Casting "Elphaba" as older . . .

[AngActing]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 3:06pm

This is sort based on the latest comment about "unpopular opinions" you hold thread. Someone noted that they feel the latest "Elphaba" actress/singers have been a 'bit long in the tooth'.

I saw Lisa B. just last week and we talked about how both Ana Gasteyer and Julia Murney were/are 38-years-old when portraying the role; and although I don't know Lisa's age, my assumption she is also in her 30s or so.

I thought the point she made was excellent. Although we have many, many excellent young singers on Broadway and even up and coming -- "Elphaba" is a challenging singing role from moment one to the last moment, and many younger singers really would have not have the voice strength, training or stamina to do it eight shows a week, or even three or more times a week.

I agree. In my 20s, my voice was not even near strong enough to carry a show like "Wicked". Now, yes, I am much more skilled and have much better control and a richness that just doesn't generally exist until one gets older.

Of course, this is an opinion . . . and from a woman (or women, if we include Lisa [and perhaps Julia and Ana]; who are that age range and, in my case, want to play the role (no matter my advanced age)!

[FallintoLight]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 3:17pm

I find that I don't like the younger Elphaba's as much as I do the older ones. Maybe it's because they have more experience to draw off of? I have no idea! But the portrayals for the most part are more to my liking then younger Elphaba's.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 3:19pm

I personally think Bea Arthur would be FANTASTIC!

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 3:32pm

I hate the show, but I noticed how Ana brought so much more to the role when I saw her in it than the previous people I have seen/heard.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 3:38pm

Why do you go to a show you hate multiple times?

[markymatt]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 3:43pm

Haven't most of the Broadway Elphabas been in their 30's? Idina Menzel, Ana Gasteyer, Stephanie J. Block, and Julia Murney were all in their 30's when they played the role. I don't follow the show closely enough to know about all of the stand-by/understudies, but it seems like Eden Espinoza and Shoshona Bean were in the minority.

I think it does come down to knowing that your singer can handle the role--and handle it eight (or at least six) shows per week. The same thing happens with Phantom of the Opera. Most of the Christine Daee's have been more age appropriate for Carlotta. (Okay, maybe that's a stretch). There are younger performers out there who can handle it, but without the experience to prove they can, it's risky for a casting director.

In my opinion, there are two problems with this casting. The first being that the producers seem to think that makeup will cover most signs of aging. What they forget is that women's bodies and physicality are just as good of, if not better signs of age as face wrinkles.

One can argue that the character of Elphaba is only supposed to be college age for the first act of the show, and therefore does not have to be cast with a younger actor. But, this leads me to problem two. The Glindas seem to be getting younger and younger. Having a 3? year old Idina Menzel is fine as Elphaba when you have a 3? year old Kristen Chenoweth as Glinda. Putting 3? year old Lisa Brescia next to 22 year old Annaleigh Ashford is another story completely.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 3:47pm

I think the nature of the role and the make-up might allow you to cast an older actress without having to stretch your credibility too far. That said, there is a certain point when she is supposed to be playing a SCHOOL GIRL that might come off more comical for the wrong reasons if a person older than Ana or Julia were playing it. Plus, there are certain things that could be overlooked as long as the actor makes up for it in every other department.

[FallintoLight]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 4:43pm

I think that both Kristin and especially Jennifer Laura Thompson were some of the best portrayals of the role and they were both in their 30's. It clearly works with a Glinda in her 30's. It's interesting that they've begun to cast Glinda's 10 years younger then what they started out with.

I hope that all makes sense!

[MerMaggieGalinda]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 5:03pm

I saw Eden Espinosa as Elphaba(who is in her late 20s no?), and one of my favorite things about her performance was that she actually acted and looked very youthful in the Shiz scenes and that she actually looked somewhere around the same age as Megan Hilty. They were the perfect Elphaba/Glinda pair age wise.

[AngActing]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 5:12pm

>> I think the nature of the role and the make-up might allow
>> you to cast an older actress without having to stretch your
>> credibility too far.

I think fantasy make-up (i.e. green face) allows you a lot of room with age, etc. In fact, I've said it before -- it would not be unusual for a 'wicked witch' to look 'older' than her peers as she is "different". I mean, all the actresses portraying have been estremely pretty. And in the book, she is never described as "pretty" or "cute". She has sharp teeth and even in the musical . . . "froggy skin". To me, it just wouldn't be green, it would be bumpy, ugly and maybe "old" looking. Nevertheless, I love 'my Elphaba's' -- Ana, Julia and Lisa (to date); and to a lesser degree, the youngest one I've seen [she was 26-years old], Cassidy [on the West End]was good, but definitely will be better, in my opinion, when she is in her 30s. She was a bit too, well, young to have the passion that is needed for the role and the dramatic depth (of voice) that can only comes with age.

>> there is a certain point when she is supposed to be playing a
>> SCHOOL GIRL that might come off more comical for the wrong
>> reasons if a person older than Ana or Julia were playing it.

