What exactly makes Idina so special?

[bella cantato]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:10am

In light of Idina's "leaving Wicked" anniversary (did I really just say that?? anniversary??) I have been thinking about what exactly makes Idina so special. I mean, I know there are others out there who think the opposite, but don't get me wrong-- I think she is EXTREMELY talented and wonderful and amazing. But so are many other amazing actresses out there-- Sutton Foster, Sherie Rene Scott and Kelli O'Hare are a few that come to mind. Out of many, many actresses.

So what is it that draws Idina such a HUGE fanbase-- so much bigger than these others? I have a few ideas-- here they are, feel free to agree or disagree.

First of all, she's beautiful. But she's not INTIMIDATING. I think she has very striking features- a strong jawline and dark eyebrows. But she's not a blonde bombshell like Kristin Chenoweth. There's something that's almost girl-next-doorish in her beauty.

I think that Idina's vulnerability is what really draws such copious numbers of young girls. If you listen to her music, there is quite a bit of uncertainty that I think almost anyone can relate to. For instance in the song Still I Can't Be Still she sings "Well I don't believe I'm beautiful/but at least I have my sister's smile/and I resist the muses though they sing to me in exile/and I've been unfaithful but with me he'll spend the rest of his life." In other songs, like Penny, and It Only Hurts When I Breathe, she shows a vulnerability that isn't always apparent other actresses.

Lastly, I think her characters-- well particularly Elphaba-- draw a large fan base. But the other actresses who have played the same character don't seem to have the same draw. Why? Shoshana Bean certainly worked her fanbase but it doesn't seem to have grown like Idina's.

Idina has an unusual voice... it's almost a rock-belt style. Perhaps that has something to do with it.

She is extremely, extremely talented. But Sutton Foster played Jo March, another young woman who is somewhat lost in her world, and she did not receive nearly the attention that Idina did with Wicked. I know that "Little Women" got poor reviews, but I think that the character of Jo is just as relatable to young girls as Elphaba. So what IS it exactly? I think perhaps it is that vulnerability that Idina radiates.

I don't know. What do you guys think? And for the disclaimer, this is by no means a well thought-out thesis or well-crafted essay... just some thoughts.

Updated On: 1/11/06 at 09:10 AM

[jasobres]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:12am

Oh, no, not another one...This time, I am *NOT* going to respond to a stupid question like that. I got insulted when it was done to Cheno, but this time, to really protect Idina, I'm not going to answer.

[bella cantato]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:16am

Why is this an insult?? I think it's a respectful question into what makes her different from the other actresses out there. They are all just as talented as her, but why is her fanbase so much bigger? Or perhaps her fanbase is just more aggressive. I don't know. But it's not intended as an insult. And there's no need to "protect" Idina- she is in the public eye, she knows people are going to ask questions like this. It's not like I am investigating her personal life.

[shameless]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:16am

Actually, if read the post, it's not an attack at all. However, bella, I think you covered all the bases in your answer. But, be warned that the people who don't like her will probably show up to bash her.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:17am

the fact that she can shoot a ping pong ball out of her butt and have it travel over seventeen feet (in the air, pre-bounce) on average. if that's not special, then i just don't know what is.

[bwaymyway84]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:45am

I think a lot of it just has to be luck. Not bashing her talent at all, it was just... the right role and the right role for her, the right time and place that she got it. No matter how many Elphabas follow her, because she did it first, people will remember the passion and energy she originated the role with.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:49am

What make Idina so special?
She use good grammar.
That what make Idina so special.

[bella cantato]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:53am

hahahahaha. oops.

Updated On: 1/11/06 at 09:53 AM

[ruprecht]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 10:03am

First, I can't believe there's yet another thread dedicated to musings about the why's and wherefore's of Menzel and before anyone says, "well than don't read, don't answer", I feel I can shed some light.

Menzel (which everyone seems to have mysteriously deleted from their memory banks), did Rent and then barely worked again until Wicked, at least not in anything even remotely high profile. Her biggest claim to fame until Wicked was being Taye Diggs' wife.

Wicked came along, she originated Elphaba and became an "overnight sensation", (much like people think Sara Ramirez came out of nowhere and landed on planet Spamalot). It is a clear and concrete example of being in the right place at the right time and as others have pointed out many times before, anyone who would have *originated* that role would have wound up in the same position.

I've seen most everything Menzel has done, including her little obscure club dates pre- Wicked and she is not doing, or being any different or more "layered" as an actress or singer now, than she was 6,8, even 10 years ago when she was shopping her demo's around for a record deal. It was the role and the hype that people identified with and latched on to. I dare say, there have been better Elphaba's since, but the originator is who people are always going to identify with especially with a monster hit like Wicked. That's why (imo), Shoshana Bean was never able to get out of it what Menzel did, as the original poster asked.

