A fascinating insight, 10 Nov 2008
Knowing very little about John Barrowman other than his work in Doctor Who and Torchwood, this helped me learn much more about him and his life. I had no idea that he was so cheeky! He really has had an extraordinary life, and he recalls it in such an entertaining fashion. I laughed a lot while reading this. And though it concentrates a LOT on musical theatre - which I know zilch about - it didn't matter. It was entertaining anyway. Too short, though.

John = fantastic fantastic fantastic, 24 Sep 2008
A wonderful personal read, you feel as though you are hearing from the guy himself his life experiences. Very inspirational, he makes you think indirectly about your own life...he makes you question if you can do more to be happy and really go after your dreams. I found that this book was more influential and inspiring than some of those book written solely for that purpose.

All together a lovely fun read just like the man himself.. Thanks for sharing these stories with us John.. xxxx

I loved it, 05 Aug 2008
If you've ever seen any of John Barrowman's interviews or show appearances you know he's a funny guy. He's charming, witty, naughty and doesn't censor himself.
That's the same thing that can be said about this book. John openly talks about his life, and does so in typical Barrowman fashion (watch those footnotes, they're extra hilarious!).
The book is great fun, and as a fan I wasn't disappointed.

Superb..., 30 Jun 2008
As a fan of all John's work, from stage to screen, it was wonderful to finally have all the inside information of who he is and where he has been.
I'm not a big reader of books, but I bought Anything Goes and once i'd picked it up i didn't stop. I'd read the entire thing in only a few hours, and have read it again since.
It is highly entertaining, very funny, hugely touching and wonderfully honest. A brilliant story, wonderfully told.

Self praise is no praise!, 28 Jun 2008
Self confidence is a good attribute to have but endless pages of John telling us how beautiful, talented and good looking he is became a bit tiresome. This wasn't a memoir and I didn't see the humour that others have commented on - the best person to read this book will be John himself as he can then massage his ego even further! Not endearing, very shallow, annoying footnotes on every page and not even well written. Needless to say I gave up before the end.

A fascinating insight, 10 Nov 2008
Knowing very little about John Barrowman other than his work in Doctor Who and Torchwood, this helped me learn much more about him and his life. I had no idea that he was so cheeky! He really has had an extraordinary life, and he recalls it in such an entertaining fashion. I laughed a lot while reading this. And though it concentrates a LOT on musical theatre - which I know zilch about - it didn't matter. It was entertaining anyway. Too short, though.

John = fantastic fantastic fantastic, 24 Sep 2008
A wonderful personal read, you feel as though you are hearing from the guy himself his life experiences. Very inspirational, he makes you think indirectly about your own life...he makes you question if you can do more to be happy and really go after your dreams. I found that this book was more influential and inspiring than some of those book written solely for that purpose.

All together a lovely fun read just like the man himself.. Thanks for sharing these stories with us John.. xxxx

I loved it, 05 Aug 2008
If you've ever seen any of John Barrowman's interviews or show appearances you know he's a funny guy. He's charming, witty, naughty and doesn't censor himself.
That's the same thing that can be said about this book. John openly talks about his life, and does so in typical Barrowman fashion (watch those footnotes, they're extra hilarious!).
The book is great fun, and as a fan I wasn't disappointed.

Superb..., 30 Jun 2008
As a fan of all John's work, from stage to screen, it was wonderful to finally have all the inside information of who he is and where he has been.
I'm not a big reader of books, but I bought Anything Goes and once i'd picked it up i didn't stop. I'd read the entire thing in only a few hours, and have read it again since.
It is highly entertaining, very funny, hugely touching and wonderfully honest. A brilliant story, wonderfully told.

Self praise is no praise!, 28 Jun 2008
Self confidence is a good attribute to have but endless pages of John telling us how beautiful, talented and good looking he is became a bit tiresome. This wasn't a memoir and I didn't see the humour that others have commented on - the best person to read this book will be John himself as he can then massage his ego even further! Not endearing, very shallow, annoying footnotes on every page and not even well written. Needless to say I gave up before the end.

The problem with reductions, 20 Apr 2008
I've learned over the years to become slightly disappointed with piano music, especially those from musicals. There's no way to capture the original orchestrations, get the melody line in all the time and have enough going on below, or even sometimes get the same songs int the songbook. WICKED is probably the closest you'll get to the real thing. Usually the scores are either bare-bones or unplayable. This one is right on the money.

Not quite as it seems, 20 Nov 2007
This is a generally great book of scores from this awesome musical, however its downfall is that some of the scores have been changed from the origional stage pieces you know and love, to adapted pieces for the solo voice, that work around where scripting would have been in the show or where there would have been chorus's or duets. I find that the adapted "Defying Gravity" in particular, does not quite meet expectations for what was a spectacular showstopper on the stage. It is a good buy if you love to sing, play guitar or piano and above all, love "Wicked".

Good Score, 16 Jul 2006
I decided to but the score to Wicked after owning the cd for some time, and im glad i did, its a really nice score to play, although some of the songs are a little complex at times and require some patience, but on the whole a really good book.

Awesome Musical, 06 Oct 2004
Without playing Wicked or hearing it, it is hard to describe how brilliant it is. However, trust me, this is one heck of a score. It is what would happen if Disney did a prequel to The Wizard of Oz.
The story follows two young witches at Shiz University, Elphaba and Glinda who go on to become the Wicked witch and good witch respectively.

It boasts funny, witty, enchanting and clever music that is amazing to play and a pleasure to sing. I cannot wait for the musical to arrive in the West End.

A fascinating insight, 10 Nov 2008
Knowing very little about John Barrowman other than his work in Doctor Who and Torchwood, this helped me learn much more about him and his life. I had no idea that he was so cheeky! He really has had an extraordinary life, and he recalls it in such an entertaining fashion. I laughed a lot while reading this. And though it concentrates a LOT on musical theatre - which I know zilch about - it didn't matter. It was entertaining anyway. Too short, though.

John = fantastic fantastic fantastic, 24 Sep 2008
A wonderful personal read, you feel as though you are hearing from the guy himself his life experiences. Very inspirational, he makes you think indirectly about your own life...he makes you question if you can do more to be happy and really go after your dreams. I found that this book was more influential and inspiring than some of those book written solely for that purpose.

All together a lovely fun read just like the man himself.. Thanks for sharing these stories with us John.. xxxx

I loved it, 05 Aug 2008
If you've ever seen any of John Barrowman's interviews or show appearances you know he's a funny guy. He's charming, witty, naughty and doesn't censor himself.
That's the same thing that can be said about this book. John openly talks about his life, and does so in typical Barrowman fashion (watch those footnotes, they're extra hilarious!).
The book is great fun, and as a fan I wasn't disappointed.

Superb..., 30 Jun 2008
As a fan of all John's work, from stage to screen, it was wonderful to finally have all the inside information of who he is and where he has been.
I'm not a big reader of books, but I bought Anything Goes and once i'd picked it up i didn't stop. I'd read the entire thing in only a few hours, and have read it again since.
It is highly entertaining, very funny, hugely touching and wonderfully honest. A brilliant story, wonderfully told.

Self praise is no praise!, 28 Jun 2008
Self confidence is a good attribute to have but endless pages of John telling us how beautiful, talented and good looking he is became a bit tiresome. This wasn't a memoir and I didn't see the humour that others have commented on - the best person to read this book will be John himself as he can then massage his ego even further! Not endearing, very shallow, annoying footnotes on every page and not even well written. Needless to say I gave up before the end.

The problem with reductions, 20 Apr 2008
I've learned over the years to become slightly disappointed with piano music, especially those from musicals. There's no way to capture the original orchestrations, get the melody line in all the time and have enough going on below, or even sometimes get the same songs int the songbook. WICKED is probably the closest you'll get to the real thing. Usually the scores are either bare-bones or unplayable. This one is right on the money.

Not quite as it seems, 20 Nov 2007
This is a generally great book of scores from this awesome musical, however its downfall is that some of the scores have been changed from the origional stage pieces you know and love, to adapted pieces for the solo voice, that work around where scripting would have been in the show or where there would have been chorus's or duets. I find that the adapted "Defying Gravity" in particular, does not quite meet expectations for what was a spectacular showstopper on the stage. It is a good buy if you love to sing, play guitar or piano and above all, love "Wicked".

Good Score, 16 Jul 2006
I decided to but the score to Wicked after owning the cd for some time, and im glad i did, its a really nice score to play, although some of the songs are a little complex at times and require some patience, but on the whole a really good book.

Awesome Musical, 06 Oct 2004
Without playing Wicked or hearing it, it is hard to describe how brilliant it is. However, trust me, this is one heck of a score. It is what would happen if Disney did a prequel to The Wizard of Oz.
The story follows two young witches at Shiz University, Elphaba and Glinda who go on to become the Wicked witch and good witch respectively.

