Monsieur D'Arque
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Character Of The WizardAfter reading the script and studying the written score, I've begun to question the Wizard. He's written to sound somewhat like a hick at many times. Is this his real personality, or is it a put-on, to convince the obviously more powerful and dangerous Elphaba that he's no threat? The number Wonderful was one of the deciding factors for me that the Wizard was slicker than he lets on. First off, the song's vaudevillian sound has a definite Kander and Ebb feel, especially recalling "Chicago." Second, the lyrics to the song, as well as the Wiz-O-Mania sequence all suggest that the Wizard has a massive ego not befitting a country bumpkin.
What is your opinion? Is the Wizard a misguided but genuinely rustic powermonger like G.W.B., or a cunning manipulator pulling Elphaba's strings?
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Luc
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The Wizard. A cunning manipulator? Are you kidding me? He's just a sweet old man pretending to be cool.
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Monsieur D'Arque
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Look at all the things he's done- reformed transport, started a pogrom, created a spy army, and he's a sweet old man? A past as a traveling salesman and seducer of housewives does not lead to being a sweet old man... It's all in the subtexts. Wicked, a "Pop Show," ignores the subtexts in favor of broad laughs and Belty Belt Belt. If the performers genuinely looked at the possible layers the characters COULD have, it wouldn't be such a maligned piece. It's not written as deep as it could have been, but the potential is buried in there.
And remember, he's not just being a sweet old man doing a vaudeville turn- he's performing for his most dangerous enemy, with an ulterior motive of winning her over. Of course he's going to turn up the cuteness.
Wickiebopper For Reform.
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what_the_heck013
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I think his hick-ness comes from the whole Professor Marvel/Kansas thing. But yes, of course, he is a manipulator. He and Morrible used Elphaba to make the monkeys fly. I do agree that Wicked has sooo much potential. I actually hope that in 20-30 years there will be a totally rewritten revival.
Oh, and the Kander and Ebb feel (if your listening to the OBCR) is because it's Joel Grey... Kander and Ebb's (how do I describe it?) ...originator? He was the first Amos in Chicago and the first Emcee. But I think you knew that. Yes, "Wonderful" is my favorite song in the show although it is widely criticized.
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Baker
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This is why I like Sean McCourt as the Wizard. He plays into the undertones, he factors in the manipulating layer of the Wizard when he does the show.
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Salome
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| what_the_heck013 wrote: | I think his hick-ness comes from the whole Professor Marvel/Kansas thing. But yes, of course, he is a manipulator. He and Morrible used Elphaba to make the monkeys fly. I do agree that Wicked has sooo much potential. I actually hope that in 20-30 years there will be a totally rewritten revival.
Oh, and the Kander and Ebb feel (if your listening to the OBCR) is because it's Joel Grey... Kander and Ebb's (how do I describe it?) ...originator? He was the first Amos in Chicago and the first Emcee. But I think you knew that. Yes, "Wonderful" is my favorite song in the show although it is widely criticized. |
Joel Grey was not the first Amos in Chicago. Barney Martin was.
Grey never played the role until the revival.
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what_the_heck013
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| Salome wrote: | Joel Grey was not the first Amos in Chicago. Barney Martin was.
Grey never played the role until the revival. |
Hm... really? Didn't know that. He was the first Emcee, though, right?
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DramaRobin2002
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I think the Wizard is a little bit of both. He's not a "slickster" ala Billy Flynn per say, but he is a salesman. He knows how to sell ideas to a crowd to manipulate them into believing what he wants them to believe. But he can also put on that front of country hick because before Oz he was one.
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qpidsangel
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Wizard= Hick
Morrible=slickster
hopefully that equation is clear enough for you.
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Monsieur D'Arque
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I always saw it the other way... the Wizard is the clever one. Morrible, though perhaps more intelligent than the Wizard, is actually more or less a pawn.
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qpidsangel
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I think they're playing each other honestly. But the Wizard is primarily a hick with a slight bit of "slickster."
Morrible I think pushes the Wizard into things because she likes the power as well. The Wizard I think is more or less pushed into this situation. Everyone thinks he so fabulous and so great because he's a "Wizard."
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Monsieur D'Arque
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Hmm... well, i suppose each actor plays it a little differently. Joel Grey was all sweetness, while Sean McCourt was a little more ambiguous.
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ceresava
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| musikal_geek wrote: | | He's just a sweet old man pretending to be cool. |
Kinda like my Grandpa.
But seriously, I don't think he's trying to be evil or anything...
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DramaRobin2002
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| ceresava wrote: | | musikal_geek wrote: | | He's just a sweet old man pretending to be cool. |
Kinda like my Grandpa.
But seriously, I don't think he's trying to be evil or anything... |
You're right, he's not trying to be evil. He is doing what he believes is the right thing to do. It would be a different story if it seemed like he truly believed that what he was doing was wrong.
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Salome
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George Hearn got the balance correct.
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qpidsangel
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Dawn, stop being a wet cat and post your opinion of the Wizard's character.
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Salome
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watch it beth. 
the wizard is a very human villian. he does terrible things but believest hey are for the good of the country (sound familiar?)he also wants to be loved and admirred so he does whatever it takes to be so. including supporting morrible's horrific plans.
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convict24601
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| Salome wrote: | | the wizard is a very human villian. he does terrible things but believest hey are for the good of the country (sound familiar?). |
Yes it does actually 
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Blonde Twin
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| Salome wrote: | | George Hearn got the balance correct. |
Hell yes. (not to mention incredible vocals)
He was also a little forceful then most wizards I think. I dunno its kinda hard to explain, but he kinda had this sort of attitude that seemed like everything about Oz was getting to him and he was a little more careless when it came to trusting people. Again I can't excatly explain it, just my confusing opinion!
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