The Wicked One

I saw Wicked on Saturday and, as promised, the performances were excellent, the costumes were beautiful, the sets were fantastic, and I was extremely impressed with the lighting. I still can't get over the special effect rain. I like Wicked. I do NOT like the fans of Wicked. I watched our usher tell about 15 THOUSAND people to stop taking photographs. I hope that part of the usher's compensation is that she gets to take home one of those flying monkeys as a pet, because she has the worst job in the world. I bet she's been missing the old ladies with the orthopedic shoes who so often frequent the theater this last month. They're less prone to shrieking and texting and wearing shorts and flip flops at the theater.

I think I have a bad attitude about Wicked uberfans for the same reason I have a bad attitude about Twilight (the book) uberfans (and I absolutely recognize that it's an obnoxious, snobby attitude and, particularly as a librarian, I can capably argue the other side). It chafes me a little bit that shows like Wicked gain such huge, obsessive followings, because it seems narrow to me. Wicked is a great theater experience. Go see it if you get the opportunity. But it's not the only great theater experience. Other shows feature talented actors and incredible sets. It's a fun show, but is it really the best. show. ever? The show that's so good that you have to see it every single night it's in your town? Yes, Twilight and The Da Vinci Code and Harry Potter all entertain extremely well, but they aren't the only books. I think, especially for teens, it's exciting to be part of a phenomenon, and I would never want to discourage readers from finding the books that make them love to read or theater-goers from finding the productions that make them love the theater, but other books and other shows deserve attention and praise just as much as the bestsellers and box office hits. Maybe more.