It boasts funny, witty, enchanting and clever music that is amazing to play and a pleasure to sing. I cannot wait for the musical to arrive in the West End.

Beautiful, amazing masterpiece, 09 Jun 2008
I brought this for my 12 year daughter who is Wicked's biggest fan. She loved it, the best present I have brought!! I have seen the show and thought it was amazing so had a look myself...couldn't put it down!!!! Intriging, interesting and beautifully written.... an absolute must to any Wicked fan!!!
In fact I have just ordered another one for my daughter's best friends birthday!!
BUY IT>.................... ITS GREAT !!!!!

Does not contain the script!, 20 Nov 2007
This book is a must for any avid fan of the show "Wicked".

I originally bought this book because I was told by the theatre staff at the apollo, that the script for the show was in it, after I asked if the script was available for the show... this loses the book a star and a the staff lose a star too... this book DOES NOT contain the script to Wicked at all, it merely has small excerpts from various scenes throughout the show, which from my point of view was a major disappointment.

However, with that said, this book is still fantastic. The whole book shows character and is created to look old and antique, the cover is beautifully crafted to feel soft and has a lovely texture and feel to it. Each page has been printed beautifully and is pleasing to the eye.

The contents of the book take you from it's origional book to it's creation as a stage masterpiece. There are sections about every aspect of the show that you could possibly imagine, including costume and set design, to beautiful pictures of origional cast members.

So, if you just want the script this is not for you, but if you are just crazy about the show go ahead and buy it, you won't be disappointed.

Perfect Accompaniment to a Perfect Show, 09 Sep 2007
I'm pretty sure that if you're looking at this book then it's somehow linked to the highly successful musical. Whether you've seen the show and loved it or maybe you know someone else who loves it I can only recommend that this is a great purchase for anyone who really enjoyed "Wicked - The Musical"

I should point out that I'm a pretty typical British guy. I love my football more than I love my music, films, books, etc so you could hardly label me a "theatre-buff". I do still really enjoy my entertainment (usually American-produced) & I catch any show that takes my fancy but it's usually musicals with very-high production-values that I enjoy most. I have to say that "Wicked" simply blew me away - the music, the perfomances, the sets, the story, everything really.

Quickly after seeing the show I read Gregory McQuire's novel which I'd had my eye on for years but it was "The Grimmerie" that really gave me most pleasure to read. I love Behind-the-Scenes books anyway but this book is sheer class. It's inevitably linked to the original Broadway production so in terms of performers the cast won't be the same ones you'll be watching in theatre's now but everything else is directly related to the show you'll have seen.

Probably the most beautifully-produced book I own, it's 200 pages of superbly insightful text & pictures that takes the reader through the entire process of getting Wicked onto the stage, all bound in a wonderful soft-to-the-touch cover.

The whole design of this book oozes class, from the quality of the paper it's made from to the design of each page & I guess if I had any criticism it's that the number of full page photo's & almost-complete words & music of the entire show do take up a lot of the 200 pages but that's just being greedy and wanting more text.

Overall if you enjoyed the show and would either like a great souvenir or would just love to know more about "Wicked" then I can't recommend The Grimmerie enough

"The Grimmerie" is truly a magic of its own, 17 Jul 2007
Being a huge Wicked fan, I asked my mother to buy me The Grimmerie for my birthday, and I was in no way let down.

The presentation of the book in itself is lush, detailed and in a world of it's own. The thickly padded cover is comfortable to the feel, and the textured pattern on the front cover offers a nice contrast with the smoothness of the rest of the front. Even the writing its very self is printed in a way to seem natural looking on the book, and the aged effect appears very pleasing to the eye.

Inside, the book is full of interesting snippets of information, including information on the background and writing of each song in the show, and there are interviews with the cast members over their decisions on how to portray their characters. The pages are once more made to look old and worn, but the information and pictures on them still manage to look beautiful, vibrant and bring to life the musical in a way not seen before in print.

At close to 200 pages, the book may seem rather short as a complete background to the show, but the pages are packed with so much text, information, and imagery to keep even the least enthusiastic fan of wicked happy. The libretto within may not be a complete libretto (excerpts from key scenes such as The Wicked Witch Of The East or the cornfields scene are missing or condensed) but still give a nice flavour of the shows contents.

It is truly an outstanding book, and one which I will recommend to any fan of the musical, however if you have not seen the show then it is probably more advisable to see the show before looking at the book, as spoilers are contained within.

Wicked Insight, 11 Jun 2007
This book is wonderful, not only is it informative but is a lovely book to have. So much thought has been put into this, the presentation is amazing, and with it's beautifully padded cover makes it a joy to hold.
It is fantastic, as a member of a musical theatre company myself to see the full process and what is involved in getting a show from pen to stage.
I bought this from the theatre when we went to see the show (easily up there as one of my favourites), and I would recommend that you do not delve too deeply into this book if you have not seen the show as it contains LOTS of spoilers.

A fascinating insight, 10 Nov 2008
Knowing very little about John Barrowman other than his work in Doctor Who and Torchwood, this helped me learn much more about him and his life. I had no idea that he was so cheeky! He really has had an extraordinary life, and he recalls it in such an entertaining fashion. I laughed a lot while reading this. And though it concentrates a LOT on musical theatre - which I know zilch about - it didn't matter. It was entertaining anyway. Too short, though.

John = fantastic fantastic fantastic, 24 Sep 2008
A wonderful personal read, you feel as though you are hearing from the guy himself his life experiences. Very inspirational, he makes you think indirectly about your own life...he makes you question if you can do more to be happy and really go after your dreams. I found that this book was more influential and inspiring than some of those book written solely for that purpose.

All together a lovely fun read just like the man himself.. Thanks for sharing these stories with us John.. xxxx

I loved it, 05 Aug 2008
If you've ever seen any of John Barrowman's interviews or show appearances you know he's a funny guy. He's charming, witty, naughty and doesn't censor himself.
That's the same thing that can be said about this book. John openly talks about his life, and does so in typical Barrowman fashion (watch those footnotes, they're extra hilarious!).
The book is great fun, and as a fan I wasn't disappointed.

Superb..., 30 Jun 2008
As a fan of all John's work, from stage to screen, it was wonderful to finally have all the inside information of who he is and where he has been.
I'm not a big reader of books, but I bought Anything Goes and once i'd picked it up i didn't stop. I'd read the entire thing in only a few hours, and have read it again since.
It is highly entertaining, very funny, hugely touching and wonderfully honest. A brilliant story, wonderfully told.

Self praise is no praise!, 28 Jun 2008
Self confidence is a good attribute to have but endless pages of John telling us how beautiful, talented and good looking he is became a bit tiresome. This wasn't a memoir and I didn't see the humour that others have commented on - the best person to read this book will be John himself as he can then massage his ego even further! Not endearing, very shallow, annoying footnotes on every page and not even well written. Needless to say I gave up before the end.

The problem with reductions, 20 Apr 2008
I've learned over the years to become slightly disappointed with piano music, especially those from musicals. There's no way to capture the original orchestrations, get the melody line in all the time and have enough going on below, or even sometimes get the same songs int the songbook. WICKED is probably the closest you'll get to the real thing. Usually the scores are either bare-bones or unplayable. This one is right on the money.

Not quite as it seems, 20 Nov 2007
This is a generally great book of scores from this awesome musical, however its downfall is that some of the scores have been changed from the origional stage pieces you know and love, to adapted pieces for the solo voice, that work around where scripting would have been in the show or where there would have been chorus's or duets. I find that the adapted "Defying Gravity" in particular, does not quite meet expectations for what was a spectacular showstopper on the stage. It is a good buy if you love to sing, play guitar or piano and above all, love "Wicked".

Good Score, 16 Jul 2006
I decided to but the score to Wicked after owning the cd for some time, and im glad i did, its a really nice score to play, although some of the songs are a little complex at times and require some patience, but on the whole a really good book.

Awesome Musical, 06 Oct 2004
Without playing Wicked or hearing it, it is hard to describe how brilliant it is. However, trust me, this is one heck of a score. It is what would happen if Disney did a prequel to The Wizard of Oz.
The story follows two young witches at Shiz University, Elphaba and Glinda who go on to become the Wicked witch and good witch respectively.

It boasts funny, witty, enchanting and clever music that is amazing to play and a pleasure to sing. I cannot wait for the musical to arrive in the West End.

Beautiful, amazing masterpiece, 09 Jun 2008
I brought this for my 12 year daughter who is Wicked's biggest fan. She loved it, the best present I have brought!! I have seen the show and thought it was amazing so had a look myself...couldn't put it down!!!! Intriging, interesting and beautifully written.... an absolute must to any Wicked fan!!!
In fact I have just ordered another one for my daughter's best friends birthday!!
BUY IT>.................... ITS GREAT !!!!!

