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A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

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#1

A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/17/05 at 9:34pm

I hate to start a thread about WICKED, since there are about 50,000 of them a day, but I have noticed something lately, and I would like the opinion of WICKED fans and detractors alike.

Has anybody else noticed that, in the almost year since Ms. Chenoweth left the Broadway cast of WICKED, there has been a backlash of sorts against her in the role of Glinda? I cannot find a single person who prefers her interpretation of the role over Jennifer Laura Thompson's or, for that matter, Megan Hilty's. I was wondering if this is true, or if it is just me. Any feedback/commentary is appreciated.
#3

re: A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/17/05 at 9:38pm

The thing is, the role was created by her and FOR her. JLT and Megan Hilty and all the understudies and such are just taking over the role she created. i think she was wonderful but JLT was quite funny. I practically pee'd during her popular scene. But still, there is a reason why Kristin was cast first.
...Please understand that it's still strange and frightning...

Updated On: 5/17/05 at 09:38 PM

#4

re: A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/17/05 at 9:38pm

I have seen Chenoweth and I prefer Chenoweth. (i have heard JLT before though) and my sister has seen both of them in April and prefered the OBC and loved Kristin and Idina so much more.
#5

re: A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/17/05 at 9:40pm

I am not a big fan of the show, but I loved Chenoweth's performance. However, almost everybody I have spoken to prefers Thompson. I did go back to survey the changes between Thompson and Chenoweth, and I still felt that Chenoweth was better.
#6

re: A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/17/05 at 9:40pm

Didn't see JLT, but Kristin was LEAGUES better than Megan. I have not really liked clips I've seen of JLT, but I guess I can't really judge from those. I ADORE Kristin.
"Blow out the candles, Robert, and make a wish. Want something. Want something."

Wishes come true, not free.
#7

re: A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/17/05 at 9:47pm

I saw Kristin many times and LBB once. I adore Kristin and think she's a true star! Beautiful voice and incredible comedic abilities. I've heard wonderful things about JLT but I think that anyone who plays Glinda is just trying to fill Kristin's shoes and change something here or there to make it their own. I haven't cared much since the OBC left.
"I'm the STAR!"--Daniel Reichard during Glory Daze sound check
#8

re: A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/17/05 at 10:00pm

I think there are a few reasons for "backlash"

- it depends on who you saw first kristin, jennifer, laura, megan...etc...one tends to like what they originally see-but this is not always the case

- the reason that i like jennifer more is because i like her
g(a)linda style-which is similar to her hope cladwell (Urinetown) in that she is more ditz (and not just dull ditz-but truly funny and airheaded) that beauty queen. whereas Kristin was more beauty queen and less ditz, although she was clearly ditzy. also i am of the opinion that jennifer is much better at ad-libbing and really doing what SHE wants to do with glinda to make her the best that she can.

but no bashing of kristin from me! she was great. just not my favorite!
"That Sondheim kid has a big future."-Nathan Lane

Updated On: 5/17/05 at 10:00 PM

#9

re: A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/17/05 at 10:06pm

I've also noticed something like that. I wouldn't call it a backlash though. Anyway, I prefer Kristin over JLT (and any other Glinda) 200%! Cheno will always be THE Glinda.
#10

re: A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/17/05 at 10:15pm

I prefer Kristin to ALL. Kristin was by far the best Glinda. I believe that JLT and Hilty are all good, and can do some justice to Glinda, but none of these women can hold a candle to Ms. Chenoweth!
"If I have something to say, the whole world (BroadwayWorld) should hear it." - Thenardier
#11

re: A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/17/05 at 10:15pm

I have seen Cheno and JLT and I prefer Cheno.
In my oppinion JLT was playing Glinda too (for lack of a better word) mentally challenged. G(a)linda is supposed to be striving for attention but JLT took it a bit too far, to the point where it was not the character striving for attention but the actress.
David walked into the valley With a stone clutched in his hand He was only a boy But he knew someone must take a stand There will always be a valley Always mountains one must scale There will always be perilous waters Which someone must sail -Into the Fire Scarlet Pimpernel
#12

