Comments on: Something Wicked This Way Comes http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/09/something-wicked-this-way-comes.html Reading Pop Culture Like an English Teacher Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:35:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jennifer http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/09/something-wicked-this-way-comes.html/comment-page-1#comment-343 Jennifer Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:08:25 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/09/something-wicked-this-way-comes.html#comment-343 I found a video of Helene Yorke (for whom Michelle London was the understudy) performing "Popular." It's actually very similar to the version we saw. Michelle London got a little more out-of-breath performing it, though, which I thought made it even better :)<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4WedB0vsB0 I found a video of Helene Yorke (for whom Michelle London was the understudy) performing "Popular." It's actually very similar to the version we saw. Michelle London got a little more out-of-breath performing it, though, which I thought made it even better :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4WedB0vsB0

]]> By: Drewbie http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/09/something-wicked-this-way-comes.html/comment-page-1#comment-340 Drewbie Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:52:56 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/09/something-wicked-this-way-comes.html#comment-340 Wicked is definitely up there, but Spamalot and The Producers were pretty good too. <br /><br />Also, Lion Among Men takes place several years after Son of a Witch and doesn't seem to even touch on Llyr, even though the end of the book leaves a lot of questions. I would still say that SOAW is a worthwhile read, and really, a pretty quick read as well. Wicked is definitely up there, but Spamalot and The Producers were pretty good too.

Also, Lion Among Men takes place several years after Son of a Witch and doesn't seem to even touch on Llyr, even though the end of the book leaves a lot of questions. I would still say that SOAW is a worthwhile read, and really, a pretty quick read as well.

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/09/something-wicked-this-way-comes.html/comment-page-1#comment-337 Jennifer Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:59:28 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/09/something-wicked-this-way-comes.html#comment-337 I didn't know if I was going to like our Glinda at first, because I had Kristen Chenoweth stuck in my head, but I was completely sold by her version of "Popular." She really brought out the deranged prom queen aspect of her character, and oddly enough, that made her more lovable. I think it was because you realized she wasn't the perfect girly specimen, but was actually goofy, silly, and not nearly as prim as she had seemed.<br /><br />I also really loved our Elphie (Marcie Dodd). She played the sarcasm dry instead of harsh. This affected the character in two ways to me: it made her seem a little more vulnerable, while also making her seem so much more calm, collected, and (no pun intended) comfortable in her own skin. <br /><br />Wicked was far and away the best live entertainment I've ever experienced. I'm glad we got to share it :) I didn't know if I was going to like our Glinda at first, because I had Kristen Chenoweth stuck in my head, but I was completely sold by her version of "Popular." She really brought out the deranged prom queen aspect of her character, and oddly enough, that made her more lovable. I think it was because you realized she wasn't the perfect girly specimen, but was actually goofy, silly, and not nearly as prim as she had seemed.

I also really loved our Elphie (Marcie Dodd). She played the sarcasm dry instead of harsh. This affected the character in two ways to me: it made her seem a little more vulnerable, while also making her seem so much more calm, collected, and (no pun intended) comfortable in her own skin.

Wicked was far and away the best live entertainment I've ever experienced. I'm glad we got to share it :)

]]> By: Beej http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/09/something-wicked-this-way-comes.html/comment-page-1#comment-335 Beej Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:00:49 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/09/something-wicked-this-way-comes.html#comment-335 Robert: Not sure if I'd say I'm Broadway savvy since I've never seen an actual show in NY. I do what I can to see traveling tours, though. I feel as though I've missed a show or two, actually, that I've seen. I'll have to run back through my playbills to see. <br /><br />I do look forward to seeing Kristin Chenoweth on Glee. I've seen none of the rest of the series, but she might just be what it takes to make me Hulu it.<br /><br />@Andrew: Llyr really does that well as a protagonist? I don't think anyone else has ever told me that not reading SoaW would be a disservice, but if it's that good, I just might have to audiobook it.<br /><br />@Drewbie: I don't know if I'd say he didn't wrap it up since he continues to write in the world. He might get to the point where he can finally conclude his narrative.<br /><br />But I agree. As much as I loved the musical, there is no way to reconcile the adaptive maneuvers used to make the musical tie together more pefectly than the novel. Robert: Not sure if I'd say I'm Broadway savvy since I've never seen an actual show in NY. I do what I can to see traveling tours, though. I feel as though I've missed a show or two, actually, that I've seen. I'll have to run back through my playbills to see.

I do look forward to seeing Kristin Chenoweth on Glee. I've seen none of the rest of the series, but she might just be what it takes to make me Hulu it.

@Andrew: Llyr really does that well as a protagonist? I don't think anyone else has ever told me that not reading SoaW would be a disservice, but if it's that good, I just might have to audiobook it.

@Drewbie: I don't know if I'd say he didn't wrap it up since he continues to write in the world. He might get to the point where he can finally conclude his narrative.

But I agree. As much as I loved the musical, there is no way to reconcile the adaptive maneuvers used to make the musical tie together more pefectly than the novel.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/09/something-wicked-this-way-comes.html/comment-page-1#comment-333 Andrew Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:51:11 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/09/something-wicked-this-way-comes.html#comment-333 Llyr is an odd character. He's really easy to hate, and he's an object of pity.... especially near the start of the book. <br /><br />But he grows, and learns about himself, and ends up - in his own sadly pathetic way - being a hero. <br /><br />If you liked Wicked you'd be doing yourself a disservice to avoid Son of a Witch. Llyr is an odd character. He's really easy to hate, and he's an object of pity…. especially near the start of the book.