Does not contain the script!, 20 Nov 2007
This book is a must for any avid fan of the show "Wicked".

I originally bought this book because I was told by the theatre staff at the apollo, that the script for the show was in it, after I asked if the script was available for the show... this loses the book a star and a the staff lose a star too... this book DOES NOT contain the script to Wicked at all, it merely has small excerpts from various scenes throughout the show, which from my point of view was a major disappointment.

However, with that said, this book is still fantastic. The whole book shows character and is created to look old and antique, the cover is beautifully crafted to feel soft and has a lovely texture and feel to it. Each page has been printed beautifully and is pleasing to the eye.

The contents of the book take you from it's origional book to it's creation as a stage masterpiece. There are sections about every aspect of the show that you could possibly imagine, including costume and set design, to beautiful pictures of origional cast members.

So, if you just want the script this is not for you, but if you are just crazy about the show go ahead and buy it, you won't be disappointed.

Perfect Accompaniment to a Perfect Show, 09 Sep 2007
I'm pretty sure that if you're looking at this book then it's somehow linked to the highly successful musical. Whether you've seen the show and loved it or maybe you know someone else who loves it I can only recommend that this is a great purchase for anyone who really enjoyed "Wicked - The Musical"

I should point out that I'm a pretty typical British guy. I love my football more than I love my music, films, books, etc so you could hardly label me a "theatre-buff". I do still really enjoy my entertainment (usually American-produced) & I catch any show that takes my fancy but it's usually musicals with very-high production-values that I enjoy most. I have to say that "Wicked" simply blew me away - the music, the perfomances, the sets, the story, everything really.

Quickly after seeing the show I read Gregory McQuire's novel which I'd had my eye on for years but it was "The Grimmerie" that really gave me most pleasure to read. I love Behind-the-Scenes books anyway but this book is sheer class. It's inevitably linked to the original Broadway production so in terms of performers the cast won't be the same ones you'll be watching in theatre's now but everything else is directly related to the show you'll have seen.

Probably the most beautifully-produced book I own, it's 200 pages of superbly insightful text & pictures that takes the reader through the entire process of getting Wicked onto the stage, all bound in a wonderful soft-to-the-touch cover.

The whole design of this book oozes class, from the quality of the paper it's made from to the design of each page & I guess if I had any criticism it's that the number of full page photo's & almost-complete words & music of the entire show do take up a lot of the 200 pages but that's just being greedy and wanting more text.

Overall if you enjoyed the show and would either like a great souvenir or would just love to know more about "Wicked" then I can't recommend The Grimmerie enough

"The Grimmerie" is truly a magic of its own, 17 Jul 2007
Being a huge Wicked fan, I asked my mother to buy me The Grimmerie for my birthday, and I was in no way let down.

The presentation of the book in itself is lush, detailed and in a world of it's own. The thickly padded cover is comfortable to the feel, and the textured pattern on the front cover offers a nice contrast with the smoothness of the rest of the front. Even the writing its very self is printed in a way to seem natural looking on the book, and the aged effect appears very pleasing to the eye.

Inside, the book is full of interesting snippets of information, including information on the background and writing of each song in the show, and there are interviews with the cast members over their decisions on how to portray their characters. The pages are once more made to look old and worn, but the information and pictures on them still manage to look beautiful, vibrant and bring to life the musical in a way not seen before in print.

At close to 200 pages, the book may seem rather short as a complete background to the show, but the pages are packed with so much text, information, and imagery to keep even the least enthusiastic fan of wicked happy. The libretto within may not be a complete libretto (excerpts from key scenes such as The Wicked Witch Of The East or the cornfields scene are missing or condensed) but still give a nice flavour of the shows contents.

It is truly an outstanding book, and one which I will recommend to any fan of the musical, however if you have not seen the show then it is probably more advisable to see the show before looking at the book, as spoilers are contained within.

Wicked Insight, 11 Jun 2007
This book is wonderful, not only is it informative but is a lovely book to have. So much thought has been put into this, the presentation is amazing, and with it's beautifully padded cover makes it a joy to hold.
It is fantastic, as a member of a musical theatre company myself to see the full process and what is involved in getting a show from pen to stage.
I bought this from the theatre when we went to see the show (easily up there as one of my favourites), and I would recommend that you do not delve too deeply into this book if you have not seen the show as it contains LOTS of spoilers.

This book's a treasure, 12 Nov 2008
I was not disappointed at all. This book was even far more than i had expected. A step by step account by this fabulous artist, concerning all the great shows (known and unknown), that she has starred in. A lot of preparation and thought has also gone into the dialogue by the artist herself.
The photographs are stunning too. Old and new fans will love this book, and congratulations on forty years in show business, to such a wonderful artist.
Her voice is just so brilliant, and she is such a warm and sincere person.
W Edwards

A fascinating insight, 10 Nov 2008
Knowing very little about John Barrowman other than his work in Doctor Who and Torchwood, this helped me learn much more about him and his life. I had no idea that he was so cheeky! He really has had an extraordinary life, and he recalls it in such an entertaining fashion. I laughed a lot while reading this. And though it concentrates a LOT on musical theatre - which I know zilch about - it didn't matter. It was entertaining anyway. Too short, though.

John = fantastic fantastic fantastic, 24 Sep 2008
A wonderful personal read, you feel as though you are hearing from the guy himself his life experiences. Very inspirational, he makes you think indirectly about your own life...he makes you question if you can do more to be happy and really go after your dreams. I found that this book was more influential and inspiring than some of those book written solely for that purpose.

All together a lovely fun read just like the man himself.. Thanks for sharing these stories with us John.. xxxx

I loved it, 05 Aug 2008
If you've ever seen any of John Barrowman's interviews or show appearances you know he's a funny guy. He's charming, witty, naughty and doesn't censor himself.
That's the same thing that can be said about this book. John openly talks about his life, and does so in typical Barrowman fashion (watch those footnotes, they're extra hilarious!).
The book is great fun, and as a fan I wasn't disappointed.

Superb..., 30 Jun 2008
As a fan of all John's work, from stage to screen, it was wonderful to finally have all the inside information of who he is and where he has been.
I'm not a big reader of books, but I bought Anything Goes and once i'd picked it up i didn't stop. I'd read the entire thing in only a few hours, and have read it again since.
It is highly entertaining, very funny, hugely touching and wonderfully honest. A brilliant story, wonderfully told.

Self praise is no praise!, 28 Jun 2008
Self confidence is a good attribute to have but endless pages of John telling us how beautiful, talented and good looking he is became a bit tiresome. This wasn't a memoir and I didn't see the humour that others have commented on - the best person to read this book will be John himself as he can then massage his ego even further! Not endearing, very shallow, annoying footnotes on every page and not even well written. Needless to say I gave up before the end.

The problem with reductions, 20 Apr 2008
I've learned over the years to become slightly disappointed with piano music, especially those from musicals. There's no way to capture the original orchestrations, get the melody line in all the time and have enough going on below, or even sometimes get the same songs int the songbook. WICKED is probably the closest you'll get to the real thing. Usually the scores are either bare-bones or unplayable. This one is right on the money.

Not quite as it seems, 20 Nov 2007
This is a generally great book of scores from this awesome musical, however its downfall is that some of the scores have been changed from the origional stage pieces you know and love, to adapted pieces for the solo voice, that work around where scripting would have been in the show or where there would have been chorus's or duets. I find that the adapted "Defying Gravity" in particular, does not quite meet expectations for what was a spectacular showstopper on the stage. It is a good buy if you love to sing, play guitar or piano and above all, love "Wicked".

Good Score, 16 Jul 2006
I decided to but the score to Wicked after owning the cd for some time, and im glad i did, its a really nice score to play, although some of the songs are a little complex at times and require some patience, but on the whole a really good book.

Awesome Musical, 06 Oct 2004
Without playing Wicked or hearing it, it is hard to describe how brilliant it is. However, trust me, this is one heck of a score. It is what would happen if Disney did a prequel to The Wizard of Oz.
The story follows two young witches at Shiz University, Elphaba and Glinda who go on to become the Wicked witch and good witch respectively.

It boasts funny, witty, enchanting and clever music that is amazing to play and a pleasure to sing. I cannot wait for the musical to arrive in the West End.

Beautiful, amazing masterpiece, 09 Jun 2008
I brought this for my 12 year daughter who is Wicked's biggest fan. She loved it, the best present I have brought!! I have seen the show and thought it was amazing so had a look myself...couldn't put it down!!!! Intriging, interesting and beautifully written.... an absolute must to any Wicked fan!!!
In fact I have just ordered another one for my daughter's best friends birthday!!
BUY IT>.................... ITS GREAT !!!!!

Does not contain the script!, 20 Nov 2007
This book is a must for any avid fan of the show "Wicked".