That's my 20 cents.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 10:20am

Ruprecht, I couldn't have said it better myself. I always thought that no matter who originated the role, they would have had garnered the same amount of attention. Personally, I happened to like Stephanie Block the best and wish she had originated the role of Elphaba on Broadway.

Updated On: 1/11/06 at 10:20 AM

[kgee30]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 10:24am

Perhaps the question might be better phrased as "what exactly makes Idina so special to me?" I think you've answered that question nicely (really).

[jasobres]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 10:25am

I sincerely apologize, because I read the topic too fast but not the post.

[Celestial Entropy]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 10:30am

LMAO @ papalovesmambo

[BtMartin25]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 12:41pm

*WHY* is this even a topic of discussion? What makes YOU special? This is simply retarded. Everyone has their own pros and cons.

el fin

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 12:52pm

Ok, I have to agree with some of the comments written above. First of all, let me start off by saying that I think Idina is extremely talented. I loved her in Rent, Wicked and See What I Wanna See, think she has a wonderful voice and is a good actress. In my opinion, the reason why she is a huge star is because she was lucky enough to originate the role of Elphaba. Do I think she was fabulous in that show? Yes. Do I think there were others who have played the role better than her? Yes. (Stephanie J. Block is the best Elphaba) Any other woman who originated this role, would have become as famous as Idina is right now and probably would have won the 2004 Tony Award as well.

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 12:56pm

I think Elphaba appealed to young girls (including myself) because at some point we all feel so different that we might as well be painted green. I haven't seen Little Women but knowing what I know about the book and movie... I've never related to Jo all that much.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 1:06pm

Jesus.

[lovinlife]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 1:08pm

she's definitely an original performer. I'm glad you enjoy her so.

[zepka102]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 1:08pm

i'm back and forth with her. she really did do a fine job in Wicked and in Rent (the movie... did not see her on stage). however, her voice is one of a kind. for me it either fits or it doesn't. she sounded great in various parts of Wicked and you can definitely tell when she was towards the end of her run. same thing with Rent. when i watched the video preview for See What I Want to See on broadway.com, i just wasn't all that impressed. it came across more irritating. she probably sounded a lot better live when you saw the show. but i definitely do not put her above many other talented actresses out there.

[kasim]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 1:18pm

zepka102> I actually really liked see what i wanna see. Although to be honest my favourite person of the cast was the male lead. Dont get me wrong Idina was awesome, and it was the reason i even went to it in the first place.

But who knows, she is just popular. And that doesnt matter if you are good or not, she happens to be good. Probably not the best but whatever, who cares.

The real question that should be asked is ... how did teeny bopper girls become such a HUGE impact on who's a broadway star. I mean as most have said, regardless of her shyness gettign her autograph you have to fight through tons of fans being there. Its almost worse than trying to get an autograph at Spamalot.

[zepka102]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 1:21pm

yeah, i wish i could have seen See What I Want to See to judge it better. all i could do was work off of what i saw. i'm sure it was much better in person. but i agree with everything you said kasim

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 1:23pm

Perhaps any other actress who originated the role MAY have been in the same place Menzel is. Many of the teens who think she's God would very likely think the same of Bean, Block, or whoever else could have originated the role.

However, personally, I could care less who originated that role. She was far superior.

In a nutshell she a a very present, real actress, not some kind of technician. May actors performances come across as consciously calculated, self-aware, slightly pretentious--whereas Menzel to me is a very alive, whole human being onstage. She is extremely vulnerable, and she makes unique choices that not only make her characters complex and human, but universal.

All of that, and her ability to allow her emotions to resonate to an audience--even in a house of 2000--make her a very easy actress for people to connect with.

[Scott3]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 1:47pm

It's not Idina or Idina's debatable talents - it's the characters she's originated. Because she has originated two of the most iconic figures of rebellion in contemporary musical theater, she naturally draws a huge fan base of young women who are going through that same phase in their lives.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 1:51pm

I have resisted responding to this thread, but alas, I am too weak for my own good.

I am not sure others would have had the same impact Idina had originating the role. Is she the most talented person in the world - no - but she is very talented. There are others that if you just point to with greater technical skill and gifts. But, there is something about her when she performs that draws you to her and you watch.

Her voice has an edge to it that does not make it suitable for some roles, but for Elphaba, I think added a bit of something that made her unique. I also think her presence when on stage is very dynamic. I belive there is a presence there that audiences connected with, above and beyond the character she played.

[Scott3]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 1:59pm

You can plug just about anybody with discernable talent into the role of Elphaba and sudenly girls everywhere are lavishing huge entrance applause and flocking to the stage door for autographs from their new "hero".