This depends on how "old" the actress appears, actually. I know several actresses in their 40s (early to almost 50 years old) you cannot tell they are near their 40s! They look about 33 to 35 years old and are cast that way, too. Thus, it would depend on how "old" the person 'older than Ana or Julia' looks.

I also thought, out of make-up, both Julia and Lisa do look their age if not a bit older. I may have thought they were already 40.

>> Plus, there are certain things that could be overlooked as
>> long as the actor makes up for it in every other department.

Totally agreed, though!

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 5:50pm

Elphaba is suppose to be older than Glinda since she is only going to school to care for her younger sister (we son't know an exact age difference). Also, people could go to college at an older age in Oz. I know people might think that this is stretching it, but I think it's perfectly fine to cast a thirty-something-year-old as a girl in her mid twenties.

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 8:52pm

Also...Glinda and Elphaba are only in college in the first act. By Act Two it is suggested that they are no longer at Shiz and probably in their mid to late twenties. I know that many years are supposed to have past.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 12:52am

I think Jenna Leigh Green and Dee Roscioli (spelling?) were two of the best Elphabas I've seen (just behind Stephanie J. Block, who I think OWNS the role) and they are both in their 20s I believe...

I think age doesn't matter, sheer talent does :)

[sesboa]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 3:00am

If Lea Michele gets the role, will she be the youngest Elphaba yet? Or am I just opening a can full of worms? lol.

[Janki]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 3:47am

IMHO I think Edens "Elphie" was the best sung one...Whilst IdinaJuliaStephAna might act it better. Being a performer in the West End myself I actually prefer the sung one, simply because so many people can act a part, but only a chosen few can sing a role as demanding as "Elphaba". And we are all waiting for the big money note at ehd of "Def Grav" are we not? How many fans were dissapointed when they saw the "Tony"s and Idina (normally spot on) could not sing that last note to save her life?

[ullabelt]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 4:52am

Id actually rather see them act. It doesnt bother me when people crack or such as they are human. I find Kerry Ellis's Elphaba makes me want to drill out my own eyes shes such a dull dud of an actress. Musical Theatre is about telling stories ... if not they would be just concerts.

[zoran912]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 12:37pm

Agreed. Our business is about communication.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 12:49pm

I thought Jenna Leigh Green was great when I saw her go on as Elphaba. Dee Roscioli not so much.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 2:04pm

FYI, the character of Elphaba is 38 when she "dies" in the book.

It's the same age Margaret Hamilton was when she played the part of the Witch in the 1939 MGM movie. Maguire did that on purpose.

...not that they're following the novel exactly in the musical, but that was the author's original intent with the character.

[AngActing]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 2:19pm

Of course, I haven't taken my "vibe" on watching 'The Wizard of Oz' these days. But, I always thought of Margaret Hamilton/Wicked Witch as much older than 38!!! LOL! Maybe it's from the books . . . a mean, "old" wicked witch!

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 3:06pm

"I am not sure there is one ULTIMATE woman who has played the role. It's a killer."

I saw Julia Murney, and I can't imagine anyone being as perfect in the role as she was.

[me2]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 5:25pm

Somewhere out of this discussion does Rachel York get to play her?

This is one of those roles that, on stage, doesn't matter so much with age. I was close to the stage when I saw S. J. B. do it, and I never flinched at her ability to convincingly portray the school girl Elphie. I never questioned it.
Broadway Blog: Money, Money, Money for a Mel Brooks Show Must Be Funny in a Rich Man’s World

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 5:34pm

"I am not sure there is one ULTIMATE woman who has played the role. It's a killer."

I'll second me2's sentiment in voting for Rachel York. She'd be fierce, vocally and acting-wise. Did y'all see the clip of her singing Defying Gravity in that video interview she did here on BWW a while back? Whew.

I agree with everyone who says that actual age doesn't matter as long as the actress "reads" and acts the part convincingly. I like a more mature Glinda, too. Young and giddy is okay at the beginning, but she needs to become seasoned by the end. I thought Christina DiCicco was fantastic on tour!

lc

[theatregeek2]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 5:44pm

"I am not sure there is one ULTIMATE woman who has played the role. It's a killer."

I saw Julia Murney, and I can't imagine anyone being as perfect in the role as she was.


broadwaylvsong.....I agree she WAS perfect as Elphabe....and I've seen Idina, Ana, Stephanie and Jenna Leigh in the role.....

[bkonbroadway]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 6:26pm

The only Elphaba who has made me think, "Oh, she's a bit too old" when she first runs onstage is Ana. It never crossed my mind with anyone else. It's all about how they look and not how old they really are. I saw Lisa last week and would think that she is in her mid to late 20's. Love her, but Ana is probably my least favorite. I think she started the show WAY too emotionally heightened and had nowhere to go from there for the rest of the show. She didn't vocally blow me away either. The age thing also bothered me and she seemed to do that thing where you don't have a line but you're mouthing what you're thinking...she did that a lot. She had good qualities too, but for me the bad outweighed to good.