I originally bought this book because I was told by the theatre staff at the apollo, that the script for the show was in it, after I asked if the script was available for the show... this loses the book a star and a the staff lose a star too... this book DOES NOT contain the script to Wicked at all, it merely has small excerpts from various scenes throughout the show, which from my point of view was a major disappointment.

However, with that said, this book is still fantastic. The whole book shows character and is created to look old and antique, the cover is beautifully crafted to feel soft and has a lovely texture and feel to it. Each page has been printed beautifully and is pleasing to the eye.

The contents of the book take you from it's origional book to it's creation as a stage masterpiece. There are sections about every aspect of the show that you could possibly imagine, including costume and set design, to beautiful pictures of origional cast members.

So, if you just want the script this is not for you, but if you are just crazy about the show go ahead and buy it, you won't be disappointed.

Perfect Accompaniment to a Perfect Show, 09 Sep 2007
I'm pretty sure that if you're looking at this book then it's somehow linked to the highly successful musical. Whether you've seen the show and loved it or maybe you know someone else who loves it I can only recommend that this is a great purchase for anyone who really enjoyed "Wicked - The Musical"

I should point out that I'm a pretty typical British guy. I love my football more than I love my music, films, books, etc so you could hardly label me a "theatre-buff". I do still really enjoy my entertainment (usually American-produced) & I catch any show that takes my fancy but it's usually musicals with very-high production-values that I enjoy most. I have to say that "Wicked" simply blew me away - the music, the perfomances, the sets, the story, everything really.

Quickly after seeing the show I read Gregory McQuire's novel which I'd had my eye on for years but it was "The Grimmerie" that really gave me most pleasure to read. I love Behind-the-Scenes books anyway but this book is sheer class. It's inevitably linked to the original Broadway production so in terms of performers the cast won't be the same ones you'll be watching in theatre's now but everything else is directly related to the show you'll have seen.

Probably the most beautifully-produced book I own, it's 200 pages of superbly insightful text & pictures that takes the reader through the entire process of getting Wicked onto the stage, all bound in a wonderful soft-to-the-touch cover.

The whole design of this book oozes class, from the quality of the paper it's made from to the design of each page & I guess if I had any criticism it's that the number of full page photo's & almost-complete words & music of the entire show do take up a lot of the 200 pages but that's just being greedy and wanting more text.

Overall if you enjoyed the show and would either like a great souvenir or would just love to know more about "Wicked" then I can't recommend The Grimmerie enough

"The Grimmerie" is truly a magic of its own, 17 Jul 2007
Being a huge Wicked fan, I asked my mother to buy me The Grimmerie for my birthday, and I was in no way let down.

The presentation of the book in itself is lush, detailed and in a world of it's own. The thickly padded cover is comfortable to the feel, and the textured pattern on the front cover offers a nice contrast with the smoothness of the rest of the front. Even the writing its very self is printed in a way to seem natural looking on the book, and the aged effect appears very pleasing to the eye.

Inside, the book is full of interesting snippets of information, including information on the background and writing of each song in the show, and there are interviews with the cast members over their decisions on how to portray their characters. The pages are once more made to look old and worn, but the information and pictures on them still manage to look beautiful, vibrant and bring to life the musical in a way not seen before in print.

At close to 200 pages, the book may seem rather short as a complete background to the show, but the pages are packed with so much text, information, and imagery to keep even the least enthusiastic fan of wicked happy. The libretto within may not be a complete libretto (excerpts from key scenes such as The Wicked Witch Of The East or the cornfields scene are missing or condensed) but still give a nice flavour of the shows contents.

It is truly an outstanding book, and one which I will recommend to any fan of the musical, however if you have not seen the show then it is probably more advisable to see the show before looking at the book, as spoilers are contained within.

Wicked Insight, 11 Jun 2007
This book is wonderful, not only is it informative but is a lovely book to have. So much thought has been put into this, the presentation is amazing, and with it's beautifully padded cover makes it a joy to hold.
It is fantastic, as a member of a musical theatre company myself to see the full process and what is involved in getting a show from pen to stage.
I bought this from the theatre when we went to see the show (easily up there as one of my favourites), and I would recommend that you do not delve too deeply into this book if you have not seen the show as it contains LOTS of spoilers.

This book's a treasure, 12 Nov 2008
I was not disappointed at all. This book was even far more than i had expected. A step by step account by this fabulous artist, concerning all the great shows (known and unknown), that she has starred in. A lot of preparation and thought has also gone into the dialogue by the artist herself.
The photographs are stunning too. Old and new fans will love this book, and congratulations on forty years in show business, to such a wonderful artist.
Her voice is just so brilliant, and she is such a warm and sincere person.
W Edwards


The Chubster, 11 Jan 2008
A wonderful look at a rough boy turned good, A well written book detailing the life and times of Chubby. You dont have to love blue comics to love this book its full of funny incidents that have made for a varied and colourful life. Well worth a read.

a great wee book!, 09 Dec 2007
many know roy chubby brown,a man that has made a reputation of speaking filth and getting paid for it,not bad work if you can get it,many see his face and make asssumptions,i know many a women,yes you know you are,who wouldnt give him the time of day if it would save his life,they havent really watched much of his stuff,they just believe what they believe about him,this book opens the man and breaks him down and gives him very human qualities,he is more than a 'fat baxxard',he is and was a very normal man,his youth was very tortured indeed.
Growing up in a poor part of middlesbrough to an alcoholic father and a mother who left deserted him,chubbs found crime and his life was in chaos,borstal time followed by jail time,and no way out he found refuge in the drums and played in some small bands of the time,from there he threw in some jokes and built his way up to what he is today.
The book tells the tale well and chubbs holds nothing back,in some instances he is too honest.
The book deals with his cancer battle of recent times then follows on with his life,those who dislike chubby probably wont change their mind with this book which is very adult but also touching,but they may see that he is more than just a foul mouthed beast,those who love the man will love him further,not a read for family bedtime but very entertaining and made me smile alot,good work.

A good read, 26 Nov 2007
This was a really enjoyable book. Gripped you from the start. Roy Chubby Brown has had quite a tough upbringing but was very honest in the book about how he was brought up, the estate he lived on, and how this effects the way he lived his life. Very funny and a really good read. I didnt find it unputdownable, but read it in a few days. Id love to go and see Roy live, never had the nerve though, but I really would recommend this book to anyone. Really enjoyable.

royster vaisey = Roy 'Chubby' Brown, 28 Oct 2007
Wow I have always loved chubby and have nearly finished this book it is brilliant. the best autobiography i have ever ever read. it is comicAL (OBVIOUSLY) and really down to earth... his life and ways off thinking are rather unpridictable....I can belived he played at so many pubs and clubs across the northeast. its alawys stange to hear your hometown name get mentioned....geordies and the mackums fighting...well a suppose nothing much has changed.....brill read

A nice surprise, 17 Oct 2007
I bought this book to read on holiday (I always take an autobiography - easy to pick up and put down), I wasn't expecting a lot but was pleasantly surprised. It gives an insight into the man and not the act, I couldn't put it down and have now passed it to my father-in-law who lives in Hartlepool and will recognise the various areas Roy talks about.

A great read whether you are a fan or not.

A fascinating insight, 10 Nov 2008
Knowing very little about John Barrowman other than his work in Doctor Who and Torchwood, this helped me learn much more about him and his life. I had no idea that he was so cheeky! He really has had an extraordinary life, and he recalls it in such an entertaining fashion. I laughed a lot while reading this. And though it concentrates a LOT on musical theatre - which I know zilch about - it didn't matter. It was entertaining anyway. Too short, though.

John = fantastic fantastic fantastic, 24 Sep 2008
A wonderful personal read, you feel as though you are hearing from the guy himself his life experiences. Very inspirational, he makes you think indirectly about your own life...he makes you question if you can do more to be happy and really go after your dreams. I found that this book was more influential and inspiring than some of those book written solely for that purpose.

All together a lovely fun read just like the man himself.. Thanks for sharing these stories with us John.. xxxx

I loved it, 05 Aug 2008
If you've ever seen any of John Barrowman's interviews or show appearances you know he's a funny guy. He's charming, witty, naughty and doesn't censor himself.
That's the same thing that can be said about this book. John openly talks about his life, and does so in typical Barrowman fashion (watch those footnotes, they're extra hilarious!).
The book is great fun, and as a fan I wasn't disappointed.

Superb..., 30 Jun 2008
As a fan of all John's work, from stage to screen, it was wonderful to finally have all the inside information of who he is and where he has been.
I'm not a big reader of books, but I bought Anything Goes and once i'd picked it up i didn't stop. I'd read the entire thing in only a few hours, and have read it again since.
It is highly entertaining, very funny, hugely touching and wonderfully honest. A brilliant story, wonderfully told.

