rec.arts.theatre.musicals

On Feb 28, 2:59=A0pm, Robert Bouton wrote:
> problem.) =A0Second, given that Wicked's audience isn't particularly old
> and/or well-read, a substantial proportion has never heard the word,
> verdigris. =A0So, rather than enjoying the would-be clever rhyme,
> they're nudging their dates, whispering "Huh?"

I don't know that I buy this as a valid argument. Are writers now
supposed to write down to their audiences? First, for Wicked in
particular, there's a tweaking of language happening to reflect the
other-worldliness of Oz. But also, lots of songs for kids'
entertainment have elevated vocabulary - I can rattle off a list of
words and phrases I know thanks to Howard Ashman's Disney work. I
think there's something to be said when the vocabulary is too elevated
for the character - I know Sondheim levels that criticism at his own
writing for West Side Story - but Wicked takes place largely on a
college campus, so why shouldn't the characters have decent
vocabularies?