How Much Should Wicked: For Good Expand on the Story of the Play?

[Winter]

On the whole Wicked Part 1 added very little to the story, mostly it was expanded scenes from existing scenes that were already in the play. For example and spoiler warning for anyone who hasn't seen the film yet, we get an extended chase scene in the film after Elphaba learns the Wizard's true nature with Glinda helping her and a bit where we see the Wizard's hot air balloon.

Ultimately the story is expanded upon but in small amounts.

One of my issues with the play is that we skip over several major story beats with the play clearly relying on you knowing the film The Wizard of Oz before hand. For those unaware basically after a certain point in the story, where Elphaba basically goes "Fuck it, they want a Wicked Witch, I'll give them a Wicked Witch."

I remember watching the play for the first time and being so confused because right after "No Good Deed" we cut to "Kill the Witch". At this point the story of TWOZ has taken place, Elphaba has kidnapped Dorothy and everyone is now ready to go and kill the Witch.

This isn't to bad because The Wizard of Oz is one of the most well known films of all time, one I'm pretty sure everyone here knows by heart and was likely watched it as a kid and many times later. We know all the songs, the quotes, it's been analyzed more times then I can count, has been parodied and homage and million times over. It has been talked about for it's themes, LGBT ideas and has pretty much eclipsed the book it's based on.

But still, it feels like the play just kinda rushes to the climax and we never see Dorothy. I only ever read the book once and I did not like it, but one thing I felt was better in the book is that we Read about the events of TWOZ and Elphaba interacts with Dorothy.

Now based on how this is being presented in the film and what little we've seen of part two in the trailers for part 1, it seems Dorothy is going to remain a faceless character but I do hope that Part 2 expands on this part of the play as it remains one of my biggest issues with the story.

It doesn't have to be the same length as the OG Oz film but I do think it needs to give us something.

Thoughts?

[CharlesPhipps]

I mean Dorothy learns no lessons, never learns the Witch is good, and is used to fake her death.

You can't really make a story arc for her that fits into Wicked because she remains ignorant throughout.