Self praise is no praise!, 28 Jun 2008
Self confidence is a good attribute to have but endless pages of John telling us how beautiful, talented and good looking he is became a bit tiresome. This wasn't a memoir and I didn't see the humour that others have commented on - the best person to read this book will be John himself as he can then massage his ego even further! Not endearing, very shallow, annoying footnotes on every page and not even well written. Needless to say I gave up before the end.

The problem with reductions, 20 Apr 2008
I've learned over the years to become slightly disappointed with piano music, especially those from musicals. There's no way to capture the original orchestrations, get the melody line in all the time and have enough going on below, or even sometimes get the same songs int the songbook. WICKED is probably the closest you'll get to the real thing. Usually the scores are either bare-bones or unplayable. This one is right on the money.

Not quite as it seems, 20 Nov 2007
This is a generally great book of scores from this awesome musical, however its downfall is that some of the scores have been changed from the origional stage pieces you know and love, to adapted pieces for the solo voice, that work around where scripting would have been in the show or where there would have been chorus's or duets. I find that the adapted "Defying Gravity" in particular, does not quite meet expectations for what was a spectacular showstopper on the stage. It is a good buy if you love to sing, play guitar or piano and above all, love "Wicked".

Good Score, 16 Jul 2006
I decided to but the score to Wicked after owning the cd for some time, and im glad i did, its a really nice score to play, although some of the songs are a little complex at times and require some patience, but on the whole a really good book.

Awesome Musical, 06 Oct 2004
Without playing Wicked or hearing it, it is hard to describe how brilliant it is. However, trust me, this is one heck of a score. It is what would happen if Disney did a prequel to The Wizard of Oz.
The story follows two young witches at Shiz University, Elphaba and Glinda who go on to become the Wicked witch and good witch respectively.

It boasts funny, witty, enchanting and clever music that is amazing to play and a pleasure to sing. I cannot wait for the musical to arrive in the West End.

Beautiful, amazing masterpiece, 09 Jun 2008
I brought this for my 12 year daughter who is Wicked's biggest fan. She loved it, the best present I have brought!! I have seen the show and thought it was amazing so had a look myself...couldn't put it down!!!! Intriging, interesting and beautifully written.... an absolute must to any Wicked fan!!!
In fact I have just ordered another one for my daughter's best friends birthday!!
BUY IT>.................... ITS GREAT !!!!!

Does not contain the script!, 20 Nov 2007
This book is a must for any avid fan of the show "Wicked".

I originally bought this book because I was told by the theatre staff at the apollo, that the script for the show was in it, after I asked if the script was available for the show... this loses the book a star and a the staff lose a star too... this book DOES NOT contain the script to Wicked at all, it merely has small excerpts from various scenes throughout the show, which from my point of view was a major disappointment.

However, with that said, this book is still fantastic. The whole book shows character and is created to look old and antique, the cover is beautifully crafted to feel soft and has a lovely texture and feel to it. Each page has been printed beautifully and is pleasing to the eye.

The contents of the book take you from it's origional book to it's creation as a stage masterpiece. There are sections about every aspect of the show that you could possibly imagine, including costume and set design, to beautiful pictures of origional cast members.

So, if you just want the script this is not for you, but if you are just crazy about the show go ahead and buy it, you won't be disappointed.

Perfect Accompaniment to a Perfect Show, 09 Sep 2007
I'm pretty sure that if you're looking at this book then it's somehow linked to the highly successful musical. Whether you've seen the show and loved it or maybe you know someone else who loves it I can only recommend that this is a great purchase for anyone who really enjoyed "Wicked - The Musical"

I should point out that I'm a pretty typical British guy. I love my football more than I love my music, films, books, etc so you could hardly label me a "theatre-buff". I do still really enjoy my entertainment (usually American-produced) & I catch any show that takes my fancy but it's usually musicals with very-high production-values that I enjoy most. I have to say that "Wicked" simply blew me away - the music, the perfomances, the sets, the story, everything really.

Quickly after seeing the show I read Gregory McQuire's novel which I'd had my eye on for years but it was "The Grimmerie" that really gave me most pleasure to read. I love Behind-the-Scenes books anyway but this book is sheer class. It's inevitably linked to the original Broadway production so in terms of performers the cast won't be the same ones you'll be watching in theatre's now but everything else is directly related to the show you'll have seen.

Probably the most beautifully-produced book I own, it's 200 pages of superbly insightful text & pictures that takes the reader through the entire process of getting Wicked onto the stage, all bound in a wonderful soft-to-the-touch cover.

The whole design of this book oozes class, from the quality of the paper it's made from to the design of each page & I guess if I had any criticism it's that the number of full page photo's & almost-complete words & music of the entire show do take up a lot of the 200 pages but that's just being greedy and wanting more text.

Overall if you enjoyed the show and would either like a great souvenir or would just love to know more about "Wicked" then I can't recommend The Grimmerie enough

"The Grimmerie" is truly a magic of its own, 17 Jul 2007
Being a huge Wicked fan, I asked my mother to buy me The Grimmerie for my birthday, and I was in no way let down.

The presentation of the book in itself is lush, detailed and in a world of it's own. The thickly padded cover is comfortable to the feel, and the textured pattern on the front cover offers a nice contrast with the smoothness of the rest of the front. Even the writing its very self is printed in a way to seem natural looking on the book, and the aged effect appears very pleasing to the eye.

Inside, the book is full of interesting snippets of information, including information on the background and writing of each song in the show, and there are interviews with the cast members over their decisions on how to portray their characters. The pages are once more made to look old and worn, but the information and pictures on them still manage to look beautiful, vibrant and bring to life the musical in a way not seen before in print.

At close to 200 pages, the book may seem rather short as a complete background to the show, but the pages are packed with so much text, information, and imagery to keep even the least enthusiastic fan of wicked happy. The libretto within may not be a complete libretto (excerpts from key scenes such as The Wicked Witch Of The East or the cornfields scene are missing or condensed) but still give a nice flavour of the shows contents.

It is truly an outstanding book, and one which I will recommend to any fan of the musical, however if you have not seen the show then it is probably more advisable to see the show before looking at the book, as spoilers are contained within.

Wicked Insight, 11 Jun 2007
This book is wonderful, not only is it informative but is a lovely book to have. So much thought has been put into this, the presentation is amazing, and with it's beautifully padded cover makes it a joy to hold.
It is fantastic, as a member of a musical theatre company myself to see the full process and what is involved in getting a show from pen to stage.
I bought this from the theatre when we went to see the show (easily up there as one of my favourites), and I would recommend that you do not delve too deeply into this book if you have not seen the show as it contains LOTS of spoilers.

This book's a treasure, 12 Nov 2008
I was not disappointed at all. This book was even far more than i had expected. A step by step account by this fabulous artist, concerning all the great shows (known and unknown), that she has starred in. A lot of preparation and thought has also gone into the dialogue by the artist herself.
The photographs are stunning too. Old and new fans will love this book, and congratulations on forty years in show business, to such a wonderful artist.
Her voice is just so brilliant, and she is such a warm and sincere person.
W Edwards


The Chubster, 11 Jan 2008
A wonderful look at a rough boy turned good, A well written book detailing the life and times of Chubby. You dont have to love blue comics to love this book its full of funny incidents that have made for a varied and colourful life. Well worth a read.

a great wee book!, 09 Dec 2007
many know roy chubby brown,a man that has made a reputation of speaking filth and getting paid for it,not bad work if you can get it,many see his face and make asssumptions,i know many a women,yes you know you are,who wouldnt give him the time of day if it would save his life,they havent really watched much of his stuff,they just believe what they believe about him,this book opens the man and breaks him down and gives him very human qualities,he is more than a 'fat baxxard',he is and was a very normal man,his youth was very tortured indeed.
Growing up in a poor part of middlesbrough to an alcoholic father and a mother who left deserted him,chubbs found crime and his life was in chaos,borstal time followed by jail time,and no way out he found refuge in the drums and played in some small bands of the time,from there he threw in some jokes and built his way up to what he is today.
The book tells the tale well and chubbs holds nothing back,in some instances he is too honest.
The book deals with his cancer battle of recent times then follows on with his life,those who dislike chubby probably wont change their mind with this book which is very adult but also touching,but they may see that he is more than just a foul mouthed beast,those who love the man will love him further,not a read for family bedtime but very entertaining and made me smile alot,good work.

