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Original poster

Wicked is the worst musical theatre EVER

296 replies

imsofancy · 23/12/2023 23:30

Just returned for taking my 13 and 15 year olds to see Wicked at the Apollo in London.

OMG this is the worst show I have ever seen!

The storyline is weak, the singing is screechy and the songs forgettable. Kids hated it too.

We had great seats which cost me +£300, but sooo wish we had left during the interval. I didn't because I think it is rude to the actors but you couldn't pay me to sit through this again.

We go to the theatre a lot and have seen many musicals and straight drama productions. But I wouldn't recommend this show to my worst enemy.

AIBU Wicked the musical is an abomination?

OP posts:
McSteamyorMcdreamy · 24/12/2023 11:49

I was lucky enough to see it when it first started so I got Idina.

I wasn't particularly keen on going as musicals are not my thing. By the time she sang Defying Gravity I was up on my feet, crying and whooping (think Cistine Chapel lady!) 😂😂

Testina · 24/12/2023 11:54

I saw Wicked this week for the 7th time! It’s a Xmas tradition for us. I love it - interesting back story, very glittery sets and costumes, and even though we all have different tastes, I’m really surprised you didn’t find the songs catchy. My teen plays a lot of music that I hate but still get ear worms from! So I don’t think you have to like it to find them catchy.

I will say though that I didn’t like the voice of the woman playing Elpheba at all. All previous times we’ve seen someone with quite a deep sonorous tone, which contrasts well with Glinda and fits the character. This woman was OK in the lower notes but when she moved to higher notes she sounded the same as Glinda and all the contrast was lost.

Hbh17 · 24/12/2023 11:56

I absolutely hated Wicked too, but it has run for years so lots of people must love it 🤷‍♀️
I guess the good news is that London theatre has something for everyone....

CoronaBorealis · 24/12/2023 12:05

It is funny isn't it. I loved Hamilton, I think one of the best shows I have ever seen. Loved the music, the choreography, the humour. Didn't like Wicked at all - thought it was boring to be honest. Songs forgettable, a bit panto like.

mottytotty · 24/12/2023 12:11

Wolfpa · 24/12/2023 08:13

I think it’s very much down to personal preference. I saw Les Mis once and thought it was awful but if I say that to anyone who goes to musicals often it is like I have punched them in the face from their reactions

Same! When I tell people I fell asleep in Les Mis they look at me with a wounded expression.

I enjoyed Back to the Future much more.

KnittingKnewbie · 24/12/2023 12:13

Billy Elliott is absolutely dire, depressing and way too long
Wicked, well, I fell asleep at the start of the 2nd act but I did quite enjoy it

CoronaBorealis · 24/12/2023 12:14

I didn't like Matilda either, felt myself cringing through most of it. The theatre was packed though, and hot and stuffy and the amount of coughing, I wanted to leave at the interval but couldn't as with a group who were loving it.

Hbh17 · 24/12/2023 12:15

I generally like musicals, but it's just not possible to like all of them.
I disliked:
Wicked - for all the reasons listed
Grease - amateurish, full of hen parties
Miss Saigon - too sentimental
Six - not actually a musical, just a sub-par Spice Girls tribute act
Dear Evan Hansen - great idea, would have made a good play, but the music was just bland and dull.

However, I love most others, especially Hamilton, Cabaret, Guys and Dolls, Come From Away, anything by Sondheim.

BrringBrringMeow · 24/12/2023 12:16

I loved Heathers The Musical. Just awesome.

Iamblossom · 24/12/2023 12:21

DH and I thought it was rubbish too

Iamblossom · 24/12/2023 12:22

I was so rapt by Billy Elliot I didn't even take my coat off the whole way through, I thought it was amazing

indiras · 24/12/2023 12:25

I think musicals are generally awful anyway and attract a certain crowd, but Wicked is up there with the most awful, and stupid, in my opinion.

HootyMcBooby · 24/12/2023 12:26

Saw Wizard of Oz in Edinburgh with Michael Crawford as the Wizard, thought it was mediocre and spoiled utterly by a drunk couple screeching behind us and using their phones.

"Oliver!" was very good, in Edinburgh, with Brian Conley as Fagin.

