the book, and that it changed the story and character from the book in a way he didn't like.

oh I agree with him in that the book and play barely recognize each other, to that end, if you read the book Wizard of Oz then watch the movie - what would be the musical so to speak, they twisted a lot of the storyline to fit what they wanted in the movie from that as well. Not to the extent of Wicked but enough that having grown up watching the movie the story in the book was significantly different in many places so taking a core group of characters then just rebuilding the play/movie to suit the situation seems to be standadard. I totally agree that the play and the book are night and day. I do love the play and plan to go again before it leaves SF

I have read the Baum book, and some of the sequels. I never enjoyed them as much as the MGM musical, but it was mostly plot and some tone changes - if I recall - and not two things that purposefully contradicted one another.

But that's all apples and oranges. My beef isn't with Wicked the Musical not matching Wicked the Book (though I think it's flawed because of that) ... rather it's with Wicked the Musical not matching its ultimate source material, the Wizard of Oz --- book or movie.

My other passion, aside from all things Alice, is Oz. Read all the original books over and over and over and over. Read Wicked the book long before there was a Wicked the musical and I loved it. Never seen the musical, but I love the book.

You'd LOVE the first half of the musical.


Leave during intermission. ;)

To all the people who've read the book but not yet seen the stage show of Wicked I'll say this:

Hmmm, maybe I'd better put it in a spoiler, just in case. What do you other folks think, should I tell 'em?

Properly warned, ye be.

Leave it in the spoiler!

I have read the full synopsis- so I know what happens. Having not read the book though I have no comparison-other than knowing Elphaba is much prettier than the Witch in the original movie.