summer_jackel (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
summer_jackel) wrote2005-10-18 10:51 am
summer_jackel) wrote2005-10-18 10:51 am
More about Wicked
Did I mention that Wicked is significantly furry?
hmmm, there appear to be some pretty huge differences in the play and the book. The best song is, I think, 'No Good Deed' (goes unpunished), which details that crucial moment when Elphaba discovers Fiyero's murder. It is wonderfully full of pain and captures the anguish perfectly. This moment isn't "on-stage" in the book; it's one of the many conspicuously important plot points that are only discussed long after. Interesting literary device, that.
Having Elphaba make the decision that she will no longer attempt to work good in and/or mend the grevious injustices of the world at this moment makes sense in the context of a play or a movie; it would be the crucial, tragic decision and a good point to hang the dramatic tension over. But in the book, she dosen't make that decision at this point; she goes back to Fiyero's family and attempts to save them, to fix her bad decision. I would argue that she *never* really decides to eschew doing good things, but her failures cripple her to the point that she is, at the end, no longer able to take the opportunities that present themselves to heal herself, her friends and her cause. (Particularly vivid in that scene with the carter and the Donkey, and of course...Glinda. whimper).
Or maybe it's just all fate, and she was doomed from the beginning, a pawn of the unkowable jackal goddess thing. ;)
I hope they make a movie of this.
hmmm, there appear to be some pretty huge differences in the play and the book. The best song is, I think, 'No Good Deed' (goes unpunished), which details that crucial moment when Elphaba discovers Fiyero's murder. It is wonderfully full of pain and captures the anguish perfectly. This moment isn't "on-stage" in the book; it's one of the many conspicuously important plot points that are only discussed long after. Interesting literary device, that.
Having Elphaba make the decision that she will no longer attempt to work good in and/or mend the grevious injustices of the world at this moment makes sense in the context of a play or a movie; it would be the crucial, tragic decision and a good point to hang the dramatic tension over. But in the book, she dosen't make that decision at this point; she goes back to Fiyero's family and attempts to save them, to fix her bad decision. I would argue that she *never* really decides to eschew doing good things, but her failures cripple her to the point that she is, at the end, no longer able to take the opportunities that present themselves to heal herself, her friends and her cause. (Particularly vivid in that scene with the carter and the Donkey, and of course...Glinda. whimper).
Or maybe it's just all fate, and she was doomed from the beginning, a pawn of the unkowable jackal goddess thing. ;)
I hope they make a movie of this.
no subject
The major spoiler for the show... that's really different from the book...
Elphaba and Fiyero don't die in the show. Which, of course, made me go "Wah?!" but it allows a happy ending, and I do love happy endings, so... it's a tough call. For me anyway. Everyone THINKS they're dead. In the show, the water-will-kill-her thing turns out to be just a rumor, she lives. Fiyero does turn out to be the Scarecrow, and they go off together at the end while Glinda and the rest of the Ozians celebrate Elphaba's "death".
So it really is quite different from the book. I still enjoyed it immensley. :D However you spell that word.
no subject
yeeahh, that does rather change things, dosen't it? Like, the whole theme and direction of the book? ;)
On first blush, that seems like a real cheat to me, but, well, I kind of like the fact that there is SOME alternate universe in which poor Elphaba dosen't decend into lonely madness and die. And I guess Broadway musicals aren't usually known for downer endings.
In a way, Elphaba's inability to reconnect with Glinda at the end of the book seems as tragic as Fiyero's death. Judging from some of the music, the two of them manage to forgive one another as well?
Thanks for letting me know, I appreciate it. :) I wanna see this show now...
no subject
Oh yea, the whole Fiyero having an arranged marriage back home isn't in the show either. Simplification and all.
And yes, in the show, they do manage to forgive each other. I agree with you on that too, that they can't in the book is quite tragic. It's interesting too how she's all fixated on the shoes in the book, but not as much in the show.
You really should see the show if you ever get the chance, it's absolutely wonderful. The touring cast I saw was wonderful too. I SO wish I could've seen it with the original cast (Idina's voice is incredible) but ah well. :)