Amph There's no place like it: All things Oz (TWOZ, Wicked, Oz the Great and Powerful, etc.)

Having just seen the new Wicked film, I figured why not have a thread for the entire franchise? I did a search and couldn't find such a thread within the forums here. I assumed this would be as good a place as any to discuss all things related to the films, novels, and of course the Broadway show.

Personally I've seen the show twice on Broadway. You can say that I enjoyed it for sure. I didn't see it during its initial run with Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth but got to see Stephanie J. Block in the lead role and got her to sign my Playbill. I've read all of Gregory Maguire's Wicked novels to date; the earlier ones were far more page-turners than the latter ones. I think he just pushed the story too much where it was oversaturated and it gets to a point where you just want it to end already. Of course the show was adopted from the novel; but it was very loosely adopted with intention. While the show is of course more family oriented overall, his novels, especially that first one, are not. The general story of the Good and Wicked witches of Oz being friends is there, but their circumstances (among other scenes in the novel) are drastically different).

Now about the new film. I'd keep discussions in spoilers for now.

Spoiler

Since it had been probably about 10 years or so since I'd seen the show, I didn't remember everything about it. But the familiar songs are all there so if you've seen the show, chances are you're reciting them in your head verbatim. I understand that there will be a special "sing-a-long" release sometime in the theaters, so they initially told people not to sing during this run in the audience. If you're like me and have seen the show (and especially if you've read the novel), you know not only about Glinda and Elphaba's story, but about who those side characters are and.....will be. And then there's those cameos. I don't remember offhand how the "Wizamania" performance during One Short Day was presented in the show, but I've gotta say that they pretty much knocked it out of the park featuring those special guests as the "Wize ones". They certainly seemed to enjoy those walk-on roles; and considering they're specified characters, they got credited accordingly. There was also a far more subtle, unrecognizable cameo (Stephen Schwartz) during the One Short Day number; he's the one announcing, "The Wizard Will See You Now!" I was surprised that Gregory Maguire wasn't invited to be featured in a cameo of his own; but maybe they're saving the best for last. If you've ever been to any of his book tours, you know he really gets into the story as he reads passages. I attended one for Out of Oz; the last of the "Wicked Years" series of novels...although he's recently released new novels that continue the story.

 

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. For example, while I enjoy many of the songs of Wicked, I found most of the songs in Hamilton to be forgettable. But I know it's a popular show and many people still enjoy them. To each, their own as they say.

 

Spoiler

I saw Wicked Thursday night. I had seen the original cast on Broadway in 2004 and read the book around the same time. I think I knew there was one more book, but I wasn't fond of the author's style so I never read it and I certainly didn't even know there were more books. As a child who grew up watching The Wizard of Oz, so I liked the story and enjoyed the musical. But after seeing it I just went on with life. Until 5 years ago when I heard they were making a movie, and I got excited. I patiently waited until I finally got to see it. I really liked the movie; I was surprised it didn't drag, and I was surprised how much I remembered from the play. I can't wait for part 2.

It's funny you mention the Sing Along Version. I would definitely pay to go see that. I wanted to dance in my seat so much during my viewing, but when I looked around the theater no one seemed to be enjoying themselves in the level of how I wanted to enjoy myself. Even when the movie came to its dramatic conclusion no one clapped. I have waited 20 years for this movie, and no one even clapped at the end! What a lame audience. I mean it was opening night. So that is my review, great movie....no fun audience.

I also think they did a great job with the flying monkeys at the end. People always say they were scared by the monkeys and the witch as a kid with the original movie. I never remember being scared of the Wizard of Oz. But if anyone found those monkeys disturbing in the 1939 edition of cinema the 2024 edition really might freak you out!

 

I actually have read that the studio behind the film asked theaters to make sure the volume is raised to a minimum of 7 during the presentations. They want people to hear the performance of the actors over anyone singing to the familiar tunes.

Spoiler

And about the flying monkeys; I don't actually recall of Chistery was named in the show, but it was certainly a cool nod to the novel. Chistery plays a fairly prominent role throughout the "Wicked Years" series of novels; even showing up in the most recent one that takes place about a decade and a half later in the story timelime.