But he grows, and learns about himself, and ends up – in his own sadly pathetic way – being a hero.

If you liked Wicked you'd be doing yourself a disservice to avoid Son of a Witch.

]]> By: Robert Kuang http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/09/something-wicked-this-way-comes.html/comment-page-1#comment-332 Robert Kuang Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:14:10 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/09/something-wicked-this-way-comes.html#comment-332 Didn't know you are so Broadway-savvy :)<br /><br />Sounds like I would enjoy it. How did they sing "Defying Gravity." That is a really tough song to sing and also my favorite piece in the musical next to "Popular." Idina Menzel does it well.<br /><br />They're going to cover this on "Glee," by the way. Also, Kristin Chenoweth will be guest-starring in two weeks. You should take a glance :) Didn't know you are so Broadway-savvy :)

Sounds like I would enjoy it. How did they sing "Defying Gravity." That is a really tough song to sing and also my favorite piece in the musical next to "Popular." Idina Menzel does it well.

They're going to cover this on "Glee," by the way. Also, Kristin Chenoweth will be guest-starring in two weeks. You should take a glance :)

]]> By: Drewbie http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/09/something-wicked-this-way-comes.html/comment-page-1#comment-331 Drewbie Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:52:35 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/09/something-wicked-this-way-comes.html#comment-331 Oddly enough, I just got a Kindle last week and the first book I put on it was "A Lion Among Men" having just finished "Son of a Witch" a month or so ago. I read Wicked a couple years back and followed that up with seeing the play when it came to town in '07. The soundtrack and my love for Kristin Chenoweth motivated me to read the book. I did enjoy both books that I've completed and can't say I'm far enough into Lion to have a read on it yet. The frustrating part so far is that the stories leave on cliffhangers that are unresolved in subsequent books. I do wish he'd commit to the land of Oz and just run with it, but apparently after one more book comes out he says he'll be done with Oz from then on. He claims he's staying away from Scarecrow and Tinman since the musical gave them both back stories that he won't tamper with (though the scarecrow's back story from the musical is obviously flawed and doesn't work in the book universe). <br /><br />Anyway, to sum up, the books were good, the musical was great, and it makes me sad when authors don't wrap up their stories. Oddly enough, I just got a Kindle last week and the first book I put on it was "A Lion Among Men" having just finished "Son of a Witch" a month or so ago. I read Wicked a couple years back and followed that up with seeing the play when it came to town in '07. The soundtrack and my love for Kristin Chenoweth motivated me to read the book. I did enjoy both books that I've completed and can't say I'm far enough into Lion to have a read on it yet. The frustrating part so far is that the stories leave on cliffhangers that are unresolved in subsequent books. I do wish he'd commit to the land of Oz and just run with it, but apparently after one more book comes out he says he'll be done with Oz from then on. He claims he's staying away from Scarecrow and Tinman since the musical gave them both back stories that he won't tamper with (though the scarecrow's back story from the musical is obviously flawed and doesn't work in the book universe).

Anyway, to sum up, the books were good, the musical was great, and it makes me sad when authors don't wrap up their stories.

]]> By: Beej http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/09/something-wicked-this-way-comes.html/comment-page-1#comment-330 Beej Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:06:09 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/09/something-wicked-this-way-comes.html#comment-330 What did you think about Son of a Witch? I have kind of avoided it because I never thought a novel about Llyr would have been incredibly interesting, but I want to get into A Lion Among Men sometime. It's on my list if I ever get a chance to knock any off the pile. What did you think about Son of a Witch? I have kind of avoided it because I never thought a novel about Llyr would have been incredibly interesting, but I want to get into A Lion Among Men sometime. It's on my list if I ever get a chance to knock any off the pile.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/09/something-wicked-this-way-comes.html/comment-page-1#comment-329 Andrew Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:18:36 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/09/something-wicked-this-way-comes.html#comment-329 "<i>It wasn’t as fantastic and mindblowing as I had been led to believe, but it was more than enjoyable.</i>"<br /><br />50 lashes! <br /><br />I adored Wicked - I was sucked right into the world and just could not get enough of the novel. The characters were what really made it such an amazing piece of fiction, they were deep, lovingly details, and painfully human.<br /><br />My favorite section by far is Elphie's romance with Fiyero - that sub-plot was extremely poignant and has stuck with me.<br /><br />I read the sequel (Son of a Witch) a few months ago, and the next book on my pile is the third book "A Lion Among Men". "It wasn’t as fantastic and mindblowing as I had been led to believe, but it was more than enjoyable."

50 lashes!

I adored Wicked – I was sucked right into the world and just could not get enough of the novel. The characters were what really made it such an amazing piece of fiction, they were deep, lovingly details, and painfully human.

My favorite section by far is Elphie's romance with Fiyero – that sub-plot was extremely poignant and has stuck with me.

I read the sequel (Son of a Witch) a few months ago, and the next book on my pile is the third book "A Lion Among Men".

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