I have to agree with PB.
What I think she meant by Sexton not being an imposing figure is that her stage presence is not very naturally commanding or captivating. She comes off quite timid and passive, and that is a big contrast to dynamos the likes of Espinosa, Bean, Menzel, and Murney who all grab your attention whenever they walk on stage.
I also have reservations with Coleen in the vocal department. I think the role of Elphaba is best played by a brazen belter who just knocks the score out of the ballpark, and while Coleen is obviously a talented singer, I have almost always found her voice underwhelming, particularly as Lucy in "Jekyll and Hyde." If she struggled with bringing the power out of that score, I can only imagine the difficulties she'll have to overcome to succeed with Schwartz's music.
The creative team hasn't been without reservations about her either. She has auditioned for the role of Elphaba before (most notably prior to Idina Menzel leaving the Broadway company,) and obviously they had concerns that prevented her from landing it before.
Although I am not so sure of this casting choice, I am sure she has the ability to suprise us, and I wish her all the best.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 1/2/07 at 10:20 PM