A good read, 26 Nov 2007
This was a really enjoyable book. Gripped you from the start. Roy Chubby Brown has had quite a tough upbringing but was very honest in the book about how he was brought up, the estate he lived on, and how this effects the way he lived his life. Very funny and a really good read. I didnt find it unputdownable, but read it in a few days. Id love to go and see Roy live, never had the nerve though, but I really would recommend this book to anyone. Really enjoyable.

royster vaisey = Roy 'Chubby' Brown, 28 Oct 2007
Wow I have always loved chubby and have nearly finished this book it is brilliant. the best autobiography i have ever ever read. it is comicAL (OBVIOUSLY) and really down to earth... his life and ways off thinking are rather unpridictable....I can belived he played at so many pubs and clubs across the northeast. its alawys stange to hear your hometown name get mentioned....geordies and the mackums fighting...well a suppose nothing much has changed.....brill read

A nice surprise, 17 Oct 2007
I bought this book to read on holiday (I always take an autobiography - easy to pick up and put down), I wasn't expecting a lot but was pleasantly surprised. It gives an insight into the man and not the act, I couldn't put it down and have now passed it to my father-in-law who lives in Hartlepool and will recognise the various areas Roy talks about.

A great read whether you are a fan or not.

Does exactly what it says on the tin, 25 Oct 2008
It's all the songs from Avenue Q, with score for piano and vocals. No more, no less.

A fascinating insight, 10 Nov 2008
Knowing very little about John Barrowman other than his work in Doctor Who and Torchwood, this helped me learn much more about him and his life. I had no idea that he was so cheeky! He really has had an extraordinary life, and he recalls it in such an entertaining fashion. I laughed a lot while reading this. And though it concentrates a LOT on musical theatre - which I know zilch about - it didn't matter. It was entertaining anyway. Too short, though.

John = fantastic fantastic fantastic, 24 Sep 2008
A wonderful personal read, you feel as though you are hearing from the guy himself his life experiences. Very inspirational, he makes you think indirectly about your own life...he makes you question if you can do more to be happy and really go after your dreams. I found that this book was more influential and inspiring than some of those book written solely for that purpose.

All together a lovely fun read just like the man himself.. Thanks for sharing these stories with us John.. xxxx

I loved it, 05 Aug 2008
If you've ever seen any of John Barrowman's interviews or show appearances you know he's a funny guy. He's charming, witty, naughty and doesn't censor himself.
That's the same thing that can be said about this book. John openly talks about his life, and does so in typical Barrowman fashion (watch those footnotes, they're extra hilarious!).
The book is great fun, and as a fan I wasn't disappointed.

Superb..., 30 Jun 2008
As a fan of all John's work, from stage to screen, it was wonderful to finally have all the inside information of who he is and where he has been.
I'm not a big reader of books, but I bought Anything Goes and once i'd picked it up i didn't stop. I'd read the entire thing in only a few hours, and have read it again since.
It is highly entertaining, very funny, hugely touching and wonderfully honest. A brilliant story, wonderfully told.

Self praise is no praise!, 28 Jun 2008
Self confidence is a good attribute to have but endless pages of John telling us how beautiful, talented and good looking he is became a bit tiresome. This wasn't a memoir and I didn't see the humour that others have commented on - the best person to read this book will be John himself as he can then massage his ego even further! Not endearing, very shallow, annoying footnotes on every page and not even well written. Needless to say I gave up before the end.

The problem with reductions, 20 Apr 2008
I've learned over the years to become slightly disappointed with piano music, especially those from musicals. There's no way to capture the original orchestrations, get the melody line in all the time and have enough going on below, or even sometimes get the same songs int the songbook. WICKED is probably the closest you'll get to the real thing. Usually the scores are either bare-bones or unplayable. This one is right on the money.

Not quite as it seems, 20 Nov 2007
This is a generally great book of scores from this awesome musical, however its downfall is that some of the scores have been changed from the origional stage pieces you know and love, to adapted pieces for the solo voice, that work around where scripting would have been in the show or where there would have been chorus's or duets. I find that the adapted "Defying Gravity" in particular, does not quite meet expectations for what was a spectacular showstopper on the stage. It is a good buy if you love to sing, play guitar or piano and above all, love "Wicked".

Good Score, 16 Jul 2006
I decided to but the score to Wicked after owning the cd for some time, and im glad i did, its a really nice score to play, although some of the songs are a little complex at times and require some patience, but on the whole a really good book.

Awesome Musical, 06 Oct 2004
Without playing Wicked or hearing it, it is hard to describe how brilliant it is. However, trust me, this is one heck of a score. It is what would happen if Disney did a prequel to The Wizard of Oz.
The story follows two young witches at Shiz University, Elphaba and Glinda who go on to become the Wicked witch and good witch respectively.

It boasts funny, witty, enchanting and clever music that is amazing to play and a pleasure to sing. I cannot wait for the musical to arrive in the West End.

Beautiful, amazing masterpiece, 09 Jun 2008
I brought this for my 12 year daughter who is Wicked's biggest fan. She loved it, the best present I have brought!! I have seen the show and thought it was amazing so had a look myself...couldn't put it down!!!! Intriging, interesting and beautifully written.... an absolute must to any Wicked fan!!!
In fact I have just ordered another one for my daughter's best friends birthday!!
BUY IT>.................... ITS GREAT !!!!!

Does not contain the script!, 20 Nov 2007
This book is a must for any avid fan of the show "Wicked".

I originally bought this book because I was told by the theatre staff at the apollo, that the script for the show was in it, after I asked if the script was available for the show... this loses the book a star and a the staff lose a star too... this book DOES NOT contain the script to Wicked at all, it merely has small excerpts from various scenes throughout the show, which from my point of view was a major disappointment.

However, with that said, this book is still fantastic. The whole book shows character and is created to look old and antique, the cover is beautifully crafted to feel soft and has a lovely texture and feel to it. Each page has been printed beautifully and is pleasing to the eye.

The contents of the book take you from it's origional book to it's creation as a stage masterpiece. There are sections about every aspect of the show that you could possibly imagine, including costume and set design, to beautiful pictures of origional cast members.

So, if you just want the script this is not for you, but if you are just crazy about the show go ahead and buy it, you won't be disappointed.

Perfect Accompaniment to a Perfect Show, 09 Sep 2007
I'm pretty sure that if you're looking at this book then it's somehow linked to the highly successful musical. Whether you've seen the show and loved it or maybe you know someone else who loves it I can only recommend that this is a great purchase for anyone who really enjoyed "Wicked - The Musical"

I should point out that I'm a pretty typical British guy. I love my football more than I love my music, films, books, etc so you could hardly label me a "theatre-buff". I do still really enjoy my entertainment (usually American-produced) & I catch any show that takes my fancy but it's usually musicals with very-high production-values that I enjoy most. I have to say that "Wicked" simply blew me away - the music, the perfomances, the sets, the story, everything really.

Quickly after seeing the show I read Gregory McQuire's novel which I'd had my eye on for years but it was "The Grimmerie" that really gave me most pleasure to read. I love Behind-the-Scenes books anyway but this book is sheer class. It's inevitably linked to the original Broadway production so in terms of performers the cast won't be the same ones you'll be watching in theatre's now but everything else is directly related to the show you'll have seen.

Probably the most beautifully-produced book I own, it's 200 pages of superbly insightful text & pictures that takes the reader through the entire process of getting Wicked onto the stage, all bound in a wonderful soft-to-the-touch cover.

The whole design of this book oozes class, from the quality of the paper it's made from to the design of each page & I guess if I had any criticism it's that the number of full page photo's & almost-complete words & music of the entire show do take up a lot of the 200 pages but that's just being greedy and wanting more text.

Overall if you enjoyed the show and would either like a great souvenir or would just love to know more about "Wicked" then I can't recommend The Grimmerie enough

"The Grimmerie" is truly a magic of its own, 17 Jul 2007
Being a huge Wicked fan, I asked my mother to buy me The Grimmerie for my birthday, and I was in no way let down.

The presentation of the book in itself is lush, detailed and in a world of it's own. The thickly padded cover is comfortable to the feel, and the textured pattern on the front cover offers a nice contrast with the smoothness of the rest of the front. Even the writing its very self is printed in a way to seem natural looking on the book, and the aged effect appears very pleasing to the eye.

Inside, the book is full of interesting snippets of information, including information on the background and writing of each song in the show, and there are interviews with the cast members over their decisions on how to portray their characters. The pages are once more made to look old and worn, but the information and pictures on them still manage to look beautiful, vibrant and bring to life the musical in a way not seen before in print.

At close to 200 pages, the book may seem rather short as a complete background to the show, but the pages are packed with so much text, information, and imagery to keep even the least enthusiastic fan of wicked happy. The libretto within may not be a complete libretto (excerpts from key scenes such as The Wicked Witch Of The East or the cornfields scene are missing or condensed) but still give a nice flavour of the shows contents.

It is truly an outstanding book, and one which I will recommend to any fan of the musical, however if you have not seen the show then it is probably more advisable to see the show before looking at the book, as spoilers are contained within.

