Nobody Mourns the Wicked!

Last night, Nelly and I took in a broadway musical. Namely, Wicked. It was a really fun show. Tickets are rather expensive; it's not something I would spring for every week, but the experience of a broadway show makes it worth the occasional indulgence. Nelly and I had a wonderful time. It's a great show.

Wicked is a lively look at the background to the "Wizard of Oz": the motivations, histories and connections between the people that were in Oz before Dorothy arrived and who remained after she left. The imagination involved in the story, the knowing winks to the audience, and the revisitation (now that we're older) of a hallowed childrens' tale all combine to make a fantastic experience.

However, by comitting to cover such a large scope, the show end up running like a race. No scene gets the full amount of attention it deserves (although the actors will occasionally wrestle a memorable scene out of the grips of the musical's frantic direction). And I constantly felt like they'd skipped over the part I was waiting to see.

The cast is incredibly talented (especially the two leading ladies) and the writing is witty and incredibly enjoyable. The music is modern and fits the mood and bracing speed of the story. But the songs don't stick with you and, except for the lines the chorus sings over and over again, I don't really remember any of them.

While the musical has its short-comings, the strength of the story and the talented cast ensure that Wicked's frantic pace is a dizzying, breathtaking romp.