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- The Wicked Movie Only Tells Half the Story
- Wicked’s Movie Spends More Time in Oz
- Wicked Takes a Slightly Different Tune
In the world of Oz, the movie adaptation brings fresh perspectives and expands upon them in delightful ways. The extended run-time allows for deeper character development, humor, and more backstory for new characters to shine, like Bowen Yang’s Pfannee, Nessarina Menzel’s pet, Kermit. These animals’s dialogue adds a layer of depth that wouldn’t have room in the stage musical by Daniels, is given more lines, making his character more nuanced and poignant.
Converting a stage musical production into a film isn’t always straightforward. Unlike theater where special effects and timing are restricted by real-time performance, movies can leverage editing and reshoots to shape the final product according to the director’s vision. While both formats have their merits, the differences in medium can result in a movie adaptation of a musical like Wicked deviating from its original stage version.
For quite some time, it’s been high time that the popular Broadway show Wicked, which has captivated audiences for over two decades, received a movie musical adaptation. The musical offers a fresh take on the classic tale of The Wizard of Oz and explores themes related to acceptance. Director Jon M. Chu, along with stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jeff Goldblum, have poured their hearts into creating a film that will delight fans while still maintaining differences from the stage musical.
The Wicked Movie Only Tells Half the Story
In the movie, “Wicked” does not encompass the entirety of the well-known Broadway production; instead, it focuses on a segment of it. Both the cast and crew have openly discussed the musical’s two distinct parts. However, the film’s advertising has been less transparent about this division, featuring several scenes involving Dorothy and her companions, who don’t become significant until the second half of the stage musical.
On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Director Jon M. Chu shared that it was evident the tale of Wicked couldn’t be confined within a single movie without causing significant harm to its essence.
Indeed, since the initial film’s duration exceeds that of the stage musical (without considering the 15-minute intermission), the movie adaptation of Wicked offers numerous additional instances for character development within the already captivating narrative. As expressed by Jon M. Chu in his statement, “with extra room to maneuver, we can unfold the tale of Wicked authentically, adding richness and unexpected twists to the adventures of these cherished characters.
In the initial section of “Wicked,” the narrative unfolds until it pauses for an intermission, culminating with the well-known song “Defying Gravity.” This production tells the story of how Elphaba earned her infamous title as the Wicked Witch of the West, providing insights into the background events leading up to those in The Wizard of Oz. The second half of the story is expected to resume on November 21, 2025.
Wicked’s Movie Spends More Time in Oz
As a movie buff, I must say that the prolonged running time of the “Wicked” movie for over two hours in its initial part is a delightful treat. This extended duration allows us, the audience, to immerse ourselves more deeply into the lives of the characters and the enchanting realm of Oz. The film offers fresh encounters and previously unseen characters that breathe new life into the storyline.
Most alterations are subtle and may go unnoticed by casual spectators since they don’t significantly affect the narrative. For a brief moment at the beginning, Glinda’s parents can be spotted dropping her off at Shiz University, although they are absent from the musical. Furthermore, a new character, Professor Miss Coddle, is introduced to the university and portrayed by Keala Settle (known for her role in The Greatest Showman)). Despite only appearing in scenes that were already part of the musical, Professor Miss Coddle’s presence as an administrator adds a layer of tension to those particular scenes.
The film offers conversations among animals in greater depth, as seen with Prince Fiyero’s talking horse and young Elphaba’s nursing bear. In the song “Something Bad,” Dr. Dillamond, voiced by Peter Dinklage, sings not only to Elphaba but also to a group of concerned animals, unlike his musical portrayal.
Some unique items are also featured in the movie, and there are moments where Elphaba and Glinda collaborate with the Wizard on choosing a color for his novelty road pavement – they settle on yellow. In another part, Elphaba and Glinda board a hot air balloon similar to the one used by the Wizard to reach Oz. These events don’t occur in the stage production but serve as amusing nods to The Wizard of Oz.
Wicked Takes a Slightly Different Tune
The movie adaptation of “Wicked” shares a similar soundtrack with the musical’s first half, starting off with “No One Mourns the Wicked” and concluding with “Defying Gravity.” Nevertheless, certain songs in the middle have been slightly reworked compared to their original versions.
In the movie adaptation of the musical, many of the songs have been expanded significantly compared to their original versions. Since the film is just one part of the musical, there’s more room for the songs, and as a result, some parts are slowed down and interspersed with dialogue. This is particularly evident in “Dancing Through Life,” which has been extended from five minutes in the musical to ten minutes in the movie. Similarly, “Defying Gravity” lasts a minute longer than it does in the original production.
In the song “One Short Day,” you’ll find the most changes compared to its original version. Much like “Dancing Through Life,” it’s twice as long due to an extended segment called Wizmania within the song. This expanded section provides extra backstory about The Wizard of Oz and creates a mini-musical experience right in the scene. Musical theater enthusiasts, especially fans of the original cast featuring Idina Menzel (Elphaba) and Kristin Chenoweth (Glinda), will appreciate their appearances as Wizmania singers.
The majority of alterations made to the film version of Wicked don’t significantly impact the musical’s essence. The tunes remain among the most captivating elements of the narrative, and interestingly, several adjustments provide a longer exploration of the Land of Oz for viewers. It’s hoped that fans will delight in spotting all the variations between the stage production and the film while watching it. Wicked is now showing in cinemas.
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2024-11-23 01:32