Wicked Insight, 11 Jun 2007
This book is wonderful, not only is it informative but is a lovely book to have. So much thought has been put into this, the presentation is amazing, and with it's beautifully padded cover makes it a joy to hold.
It is fantastic, as a member of a musical theatre company myself to see the full process and what is involved in getting a show from pen to stage.
I bought this from the theatre when we went to see the show (easily up there as one of my favourites), and I would recommend that you do not delve too deeply into this book if you have not seen the show as it contains LOTS of spoilers.

This book's a treasure, 12 Nov 2008
I was not disappointed at all. This book was even far more than i had expected. A step by step account by this fabulous artist, concerning all the great shows (known and unknown), that she has starred in. A lot of preparation and thought has also gone into the dialogue by the artist herself.
The photographs are stunning too. Old and new fans will love this book, and congratulations on forty years in show business, to such a wonderful artist.
Her voice is just so brilliant, and she is such a warm and sincere person.
W Edwards


The Chubster, 11 Jan 2008
A wonderful look at a rough boy turned good, A well written book detailing the life and times of Chubby. You dont have to love blue comics to love this book its full of funny incidents that have made for a varied and colourful life. Well worth a read.

a great wee book!, 09 Dec 2007
many know roy chubby brown,a man that has made a reputation of speaking filth and getting paid for it,not bad work if you can get it,many see his face and make asssumptions,i know many a women,yes you know you are,who wouldnt give him the time of day if it would save his life,they havent really watched much of his stuff,they just believe what they believe about him,this book opens the man and breaks him down and gives him very human qualities,he is more than a 'fat baxxard',he is and was a very normal man,his youth was very tortured indeed.
Growing up in a poor part of middlesbrough to an alcoholic father and a mother who left deserted him,chubbs found crime and his life was in chaos,borstal time followed by jail time,and no way out he found refuge in the drums and played in some small bands of the time,from there he threw in some jokes and built his way up to what he is today.
The book tells the tale well and chubbs holds nothing back,in some instances he is too honest.
The book deals with his cancer battle of recent times then follows on with his life,those who dislike chubby probably wont change their mind with this book which is very adult but also touching,but they may see that he is more than just a foul mouthed beast,those who love the man will love him further,not a read for family bedtime but very entertaining and made me smile alot,good work.

A good read, 26 Nov 2007
This was a really enjoyable book. Gripped you from the start. Roy Chubby Brown has had quite a tough upbringing but was very honest in the book about how he was brought up, the estate he lived on, and how this effects the way he lived his life. Very funny and a really good read. I didnt find it unputdownable, but read it in a few days. Id love to go and see Roy live, never had the nerve though, but I really would recommend this book to anyone. Really enjoyable.

royster vaisey = Roy 'Chubby' Brown, 28 Oct 2007
Wow I have always loved chubby and have nearly finished this book it is brilliant. the best autobiography i have ever ever read. it is comicAL (OBVIOUSLY) and really down to earth... his life and ways off thinking are rather unpridictable....I can belived he played at so many pubs and clubs across the northeast. its alawys stange to hear your hometown name get mentioned....geordies and the mackums fighting...well a suppose nothing much has changed.....brill read

A nice surprise, 17 Oct 2007
I bought this book to read on holiday (I always take an autobiography - easy to pick up and put down), I wasn't expecting a lot but was pleasantly surprised. It gives an insight into the man and not the act, I couldn't put it down and have now passed it to my father-in-law who lives in Hartlepool and will recognise the various areas Roy talks about.

A great read whether you are a fan or not.

Does exactly what it says on the tin, 25 Oct 2008
It's all the songs from Avenue Q, with score for piano and vocals. No more, no less.

Poorly set out & needs proof reading, 30 Oct 2008
Although this book does contain a few gems, it is badly laid out and feels like the author wrote down whatever came in to his head as he sat at his PC. There are also one or two inaccuracies, and some glaring omissions.



Proof reading needed!!, 15 Sep 2008
This is a good little book - however, was this book proof read before going to print? If it was it was not done very well! A small gripe I know, but one glaringly obvious mistake is that the book states that Cole Porter died before he was born! (Among other typing errors).

Pitch Perfect!, 05 Dec 2007
This is another of the fabulous potted guides from the Facts, Figures and Fun series. Enjoy all the wonderful history and anecdotes of this popular entertainment medium. A worthy addition to the growing FF&F collection!

A fascinating insight, 10 Nov 2008
Knowing very little about John Barrowman other than his work in Doctor Who and Torchwood, this helped me learn much more about him and his life. I had no idea that he was so cheeky! He really has had an extraordinary life, and he recalls it in such an entertaining fashion. I laughed a lot while reading this. And though it concentrates a LOT on musical theatre - which I know zilch about - it didn't matter. It was entertaining anyway. Too short, though.

John = fantastic fantastic fantastic, 24 Sep 2008
A wonderful personal read, you feel as though you are hearing from the guy himself his life experiences. Very inspirational, he makes you think indirectly about your own life...he makes you question if you can do more to be happy and really go after your dreams. I found that this book was more influential and inspiring than some of those book written solely for that purpose.

All together a lovely fun read just like the man himself.. Thanks for sharing these stories with us John.. xxxx

I loved it, 05 Aug 2008
If you've ever seen any of John Barrowman's interviews or show appearances you know he's a funny guy. He's charming, witty, naughty and doesn't censor himself.
That's the same thing that can be said about this book. John openly talks about his life, and does so in typical Barrowman fashion (watch those footnotes, they're extra hilarious!).
The book is great fun, and as a fan I wasn't disappointed.

Superb..., 30 Jun 2008
As a fan of all John's work, from stage to screen, it was wonderful to finally have all the inside information of who he is and where he has been.
I'm not a big reader of books, but I bought Anything Goes and once i'd picked it up i didn't stop. I'd read the entire thing in only a few hours, and have read it again since.
It is highly entertaining, very funny, hugely touching and wonderfully honest. A brilliant story, wonderfully told.

Self praise is no praise!, 28 Jun 2008
Self confidence is a good attribute to have but endless pages of John telling us how beautiful, talented and good looking he is became a bit tiresome. This wasn't a memoir and I didn't see the humour that others have commented on - the best person to read this book will be John himself as he can then massage his ego even further! Not endearing, very shallow, annoying footnotes on every page and not even well written. Needless to say I gave up before the end.

The problem with reductions, 20 Apr 2008
I've learned over the years to become slightly disappointed with piano music, especially those from musicals. There's no way to capture the original orchestrations, get the melody line in all the time and have enough going on below, or even sometimes get the same songs int the songbook. WICKED is probably the closest you'll get to the real thing. Usually the scores are either bare-bones or unplayable. This one is right on the money.

Not quite as it seems, 20 Nov 2007
This is a generally great book of scores from this awesome musical, however its downfall is that some of the scores have been changed from the origional stage pieces you know and love, to adapted pieces for the solo voice, that work around where scripting would have been in the show or where there would have been chorus's or duets. I find that the adapted "Defying Gravity" in particular, does not quite meet expectations for what was a spectacular showstopper on the stage. It is a good buy if you love to sing, play guitar or piano and above all, love "Wicked".

Good Score, 16 Jul 2006
I decided to but the score to Wicked after owning the cd for some time, and im glad i did, its a really nice score to play, although some of the songs are a little complex at times and require some patience, but on the whole a really good book.

Awesome Musical, 06 Oct 2004
Without playing Wicked or hearing it, it is hard to describe how brilliant it is. However, trust me, this is one heck of a score. It is what would happen if Disney did a prequel to The Wizard of Oz.
The story follows two young witches at Shiz University, Elphaba and Glinda who go on to become the Wicked witch and good witch respectively.

It boasts funny, witty, enchanting and clever music that is amazing to play and a pleasure to sing. I cannot wait for the musical to arrive in the West End.

Beautiful, amazing masterpiece, 09 Jun 2008
I brought this for my 12 year daughter who is Wicked's biggest fan. She loved it, the best present I have brought!! I have seen the show and thought it was amazing so had a look myself...couldn't put it down!!!! Intriging, interesting and beautifully written.... an absolute must to any Wicked fan!!!
In fact I have just ordered another one for my daughter's best friends birthday!!
BUY IT>.................... ITS GREAT !!!!!

Does not contain the script!, 20 Nov 2007
This book is a must for any avid fan of the show "Wicked".

I originally bought this book because I was told by the theatre staff at the apollo, that the script for the show was in it, after I asked if the script was available for the show... this loses the book a star and a the staff lose a star too... this book DOES NOT contain the script to Wicked at all, it merely has small excerpts from various scenes throughout the show, which from my point of view was a major disappointment.

However, with that said, this book is still fantastic. The whole book shows character and is created to look old and antique, the cover is beautifully crafted to feel soft and has a lovely texture and feel to it. Each page has been printed beautifully and is pleasing to the eye.

