What are the differences between “Wicked” the book and “Wicked” the Broadway musical?
The play begins after Elphaba is killed by Dorothy, and Glinda talks about how it couldn’t have been easy for Elphaba… then it goes into a flashback of when Elphaba was born. Then Glinda talks about how they used to know each other in school, then the rest of the story takes place. The story itself is VERY different though from book to musical. There is not any focus on Munchkins or politics… it’s all about Elphaba going to school, wanting to fit in and wanting to succeed despite everyone judging her by her skin color. There is some use of the Animals being unable to speak, but it’s mainly used as a device to motivate Elphaba’s actions. Elphie’s sister is just in a wheelchair. It’d obviously be very difficult to make it look like someone had no arms, so in the play, she just can’t walk. The musical is a lot more fun and “cheery” than the book. The book is rather dark, cynical, political and somewhat sexual. The show is more about the two characters Elphie and Glinda, how they grow