re: A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/17/05 at 10:58pm

::raises hand:: I preger Kristin
"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."
#13

re: A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/17/05 at 11:01pm

I agree MEF. Most people I have talked to prefer JLT. I have only seen JLT so I can't really compare.
"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife
#15

re: A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/17/05 at 11:27pm

Love Kristin,
But JLT is definately better in my opinion. Nothing against Kristin - honest. She's a wonderful performer.
But JLT's interpretation of the role was (to me) so much funnier.
"Do you know what pledge time is, Andrew"? said the PBS Executive. "Yes", Lloyd Webber replied. "My 50th birthday special must be one program that gets done a lot." "No", mused the man from PBS heedlessy. "Not so much. Our Stephen Sondheim Carnegie Hall concert. That's a big one." Spoons, forks and knives seemed suddenly to suspend their motion in horror, all around the table.
#17

re: A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/17/05 at 11:58pm

I saw Cheno back in March 04 as my first Glinda. Loved her and when she left I was sad that Jen wouldnt hold a candle to her. Once I heard of the more chemistry Idina and Jen had then with Cheno, I needed to see. Cut to 1/9 Jen blew me away she was funnier and livelier then Cheno could ever be. Cheno's Glinda was a lot stiffer and stale and it seems like she wasn't really portraying a character anymore. So glad that I had the opportunity to see Jen, but now Jen is leaving, and there is no one that could be better than her, Hands down!!!
hmm...
#18

re: A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/18/05 at 12:23am

I think what alot of people don't realize is what is great about understudying to. I think Understudies and replacements should generally be better than the original if they're right for the role. I mean many actors have no qualms about stealing. And that's what you do. You have the advantage of having seen it on it's creator, you note the choices, decide what you want to keep and what to make your own. THEN you have the advantage of perfecting THAT night after night. So I think that's why the other glindas tend to be a fav of people. They have one thing the originals don't have...objectivity. That being said there are some people who don't come close to the original. I LOVED Krisin...even more than Idina so I'm not complaining and with Kristin gone, I'm not rushing to see it a 2nd time. There's too much new work to see out there.
#19

re: A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/18/05 at 1:11am

I prefer Chenoweth over all of the succeedors. She could sing laps around all of them. By far, one of the most talented actresses in the business.
And you think of all of the things you've seen, and you wish that you could live in between ,and you're back again only different than before... After the Sky. -Into the Woods (Jack)
#21

re: A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/18/05 at 1:15am

I wouldn't call it backlash. It was just when Idina and Kristin were in Wicked they were *the thing* that everyone talked about and NO ONE could do it better than them, and HOW could they replace these two!


Now she is replaced and we have seen others go on (I have only seen the OBC). We now now that others CAN do it, and some even prefer others to Cheno. I think it is just the realization that she isn't the only actress that can play Galinda.
I want to write music. I want to sit down right now at my piano and write a song that people will listen to and remember and do the same thing every morning...for the rest of my life. - Jonathan Larson. Tick, Tick...BOOM!
#22

re: A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/18/05 at 1:15am

i'd just like to say that schwartz wrote wicked for kristin chenoweth. he has said it many times. that's why he beefed up the glinda character from the book. he was writing a musical for cheno, and idina went and stole all her spotlight, and cheno got mad.
#24

re: A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/18/05 at 1:50am

But come on, if Idina stole your spotlight (..which is beyond me) you'd be upset too
"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."
#25

re: A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

Posted: 5/18/05 at 2:06am

Kristin didn't leave because of Idina..please. Actually Kristin had been with the show longer than Idina. Idina didn't do the workshops. 3 years with Wicked would ahve been enough for me. Besides when she left, Kristin was getting offeres for more TV and film. IT was time for her to move on.

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