Brief Summary
This episode of "Show Gaze Movie Musical" features a discussion about the movie adaptation of "Wicked: Part One." The hosts share their personal histories with the musical, discuss the casting choices, and analyze the film's strengths and weaknesses. They also touch on the controversy surrounding the affair between Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater during filming.
- Personal histories with "Wicked" and the stage musical.
- Analysis of casting choices and performances, particularly Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
- Discussion of the film's length, pacing, and adaptation choices.
- Examination of the themes of good vs. evil, perception, and power.
Intro
The hosts introduce the episode, mentioning that they will be discussing movie musicals and specifically focusing on the new "Wicked" film. They joke about the definition of a "cin musical" and how many people have asked them to weigh in on whether certain films qualify.
RJ's Web Series and Podcast Schedule
RJ shares that he's working on a web series for The Ampliverse about a YouTube mukbanger who falls in love with a cook at a Filipino restaurant. The hosts then announce that they will be taking a break from the podcast after this episode until "Wicked: Part Two" is released. They explain that they need a rest and that the break will give listeners a chance to catch up on old episodes.
Mailbag: Listener Emails
The hosts read two emails from listeners. The first is from Nicole, who asks them to pick between "West Side Story" (1961) and "Beauty and the Beast" (2017) for her birthday episode. The second is from Lucas, who provides listener nominee picks for various categories, including best contemporary CNO, best classic, worst contemporary, worst classic, best director, best performance, best supporting, teaching award, Susan Sag award, Catholicism award, dream sequence awards, lipstick performance, and best dubbed performance. Lucas also asks for their thoughts on the upcoming "Guys and Dolls" remake and suggests they cover "The Prom" on Netflix.
Ryan Murphy and Wicked
The hosts discuss Ryan Murphy, noting that he was considered to direct the "Wicked" film. They express relief that he wasn't chosen, as his style might have been too campy for the material.
Adam Summarizes Wicked: Part One
Adam provides a detailed summary of "Wicked: Part One," starting with the celebration of the Wicked Witch of the West's death in Munchkinland and Glinda being asked about her friendship with Elphaba. The summary covers their time as roommates at Shiz University, Elphaba's magical abilities and green skin, her sister Nessarose's disability, Fiero's arrival, the deteriorating situation for talking animals in Oz, Elphaba's meeting with the Wizard, her discovery of his evil deeds, and her denouncement of him, leading to her being declared the Wicked Witch of the West.
Personal Connections to Wicked
Adam shares his long history with "Wicked," from listening to the original cast album to reading the book at a young age and seeing the show in Chicago. Molly recounts seeing the show with her mother, who fell asleep during it, and RJ discusses his late discovery of musical theater and his initial attraction to the popular songs from "Wicked."
History of Wicked: From Book to Stage to Screen
Molly discusses the history of "Wicked," starting with Gregory Maguire's book "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West," which was inspired by the question of whether evil is innate or developed. She explains how Maguire used the Wicked Witch of the West as a stock villain to explore themes of good and evil. The hosts then discuss the musical adaptation, its premiere in 2003, and its success on Broadway and internationally. They also touch on the upset when "Avenue Q" beat "Wicked" for the Tony Award for Best Musical. Finally, they discuss the film adaptation, its director, cast, and production details.
Production and Casting Controversies
The hosts discuss the long road to getting the "Wicked" movie made, including delays due to COVID-19 and the actors' strike. They also touch on the casting process and the actors who were considered for the roles of Glinda, Fiero, and Elphaba. The conversation then turns to the affair between Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater during filming, and how it affected the movie's reception. They also mention Cynthia Erivo's past relationship with Lena Waithe.
Performances and Adaptation Choices
The hosts discuss their worries about the film being split into two parts and whether it was a necessary decision. They analyze the performances of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, praising their portrayals of Elphaba and Glinda, respectively. They also discuss the film's adaptation choices, such as the addition of new scenes and the visualization of the animals.
Analyzing Specific Scenes and Songs
The hosts delve into specific scenes and songs from the movie, starting with "No One Mourns the Wicked" and the way it sets up Glinda's character. They discuss the flashback to Elphaba's childhood and the theme of olfactory ethics. They also touch on the casting of Peter Dinklage as the voice of Dr. Dillamond and the representation of little people in the film. The conversation then turns to Fiero's character and his role in the story, as well as the choreography of the film.
Deeper Dive into Performances and Themes
The hosts continue their analysis of the performances, focusing on Cynthia Erivo's portrayal of Elphaba and her rendition of "I'm Not That Girl." They discuss the Wizard and I and the dramatic irony of the song. They also touch on the flying monkeys scene and its impact.
Reviews and MVPs
The hosts read excerpts from various reviews of the "Wicked" movie, including positive and negative takes. They then choose their MVPs for the film: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jon M. Chu.
Casting Chapel Roan and Closing Remarks
The hosts engage in a fun hypothetical scenario of casting Chapel Roan in a movie musical. They then wrap up the episode, thanking listeners for tuning in and encouraging them to send in their movie suggestions. They announce that they will be taking a break and will return in the spring.