 

My favourite version is South Park Christmas in Canada

 

I'm a slight bit of an Oz nut. I've watched all the Oz films, including The Wiz, as well as the 1986 anime series Oz No Mahōtsukai. For books I've read the first 4 Baum books, one of the books written by Ruth Plumly Thompson, and Maguire's Wicked. Never saw the Wicked Broadway show though, surprisingly.

Of course Wicked the film I saw, and I thought it was magnificent. It's everything I could've hoped for and more. I'm legit over the moon.

 

If you liked the movie, I'd definitely recommend seeing the show; whether on Broadway or on tour. I'd never seen Les Mis on Broadway before seeing the movie; it's forgivable of course.

 

Same here, I read all of Baum's books as a kid, and I've seen most of the movies, and the Judy Garland version is my favorite movie. I'm looking forward to seeing Wicked (I read about half of the first book). Couldn't get tix in my area this week, though.

 

I bought tickets to the movie about a week and a half in advance. I usually DON'T do that for any movies. And I bought Regal's special RPX presentation; it's essentially a poor man's IMAX; a slightly larger screen than standard and better audio.

 

Just thought I'd share my signed Playbill. If I'm not mistaken, Stephanie J. Block was the third actress to play Elphaba after Idina Menzel.


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Wicked: The Graphic Novel Part One Gets A 75,000 Print Run

This should be interesting. If you've read the Gregory Maguire novel, you'll know that the story isn't geared for families the way the Broadway Show and new movie is. The article doesn't necessarily suggest that it will be following Maguire's vision virtually page for page, but if it does than this could be a Graphic Novel just about on par with Watchmen in terms of aiming for a mature audience.

 

Question - if the entire movie of "The Wizard of Oz" is Dorothy's dream, what is "Wicked" and how does "Wicked" even take place? I saw the Broadway show 13 years ago and I don't think it's explained.

With minimal spoilers, does the movie delve into an explanation? Is Oz a real place? In the original movie Dorothy travelled there in her subconscious, so we're meant to believe she just dreamed it, but it's a real place? If it is real, who's house kills the Wicked Witch of the East because Dorothy's house never went anywhere because she wakes up in her bed. And if it is real, how did Dorothy affect events that happened there?

 

Gregory Maguire's story presents itself as if everything happened as you see it; that it wasn't a dream. In one of his later novels in the "Wicked Years" series, Dorothy actually returns to Oz and confronts some familiar (and not familiar) characters. I could be wrong, but didn't L. Frank Baum himself have follow up novels that continue the Oz story?

 

Friend of Dorothy

 

@Ahsoka's Tano Yeah, I'm not sure. I've never read the novels so I don't know how the author brings the events of a dream into reality especially when the dream involves a house that kills someone.

The only thing I watched as a kid was a show in the 90s where Dorothy returns to Oz with the Ruby Slippers and has to save the Wizard and the Witch is resurrected.

 

There was also the Fairuza Balk film from the late 80s. I'm sure a little darker than that cartoon.



I like how in this far darker film than anything Oz related before (or since), this Dorothy seems to be about half the age that Judy Garland was in the original film, and justly so. She was supposed to be a little girl like that; not a teenager in a little girl's outfit.

 

He did. And the book doesn't end with her in bed, but with her running to meet Auntie Em after the shoes have taken her home.

It's based very loosely on books 2 and 3.

 

Saw the movie tonight. Won't post a full review. It was very good, with some flaws. That being said

Spoiler

I literally squeed - audibly - when Kristin and Idina came on screen and then again when they interacted directly with their heirs. OMG I am so glad I wasn't spoiled on that at all.

 

Yeah that's why I kept on my Spoiler app handy before I saw the movie. I completely ignored any talk about it for the past week or so until I saw it.

 

that was pretty awesome. And I was very pleasantly surprised by Ariana Grande. She really made Glinda larger than life and totally ridiculous. But funny and charming and heartfelt.

 

Took my son to Moana 2 today. When we left the lobby was packed with people waiting for Wicked including a young girl in her pink Glinda gown and crown. It made me want to see it again. Even my son said "maybe I want to see Wicked". If the sing along version is here I will go again. Otherwise I think I will wait and watch 100 times on Peacock in the spring.