Elphieisperky's Wicked experience (JLT's last show)

[elphieisperky]

Posted: 5/29/05 at 9:32pm

Okay. Let me just say that this was a great show tonight. Mom and I had sooooo much fun. And keep in mind that George Hearn, and Carole Shelly left today, as well as Jennifer Laura Thompson. Oh, and just so you know, I'm skipping Dear Old Shiz, Something Bad, A Sentimental Man, Wicked Witch of the East, Reprise of I'm Not That Girl, and March of the Witch Hunters, just because they were as usual as always:

No One Mourns the Wicked: Started off by giving me chills, as usual. More than half the audience was there for Jen, so when she came on, it was screaming and clapping all over. You could tell she was choked up. Anyhoo, the rest of the song was amazing.

The Wizard and I: I don't know about Shoshana, guys. My mom was saying that Idina just told the story better. And I agree. I'm not being picky, but this song wasn't as good as I thought it would be.

What is This Feeling: So hilarious. Jen was fantastic, like always. Shoshana does something I really like in this song: she gives this "Don't you wave your finger at me" kind of attitude. She's more, I don't know, teenage like.

Dancing Through Life: Great. I've never seen David Ayers before (may I just say he's an adorable man), so he impressed me. Good job.

Popular: If you want adlibbing, this is the song for you. It starts normal, then you see JLT pull out a booklet in the middle of the "la la". I turn to Mom, and say, "She's doing the Kristin thing! She's doing the Kristin thing!" Actually, I thought it would end with a sweet thing, but it was all just funny. She started it by saying, "Guide to popularity, by..." then she says some name that has the initals JLT. It was priceless. Now, the whole time she's saying this, Shoshana is sobbing. Well, laughing and sobbing. At the end, Jen puts a flower in Elphie's hair, then follows it with 5 more flowers, making Shoshana look like Minnie Mouse. When Shoshana says, "I have to go," she basically ran off the stage sobbing. Were they really that close?

I'm Not That Girl: Cute, it was nice. Not much I can say about it.

One Short Day: Since Shoshana was losing it throughout the beginning of that play, I assumed another, "Stay With Me!" was in the works. But, I was wrong.

Defying Gravity: Okay. It was good. this song is actually becoming almost played out to me (although most of you feel this way about the whole play).

Thank Goodness: Now was the time when it really sunk in to Jen that she was leaving. She was bummed. Carole was great, good with the lines.

Wonderful: Cute. It was a final bonding experience between Shoshana and George. George really got into it.

As Long as You're Mine: I think Shoshana and David have great chemistry. It was beautiful.

No Good Deed: She made it like a pop song again! But it was still good, it got a huge applause.

For Good: I cried. So sweet. They were both in tears, and looked at each other like they really had been changed for good.

Finale: It was hard for Jen to keep a straight face. She was crying hard, and at the final, "because I knew you", Shoshana was smiling really hard to fight her tears.

Bows and Stage Door: Okay, you huge Broadway fans: To present Jen.....Stephen Schwartz came out!!!!!!! Prasie the Lord! It was so cool. I was actually the only one who cared. Then two of the producers came out (I can't remember their names)!
At the Stage Door, I got Michelle Federer, David Ayers (God, is he cute!), and Megan Hilty's autographs. Megan Hilty was so sweet, she's going to be a hilarious Glinda. Then, after an hour and a half, Shoshana and Jen came out. I got Shoshana's autograph, then got Jen's autograph, took a picture with Jen, and then told her the same thing everyone was saying: "I love you, you're an inspiration, you will be missed." Oh, and then the whole cast went across the street to have an outdoor party at a bar. There was lots of hugging, and I watched some of the party. Oh, and Jen's fanclub was there, they even sang her a song. She looooved it, and was cracking up. Lastly, I heard a lot of people who were like, "Oh, I saw Idina! Idina's here!" But they were wrong. No duh, she's filming Rent! (Or did she finish? My point is she couldn't have been there). Well, great night. I give the show two thumbs up! Hope you enjoyed reading!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/29/05 at 9:35pm

You know, I haven't got my chronology perfect, and I don't know if they're finished filming yet, but I do know they're very, very close to it, so, if you also don't know that, you don't know that she "couldn't have been there." I doubt it, but really, you don't know that.

[elphieisperky]

Posted: 5/29/05 at 9:37pm

Okay, that's a good point. Thank you.
Updated On: 5/29/05 at 09:37 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/29/05 at 9:38pm

gah, you edited. Meh, not worth it.

