Wicked, as many of us know, is a very nice and easily digestible show. However, as many of us also know, nice is different than good. However, seeing as how Wicked is my biggest guilty pleasure, I would really like to see it salvaged. I would like this to start with it leaving Broadway for at least 10 years. When the revival comes, I want someone to give it new life, maybe add some songs, and, God willing, fix the lyrics. Maybe something a little drastic. John Doyle does Wicked? Could happen.

How long has it been running in NY? Here in London, it's still a big tourist draw, although the style of music is a bit scrambly-screamy for many Brits. I quite agree, a lot of the music is eminently forgettable, even though it's delivered at high volume and with the requisite belting, which I personally find extremely distasteful. I'm comparing it to the other big West End hit of the moment, 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert', which features real pop songs (therefore with catchy beat, rhyming lyrics, and defined tunes) sung by three wonderful Divas as well as the chaps.

'Wicked' seems to be doing well in spite of its music - the costumes are gorgeous in every tiny detail, the sumptuous set works well in the Apollo Victoria, and they're about to get a new Glinda, who can certainly sing.

Perhaps a scaled-down production may be taken on tour in the USA?

The lyrics are typical of Stephen Schwartz, which is not necessarily a bad thing. If you're going to re-tool a single aspect of Wicked, it should be the libretto.

There are two productions currently touring the United States, one of which started in 2005 and the other 2009.

I dont know if youre serious or joking? There might be one or two details that could have been better but overall (both score and book) its the second best show ever, and a very successfull one to, so why complain?

And about the details, well I would change As Long As Youre Mine to a purpouse written song and maybe do something else with Dancing Throug Life, even thou both songs gains a lot after seeing them live.

I have no words for this.

Yes! The book is so terrible. Quite frankly, I'd be happy with just removing the made-up words.

I take it youre not a wicked fan then?

As stated above, the score is a guilty pleasure of mine. However, as a show it is complete garbage. There are next to no redeeming qualities in the score, except for Popular and Wonderful perhaps, and the libretto is even more of a wreck.

I have to disagree strongly with OP and SweeneyTad, even though I am by no means a Wicked fan, and though there are very real flaws with its plot construction, characterization, etc. I think the score is pretty above average. It's catchy, and I think there are a lot of subtleties in it that you're missing, for example all the deconstruction of themes from The Wizard Of Oz.

'No Good Deed' is a fantastic song that's extremely character-driven and complex in terms of construction. It's a little story unto itself.

As for whether Wicked is 'salvageable', I think that in terms of making money it's not in need of salvation; it's been running for eight years in New York and shows no sign of flagging in terms of box-office receipts. The score is original, which in terms of creativity already puts it over Priscilla Queen of the Desert, which admittedly I never got the point of and never will.

Also, last I checked, the lyrics in Wicked rhyme.

Since when is catchiness related to quality? Sondheim is one of the best (in my personal opinion, the best) composer in the history of musical theatre, and many of his pieces are not catchy at all. If I want something catchy I'll turn on the radio and listen to whatever pop drivel is playing.

Am I the only one who don't think Wicked is catchy? I think the music is very tedious soft rock, like slow and boring gospel music.

I think it's weird that of what I've heard (little: Pippin, Wicked and Prince of Egypt), Schwartz writes awful music, but what I've heard of his lyrics, both set to his own music and to others music, he writes lyrics better (I adore The Hunchback of Notre Dame, despite a few flaws).