Jeff, in what will undoubtedly come as a major surprise to you, since you clearly can't conceive of anyone holding a different view, I've read the book three times, seen various stage productions at least nine times, listened to the Broadway (Menzel and Chenoweth) cast recording more than 300 times, AND saw the movie this week. I was entertained, but underwhelmed; it was NOT perfection to my tastes. It was overproduced and overwarbled and, considering its running time, too rushed in a number of instances. My tastes run more to live musicals rather than movie musicals: Les Miserables and Muriel's Wedding come quickly to mind. You continue to wallow in this movie, but don't tell me, or anyone else, how the songs are "supposed" to sound and achieve.

Cynthia's performance of "The Wizard and I" in the trailer was what made me worried about seeing the film. Nothing changed in the movie itself: Idina's rendition is head and shoulders above Cynthia's.

It would have been nice if Cynthia Erivo had approached her role of Elphaba as a black actress playing a green character, rather than as a black actress playing a green character portraying Black America. It would also have been nice if both she and (to a lesser extent) Ariana Grande had elected to not indulge in unnecessary vocal gymnastics.