Updated On: 5/29/05 at 09:38 PM

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 5/29/05 at 9:51pm

THANK YOU! I've been waiting for this all day! I'm glad she went out with a bang.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 5/29/05 at 9:56pm

Sounds like a great show. Thanks for the review!

[edenespinosalover]

Posted: 5/29/05 at 9:57pm

It took them an hour and a half to come out of the stage door?!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/29/05 at 9:58pm

Probably because there were people to see them backstage, or something. That's not exactly unheard of...

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 5/29/05 at 9:59pm

Thanks for the review! Is anyone just a little bit happy that Jen left Wicked??

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/29/05 at 10:01pm

Hey, LF - what's she up to next, do you know?

Updated On: 5/29/05 at 10:01 PM

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 5/29/05 at 10:04pm

Prob. spending time with her son.

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 5/29/05 at 10:09pm

It actually only took around 45 mins for her to come out and she was signing stuff and mingling with the fans for like 25 mins.

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 5/29/05 at 10:16pm

Yeah, I think she's just gonna rest for a little bit. I know that show has taken a lot out of her, and she's been fighting sickness for awhile, so I think sleeping and hanging out with her son for a couple of months. There are a couple of things that might or might not happen, but I guess we'll all have to wait and see.

[bunchamuncha]

Posted: 5/29/05 at 10:25pm

Poor girl had to pack out her dressing room. But I thought it was nice on her final show to go out and spend time with the fans.

The book she read out of during Popular was "How to be Popular" by Jennifer McKnight-Trontz. You can actually buy it and it has the whole "eye" section that she did (though the "you don't talk when your hypnotized" part was priceless and not in the book)

A touching farewell to Carole Shelley and overall a very professional performance, for the most part everyone stayed in character.
A nice energetic send off for George, Carole and JLT. I'll miss the latter most of all.

[jaded_october]

Posted: 5/29/05 at 10:26pm

agh, i wish i could have been there. it sounds amazing.

and idina is in san francisco until the end of may as far as i know.

[Up In Lost]

Posted: 5/29/05 at 11:32pm

I was supposed to be there, but I had to leave for Florid aon short notice, so the tickets were given away. Heck, must have been a bit of a shock for my parents' customers!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/29/05 at 11:54pm

I will always love my JLT 4ever... she was an amazing Glinda... She n Cheno will always be Glinda... Goodbye to the girl in the bubble.


Thats me and JLT above... Love her! Updated On: 5/29/05 at 11:54 PM

[kim1061]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 12:46am

i was there as well. it was a lot of fun.

I'm a fan of Shoshana but I think she was really off tonight. None of the songs/comedic timing was really there.

Jen will truly be missed.

How cute did Shoshana look at the stagedoor!

[58012dude]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 8:58am

That was really surprising to hear from you that actually, Shoshana and Jennifer WERE close. I always thought that they were really far apart. Could you explain the part about Chenoweth and the book and the flowers in "Popular"? That was really confusing to hear from you about. Did Kristin always do the same thing with the books or what???

[ILoveWicked330]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 9:38am

Kristin did a book on her last day ONLY about "How to stay popular" and she listed things. JLT did a mannual but it was just about Shoshana's eyes.

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 9:41am

Before showing Elphie how to flip her hair, Kristin pulled out a book from underneath Galinda’s pillow and says, “Elphie, I wrote a book on how to be pop-u-lar!” She goes on:

#1: Shower every day. Maybe some of that green will come off! (Idina loves it)
#2: Deodorant, Elphie! No one likes a stinky witch.
#3: Wear clean undergarments. That's all I'm gonna say.
#4: Keep your bed immaculate. I think we've already done that.
#5: Keep your hair nice. We'll fix that later.
#6: Make sure you are always color-coordinated. (Kristin stares at Idina for a long time and then continues: hilarious.)

And the most important rule to be popular, always keep your beautiful smile. (At which point the whole audience goes "Awwwwww!" and Idina whispers"Thank you", a promptly bursts into tears.)

[58012dude]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 9:44am

thank you for clearing up my confusion

[Derek]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 12:07pm

I was there on Wednesday (still a great crowed, most of them there for Jen) and her and Shoshana both started crying during For Good. I hear they were very very close

[Kimmygonbefamous]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 12:13pm

Somehow I think that if you work with Jennifer, you just fall in love with her, regardless of how long you're there. She just seems like such a warm, kind, and funny person.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 12:50pm

So true Kimmy, I walked in all angry I wasnt seeing Cheno within the first 2 seconds of No One Mourns The Wicked, I was like whose Cheno, she rocks! Plus at stage door she was so sweet!