Charlie and the Chocolate factory was utterly DIRE, in Edinburgh. Enunciation of narrative and songs was so poor we just could hear or understand what the actors were saying.

Miss Saigon, in Edinburgh, utterly amazing. You could hear every word that was sung and spoken, the songs are all brilliant and the actors and sets were fantastic.

Back to the Future in London - very good.

A Christmas Carol in Edinburgh, with Tommy Steele as Ebeneezer Scrooge, absolutely brilliant.

Seen Rocky Horror many times, usually very good.

Book of Mormon in Edinburgh, hilarious and brilliant songs (and yes I am religious!).

Ozgirl75 · 24/12/2023 12:28

I really think Hamilton is one that is well worth listening to the track and knowing the story before you go. I did this by accident as my son was doing a song from it for a musical theatre class and so we must have listened to the songs dozens of times. Then he read all about it, got a book on it and by accident we knew every little thing! This made it so amazing as the first time I listened to it I had no idea what was going on, who the characters were etc.
Ive seen Hamilton twice now, the first was absolutely amazing, just so moving, uplifting, the most wonderful piece of theatre I’ve seen. Even my husband (who doesn’t like the theatre) said “I could literally watch that again tomorrow”
Second time was still fab, but the cast was different, Eliza was a bit screechy and it was a bit flat. It was still great, but the first one was amazing.

Ozgirl75 · 24/12/2023 12:30

I loved School of Rock too, and the kids adored it. I liked Les Mis when I was younger but I saw it a few years ago and just thought “come on Marius, stop mooning over this girl, you’ve got a feckin Revolution to sort out”

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 24/12/2023 12:32

My teen dd and I see one or two musicals a year and absolutely love them.

The surprise favourite has been Hairspray, that was phenomenal.

Never seen Wicked as I'd heard it was rubbish, i never understood the hype around Cats - other than Memories it's crap.

We're going to see Jesus Christ superstar next year and I'm looking forward to that.

Testina · 24/12/2023 12:32

I’m hearing impaired so Miss huge swathes of lyrics so always read at least a basic plot line before going to a play or musical.
I was so glad I did for Hamilton!
I thought it was amazing, absolutely loved it - but I really think you need to know what’s going on.

indiras · 24/12/2023 12:33

Same! When I tell people I fell asleep in Les Mis they look at me with a wounded expression

And another who thinks it's awful. The book is bad enough (Jesus! Such sentimental maudlin self indulgent nonsense) but that they set it to song is bloody bemusing and horrific.

cardibach · 24/12/2023 12:33

indiras · 24/12/2023 12:25

I think musicals are generally awful anyway and attract a certain crowd, but Wicked is up there with the most awful, and stupid, in my opinion.

What crowd’s that then?
What a silly, snobby post. There are many, many different kinds of musical, serious, funny, romantic…as with any art form some are a bit shit but to dismiss all of them (and anyone who likes any of them) like that is ridiculous.

cardibach · 24/12/2023 12:34

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 24/12/2023 12:32

My teen dd and I see one or two musicals a year and absolutely love them.

The surprise favourite has been Hairspray, that was phenomenal.

Never seen Wicked as I'd heard it was rubbish, i never understood the hype around Cats - other than Memories it's crap.

We're going to see Jesus Christ superstar next year and I'm looking forward to that.

Memories is also crap. Ask any musician about the key change…

Jefinner · 24/12/2023 12:34

Saw it years ago and hated it! Very pleased I'm not the only one!

Babla · 24/12/2023 12:40

What crowd’s that then?
What a silly, snobby post. There are many, many different kinds of musical, serious, funny, romantic…as with any art form some are a bit shit but to dismiss all of them (and anyone who likes any of them) like that is ridiculous.

Agree!

PensionPuzzle · 24/12/2023 12:40

Yanbu, I felt the same. Defying gravity and Popular are great songs but beyond that it did little for me. I'd rather sit through Mousetrap knowing the twist than sit through Wicked again!

MumofSpud · 24/12/2023 12:43

Yes I agree - it's only 2 good songs and great PR and, at the time, I thought it was really old fashioned!
So many better ones out there!

Riverlee · 24/12/2023 12:46

Just seen ‘Back to the Future’. The stage effects are amazing. Really enjoyable.