The contents of the book take you from it's origional book to it's creation as a stage masterpiece. There are sections about every aspect of the show that you could possibly imagine, including costume and set design, to beautiful pictures of origional cast members.

So, if you just want the script this is not for you, but if you are just crazy about the show go ahead and buy it, you won't be disappointed.

Perfect Accompaniment to a Perfect Show, 09 Sep 2007
I'm pretty sure that if you're looking at this book then it's somehow linked to the highly successful musical. Whether you've seen the show and loved it or maybe you know someone else who loves it I can only recommend that this is a great purchase for anyone who really enjoyed "Wicked - The Musical"

I should point out that I'm a pretty typical British guy. I love my football more than I love my music, films, books, etc so you could hardly label me a "theatre-buff". I do still really enjoy my entertainment (usually American-produced) & I catch any show that takes my fancy but it's usually musicals with very-high production-values that I enjoy most. I have to say that "Wicked" simply blew me away - the music, the perfomances, the sets, the story, everything really.

Quickly after seeing the show I read Gregory McQuire's novel which I'd had my eye on for years but it was "The Grimmerie" that really gave me most pleasure to read. I love Behind-the-Scenes books anyway but this book is sheer class. It's inevitably linked to the original Broadway production so in terms of performers the cast won't be the same ones you'll be watching in theatre's now but everything else is directly related to the show you'll have seen.

Probably the most beautifully-produced book I own, it's 200 pages of superbly insightful text & pictures that takes the reader through the entire process of getting Wicked onto the stage, all bound in a wonderful soft-to-the-touch cover.

The whole design of this book oozes class, from the quality of the paper it's made from to the design of each page & I guess if I had any criticism it's that the number of full page photo's & almost-complete words & music of the entire show do take up a lot of the 200 pages but that's just being greedy and wanting more text.

Overall if you enjoyed the show and would either like a great souvenir or would just love to know more about "Wicked" then I can't recommend The Grimmerie enough

"The Grimmerie" is truly a magic of its own, 17 Jul 2007
Being a huge Wicked fan, I asked my mother to buy me The Grimmerie for my birthday, and I was in no way let down.

The presentation of the book in itself is lush, detailed and in a world of it's own. The thickly padded cover is comfortable to the feel, and the textured pattern on the front cover offers a nice contrast with the smoothness of the rest of the front. Even the writing its very self is printed in a way to seem natural looking on the book, and the aged effect appears very pleasing to the eye.

Inside, the book is full of interesting snippets of information, including information on the background and writing of each song in the show, and there are interviews with the cast members over their decisions on how to portray their characters. The pages are once more made to look old and worn, but the information and pictures on them still manage to look beautiful, vibrant and bring to life the musical in a way not seen before in print.

At close to 200 pages, the book may seem rather short as a complete background to the show, but the pages are packed with so much text, information, and imagery to keep even the least enthusiastic fan of wicked happy. The libretto within may not be a complete libretto (excerpts from key scenes such as The Wicked Witch Of The East or the cornfields scene are missing or condensed) but still give a nice flavour of the shows contents.

It is truly an outstanding book, and one which I will recommend to any fan of the musical, however if you have not seen the show then it is probably more advisable to see the show before looking at the book, as spoilers are contained within.

Wicked Insight, 11 Jun 2007
This book is wonderful, not only is it informative but is a lovely book to have. So much thought has been put into this, the presentation is amazing, and with it's beautifully padded cover makes it a joy to hold.
It is fantastic, as a member of a musical theatre company myself to see the full process and what is involved in getting a show from pen to stage.
I bought this from the theatre when we went to see the show (easily up there as one of my favourites), and I would recommend that you do not delve too deeply into this book if you have not seen the show as it contains LOTS of spoilers.

This book's a treasure, 12 Nov 2008
I was not disappointed at all. This book was even far more than i had expected. A step by step account by this fabulous artist, concerning all the great shows (known and unknown), that she has starred in. A lot of preparation and thought has also gone into the dialogue by the artist herself.
The photographs are stunning too. Old and new fans will love this book, and congratulations on forty years in show business, to such a wonderful artist.
Her voice is just so brilliant, and she is such a warm and sincere person.
W Edwards


The Chubster, 11 Jan 2008
A wonderful look at a rough boy turned good, A well written book detailing the life and times of Chubby. You dont have to love blue comics to love this book its full of funny incidents that have made for a varied and colourful life. Well worth a read.

a great wee book!, 09 Dec 2007
many know roy chubby brown,a man that has made a reputation of speaking filth and getting paid for it,not bad work if you can get it,many see his face and make asssumptions,i know many a women,yes you know you are,who wouldnt give him the time of day if it would save his life,they havent really watched much of his stuff,they just believe what they believe about him,this book opens the man and breaks him down and gives him very human qualities,he is more than a 'fat baxxard',he is and was a very normal man,his youth was very tortured indeed.
Growing up in a poor part of middlesbrough to an alcoholic father and a mother who left deserted him,chubbs found crime and his life was in chaos,borstal time followed by jail time,and no way out he found refuge in the drums and played in some small bands of the time,from there he threw in some jokes and built his way up to what he is today.
The book tells the tale well and chubbs holds nothing back,in some instances he is too honest.
The book deals with his cancer battle of recent times then follows on with his life,those who dislike chubby probably wont change their mind with this book which is very adult but also touching,but they may see that he is more than just a foul mouthed beast,those who love the man will love him further,not a read for family bedtime but very entertaining and made me smile alot,good work.

A good read, 26 Nov 2007
This was a really enjoyable book. Gripped you from the start. Roy Chubby Brown has had quite a tough upbringing but was very honest in the book about how he was brought up, the estate he lived on, and how this effects the way he lived his life. Very funny and a really good read. I didnt find it unputdownable, but read it in a few days. Id love to go and see Roy live, never had the nerve though, but I really would recommend this book to anyone. Really enjoyable.

royster vaisey = Roy 'Chubby' Brown, 28 Oct 2007
Wow I have always loved chubby and have nearly finished this book it is brilliant. the best autobiography i have ever ever read. it is comicAL (OBVIOUSLY) and really down to earth... his life and ways off thinking are rather unpridictable....I can belived he played at so many pubs and clubs across the northeast. its alawys stange to hear your hometown name get mentioned....geordies and the mackums fighting...well a suppose nothing much has changed.....brill read

A nice surprise, 17 Oct 2007
I bought this book to read on holiday (I always take an autobiography - easy to pick up and put down), I wasn't expecting a lot but was pleasantly surprised. It gives an insight into the man and not the act, I couldn't put it down and have now passed it to my father-in-law who lives in Hartlepool and will recognise the various areas Roy talks about.

A great read whether you are a fan or not.

Does exactly what it says on the tin, 25 Oct 2008
It's all the songs from Avenue Q, with score for piano and vocals. No more, no less.

Poorly set out & needs proof reading, 30 Oct 2008
Although this book does contain a few gems, it is badly laid out and feels like the author wrote down whatever came in to his head as he sat at his PC. There are also one or two inaccuracies, and some glaring omissions.



Proof reading needed!!, 15 Sep 2008
This is a good little book - however, was this book proof read before going to print? If it was it was not done very well! A small gripe I know, but one glaringly obvious mistake is that the book states that Cole Porter died before he was born! (Among other typing errors).

Pitch Perfect!, 05 Dec 2007
This is another of the fabulous potted guides from the Facts, Figures and Fun series. Enjoy all the wonderful history and anecdotes of this popular entertainment medium. A worthy addition to the growing FF&F collection!

A Must-Have Book!, 08 Feb 2006
If you are into musical theatre this book is for sure a must-have! It is packed full of wonderful colour photos and info on 101 Broadway shows. I have many books on this genre, but this one is probably the best as far as photos go. If you enjoy looking as well as reading, buy this one today. A huge book, would look good on anyone's coffee table.

A fascinating insight, 10 Nov 2008
Knowing very little about John Barrowman other than his work in Doctor Who and Torchwood, this helped me learn much more about him and his life. I had no idea that he was so cheeky! He really has had an extraordinary life, and he recalls it in such an entertaining fashion. I laughed a lot while reading this. And though it concentrates a LOT on musical theatre - which I know zilch about - it didn't matter. It was entertaining anyway. Too short, though.

John = fantastic fantastic fantastic, 24 Sep 2008
A wonderful personal read, you feel as though you are hearing from the guy himself his life experiences. Very inspirational, he makes you think indirectly about your own life...he makes you question if you can do more to be happy and really go after your dreams. I found that this book was more influential and inspiring than some of those book written solely for that purpose.

All together a lovely fun read just like the man himself.. Thanks for sharing these stories with us John.. xxxx

I loved it, 05 Aug 2008
If you've ever seen any of John Barrowman's interviews or show appearances you know he's a funny guy. He's charm