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Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009

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WickedlyEdna1962
#25Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/3/10 at 12:55am

Best- Nicole Parker or Willemijn
Worst- Dee Roscioli

I've been watching some clips of Willemijn and am completely blown away. Also, though, is it more or when she flies does that lift go up REALLY fast. It looks way faster than the one they're using on Broadway.

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jonmbway4652
#26Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/3/10 at 1:25am

Well, I am not a big Wicked fan at all, but I saw Merideth Kaye Clark in the national tour and thought she was very talented and had a nice voice. I preferred her to the other Elphaba I saw, Victoria Matlock.

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adamgreer
#27Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/3/10 at 1:30am

I think it's funny when people choose a performer they've obviously never seen live before.

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Elphaba3
#28Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/3/10 at 1:59am

I don't need to see Willemijn live to know that's she's probably the best Elphaba yet in my opinion. Right up there with Idina Menzel and Lisa Brescia, both of whom I have seen. All three of them are almost perfect in the role and Willemijn is the full package.

rmusic11322
#29Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/3/10 at 2:04am

I really want Jemma Rix to come to Broadway.

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BenjaminNicholas2
#30Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/3/10 at 2:10am

Did someone really just say that Idina 'If I Contort My Face Any More Will I Get An Award' Menzel was one of the best Elphabas?

Haven't seen Brescia in the role, so I can't comment, but I have seen her wail in AIDA. Nice pipes.


BN

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Elphaba3
#31Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/3/10 at 2:13am

Different strokes for different folks. Though I do agree that her facial expressions are unintentionally hilarious.

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WickedlyEdna1962
#32Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/3/10 at 2:13am

I have to agree with that. Not a huge fan of Huff-and-Puff-Idina however I have seen Lisa and she is phenomenal in the role. Not only can she really sing the role, but her acting is amazing.

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Patti LuPone FANatic
#33Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/3/10 at 9:48am

I believe that all the Elphabas are obviously talented to have been cast in the first place. I'm of the thinking that if you actually have seen a particular Elphaba perform and compare that person with others you have seen live, then perhaps you have a legitimate reason for comparison. But to throw out this insipid thread about the Worst Elphabas...is incredible. I can understand someone having a Favorite Elphaba or Lest Preferred Elphaba... but to use "Worst" is an insult to their talent and professionalism. Cutting down performers on a mindless whim is something I've come to expect from time to time. I try to make an opinion on a performer if I've seen that person live or have heard that person on a recording. That's all. from RC in Austin, Texas


"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

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kchenofan
#34Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/3/10 at 1:11pm

Best that I've seen live: Nicole Parker. The only thing I didn't like was on one or two of her funny lines, she used her Ellen Degeneres voice and it annoyed me.


kchenofan's computer is broken right now. This is her fridge. Now, you can leave a message, but say it slowly, so I can write it on a post-it note and stick it to myself.

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inick122492
#35Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/3/10 at 1:34pm

*Of what I have seen
Best-Nicole Parker

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inick122492
#36Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/3/10 at 1:34pm

*Of what I have seen
Best-Nicole Parker

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StephanieJBlockFan
#37Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/3/10 at 3:09pm

Best: Eden Espinosa
Worst: Teal Wicks

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Felm_heart
#38Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/3/10 at 3:25pm

After reading this thread I went onto YouTube and watched a multitude of different Elphabas. I never knew there were so many recordings! (I blame all of you for my current state of sleep deprivation...) Anyway, I was blown away by both Willemijn and Eden Espinosa. There's a video called "Crazy Eden Riff" which is seriously impressive.

Side note: I was a bit disgusted by how well I know Wicked, as I was translating the German (I think German, right?) lyrics with no problem.

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defygravity24
#39Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/3/10 at 9:12pm

at BrendenNichols2 the list of Elphaba's from the orginal post is a list of the actual Elphabas, the standbies, and the understudies in about i tihink 3+ productions so they don't really go through them quickly.

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TheatreFan4
#40Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/3/10 at 9:22pm

Actually felm they aren't direct translations.

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TheatreFan4
#41Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/3/10 at 9:22pm

Actually felm they aren't direct translations.

FindingNamo
#42Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/3/10 at 9:25pm

You people are inventing those names. There can't be human beings with those names in this thread.


Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none

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orangeskittles
#43Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/3/10 at 10:09pm

Teal Wicks sounds like a line of homoepathic candles.


Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never knowing how

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BenjaminNicholas2
#44Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/4/10 at 7:34pm

I'm just not an insane Eden fan. I agree that she's got a very impressive voice and can riff the hell out of anything, but there's something missing from her performance IMO.

Sure, I'd sit through her doing the show again. Her Elphie is INSANELY better than her Maureen in RENT.

Nicole Parker, I've been told, acted the part best. I only have seen her YouTube vids. That's not enough to judge on.

I did love Ana Gasteyer during her Elphie run in Chicago: She didn't have the insane vocals of someone like Ellis, but she was head & shoulders above any other actress I've seen do the role.



BN

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zoraksferal
#45Best and Worst Elphaba of 2009
Posted: 1/4/10 at 8:26pm

I had never noticed, but wow, some of them do have bizarre names!


"It doesn't work when you lick it!"


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