Theatrical Adaptation

Meditation #4 -- Katie Marchant

I am really interested in the differences between Maguire’s Wicked and the musical version. One character that plays a very different role in the musical compared to the novel is Fiyero. Another character that plays a different role in the musical is Madame Morrible.

In Maguire’s novel Fiyero is introduced in a very different way than how he is introduced in the musical. In the novel the first time we, and the other characters, meet Fiyero he is attacked by a set of bewitched antlers and has to be saved by Crope and Tibbett. (Maguire, 143) While in the musical he is introduced as the beautiful party boy who makes life at Shiz one huge party. (Dancing Through Life, Wicked soundtrack) In the musical Fiyero and Glinda decide that they “…deserve each other” (Dancing Through Life) while in the novel Fiyero slowly becomes part of the group of friends and on one of their outings he tells them how he was married when he was seven but wont live with his wife until they are twenty. (Maguire, 150) In the novel the next time we meet Fiyero is in The Emerald City three years after graduation. This is when Elphaba and Fiyero begin their affair, even though he has a wife and 3 children back home in Vinkus. But in the musical Fiyero becomes attracted to Elphaba pretty soon after they meet and thus begins their romance.

In the book Madame Morrible is the arch-nemesis of Elphaba and Glinda but in the musical she is first seen by Elphaba as someone who truly believes in her and wants to help he achieve her goal. (The Wizard and I, Wicked soundtrack) But in the end Madame Morrible is the same evil woman that she is in the novel.

posted by Katie Marchant @ 3:25 PM