Hey Everyone,

First, i am a Wicked fanatic...i have read the book by Gregory Maguire, soon am going to read Son of a Witch (Got it only a little while ago) and i have the soundtrack. I've read the script but sadly have not seen it live (yet) Really, its too much for me to pay for, so im really waiting for it to come to my hometown (Crosses fingers) ANYWAYS. I was thinking about it the other day (Cause what do we Wicked fanatics think of appart from Wicked?)and i came up with a theory...

Wicked, essentially, is the biggest broadway show of all time. And you can argue that point, but dont bother, its really the facts, and what it all boils down to. But i questioned the other night, why is that exactly?

I came up with the idea that the reason Wicked is so "populer---lar---lalalala" was because we all feel a little green sometimes (no im not sea sick...yes i've always been this way...no i didnt eat gra** as a child...) We all, at one point in our lives or another, feel like Elphaba. The outcast, the victim, being discriminated against, not fitting in, etc. Most of us have loved and lost, or even loved someone we cant have.

Through the story of Elphaba, Wicked applies to all of us, so that, when we sing along, we sing not as Glinda, or Fiyero, but Elphaba herself. Because even though we love the characters of Glinda and Fiyero, we see more eye to eye with Elphaba, and we sympathize with her. Not because shes right (which applies to the book more than the musical) but because we have all been in that situation before.

There was a particular line in the book where Glinda says to Elphaba regarding the shoes "They won't make your father love you." Not only is this a particularily heartbreaking line, but it also draws sympathy from us. Even though what Elphie is doing at the time (with the intent of harming Dorothy) is horrible, we can't help but cry for her, because we are shown ourselves through Elphaba.

The story of wicked is really a cause and effect line towards and inevitable fate.

Even if we are a horrible person, we can most likely draw a line to it being because, at one point or another, we were "Green".

From this, we can relate to the love triangle of Galinda, Elphie and Fiyero. We can see eye to eye with someone who has been wronged.

Also, i would like to point out that at one point or another, we have all sung "Im not that girl", even if we didnt know it. We have all felt not good enough, or far from perfect. Most people dont see themselves as beautiful, which just increases the effect of Elphie's green skin and Fiyero loving her anyways.

In the end, Elphaba really is just a mirror image of ourselves. And seeing her suceed really moves us, in a way we dont even realise.

This is why i think its the most popular musical of all time. It hits on some very sensitive issues in a nice and careful way.

"And there the wicked old Witch stayed for a good long time."
"did she ever come out?"
"Not yet."


History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it. - Sir Winston Churchill.

Greetings to a fellow Wicked fan!

However, as a musical theatre major, I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you.

Wicked may be the biggest musical of all time RIGHT NOW, but arguably, Phantom of the Opera and Cats were both bigger during their times. Cats ran for 20 years, Phantom has been running much, much longer.

I think in the long run, Wicked may have the potential to run as long as either of these, and it DOES touch on some poignantly beautiful issues, but so do these other two musicals.

For instance: Phantom. The Phantom, Erik, is rejected, he has been forced into hiding because of a deformity. The lines "mother's fear and loathing" followed quickly by a reference to his mask being his first "unfeeling scrap of clothing" both echo the same agony Elphaba feels. He is rejected for his features, for something he had no fault in and cannot change, just like her skin.

Cats is the same way. Grizabella was once beautiful, once loved. Now no one will touch her, she is mocked publicly, and all she wants is companionship, not to relive her glory days.

Wicked is a wonderful novel and an exquisite, powerful musical, but I have to argue it being the best of all time. The Phantom of the Opera is certainly a musical that has enjoyed both the fanaticism and longetivity of a strong musical, and has continued to sell out to this day. (as of March 25th, when I saw it in London)

Does Wicked have the potential to run longer than either of these? Definitely! But only time will tell...

I have to say I am looking forward to when it comes to Melbourne! I am planning to fly down and see it

It definately has the potential to be the greatest musical of all time but it isn't there yet. It has MANY more years to run before it gets that far!

I have to say though the music is haunting! I find myself singing it at the weirdest times especially "no one mourns the wicked"! It is so much fun

I would like to wait and see what it becomes it will be interesting.

wow i read that book, (its the one where the munchkins are like there own political party right?) its a play or is it a musical?


clever got me this far then tricky got me in

I have to agree with stillsingingstrong, it's all about what's current. Ten years ago Rent was the most revolutionary amazing poignant musical out there. Last year it was Spring Awakening. Don't get me wrong - I loved the book and the play, I have the soundtrack on my iPod, and I'm rocking an Elphaba avatar right now. But to declare a show that's less than 10 years old "the biggest Broadway show of all time" is a bit premature right now. That doesn't make it any less fabulous, though!


No Day But Today!

I think Wicked is a fantastic play! I saw it earlier this year in Cincinnati! It was awesome! I can't say it is the biggest play of all time, but that doesn't mean it ISN'T a fantastic play! It does have the potential to be a classic! I agree with you that what makes it special (besides the acting,script, story, plot sets, and songs!!!) is that we CAN see Elphaba in ourselves. It DEFINITELY is worth seeing, that's for sure!!!


If you don't like my driving then stay off the sidewalk!

I read Wicked and Son of the Witch, but have not seen the musical. I loved them both, and hope to see the show sometime. Has anyone else read any other books by G.M.? I liked his version of Cinderella, but not his version of Snow White.
I though SOTW was a great love story. I hope he writes more about Liir soon.

I was having a debate with my friends the other day
do they say "hoi ploi" or "hoy ploy" in the musical?? I dont remember them ever saying it, but they argued that they defenitely did in the song "one short day".

When I listened to it several more times I realised they may say it once but what does it mean???


The two most common elements in the world are hydrogen and stupidity