A question for WICKED lovers---Chenoweth backlash?

[melissa errico fan]

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.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 9:36pm

Can't really judge because I've only seen Kendra, but I know numerous people prefer Chenoweth over the other Glinda's. Acting-wise and singing-wise.

[WickedShopofQ]

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.

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

[ikmbway]

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.

[melissa errico fan]

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.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

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.

[broadway betty]

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.

[neocomposer]

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!

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

[Elphaba3]

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.

[alphieboy]

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!

[jacobtsf]

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.

[SallyBrown]

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

::raises hand:: I preger Kristin

[ashley0139]

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.

[Jwei123]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 11:02pm

I like all....but I HAVE indeed noticed a "backlash."

[Justice]

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.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 11:33pm

I have seen Kristin, Kendra and Katie. I loved Kristin and I thought Kendra was really funny. I also enjoyed Katie.

[FabalaYero85]

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!!!

[Jazzysuite82]

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.

[DickonDefysGravity]

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.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 1:13am

I prefer JLT.....

But KC is very good

[TGIF]

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.

[apdarcey]

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.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 1:23am

so, apdarcey, are you saying that Idina defied Chenoweth? (clever, I know.)

I think there is more Elphaba debate than Glinda...

[SallyBrown]

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

But come on, if Idina stole your spotlight (..which is beyond me) you'd be upset too

[Jazzysuite82]

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.