Did anyone see Kerry tonight?

[musicaltheatrefan3]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 11:08pm

How was she? Amazing (as she always was in London), probably. I love Kerry Ellis, but I haven't seen "Wicked" in 2008 yet, but I really hope that I will, so I can see Kerry. Why'd she have to leave 6 weeks before I come to London!

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 11:28pm

Just to be sure there are no confusions...

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 11:28pm

I did.

I was completely and utterly underwhelmed. Her singing, with the exception of No Good Deed, wasn't thrilling or exciting. Bizarrely, she decided to "speak-sing" much of For Good, as if she were Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady.

I didn't like the choices she made acting wise either. I've never seen Elphaba played so mean before. Fiery, yes, but never mean. Her accent fluctuated.

Going back next week to see Aaron..hopefully she'll have improved by then.
Updated On: 6/17/08 at 11:28 PM

[musicaltheatrefan3]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 11:31pm

Give the girl a break. She just came into this country about a week ago, and it was her first show. She was always amazing in the UK production. Although, her voice cracked more than any other Elphie, especially on "Look to the western sky" and "tell them how I". Oh, I love Kerry. I hope she'll be better next week. Tell me how Aaron is, too.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 11:36pm

She's played the role for 18 months...it was not her first show. First show with this company, yes, but so what.

Musicaltheatrefan3, I'm curious as to how you know she was "always amazing" in London, when earlier in this thread you wrote that she left six weeks before you go to London. Presumably, you've never seen her do the role, ergo, your opinion means nothing.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 11:43pm

I never seen her, but she's always amazing...hang on who are we talking about?

[Kev]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 11:44pm

And why ask for a (valid) opinion, musicaltheatrefan3, when you're gonna shoot it down?

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 11:45pm

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 11:45 PM

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 11:46pm

Someone needs to go see their therapist!

[being.jeremiah]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 11:53pm

I saw Kerry... O'Hala.

God, I'm so funny. I know.

[pli1018]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 12:02am

I saw Kerry last July on the West End and I thought she was amazing. I really hope tonight was just new-environment jitters, because she definitely deserves better.

[SahDu]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 1:24am

"I saw Kerry... O'Hala."

It was more clever than you give yourself credit for. I laughed. Updated On: 2/15/14 at 01:24 AM

[winston89]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 1:28am

I got a ticket as a graduation gift to see her a week from today. I got the ticket because she was in it. I will admit that I have seen clips of her online and thought that she was amazing and made the hard singing seem effortless. Hence me getting a ticket. I do hope that tonight was just some Broadway jitters and that they are going to go away.

[achangeinme]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 1:32am

Bizarrely, she decided to "speak-sing" much of For Good, as if she were Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady

Oh my, this really made me lol. Now I can't get the picture of Rex Harrison painted green out of my mind.

[CHGriffiths]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 3:33am

Am quite dissapointed to hear this, I saw her in London countless times, and from what you've said, this does not sound like Kerry, perhaps the producers asked her to change abit? I just have a few questions I would like to ask as there are some things I wondered if she would keep the same on Broadway:

1) Did she use an American Accent, or did she just play it normally?

2) Did she still do her *Growl* at "Loooooook to the western sky"?

3) Finally, did she do her *Special* version of Wizard and I, or did she sing it 100% true to the score?

[Princeton2]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 4:55am

I saw her in London and I have to say I was underwhelmed to, apart from her No Good Deed. However at the Chess concert she was sensational.

[Weez]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 5:22am

Somewhere among all the Tony coverage, I found an interview with a leading lady (I don't remember who or where, sorry ) that said Broadway was always terrifying, because Broadway is the World Series of theatre. I don't doubt that at all; if it's your Broadway debut, the knowledge of what you're doing has the potential to be powerful and choking. She may have been Elphaba for months now, but give her another day or so to settle into BEING ON BROADWAY.

[Misplaced]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 6:07am

I saw her several times in London and thought she was wonderful - and sensational at the Chess concert, as Princeton2 says. I do hope it's "just" Broadway nerves. But how bizarre if she is playing the role with an American accent - is she? She had said in some interview or other that she's wouldn't.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 6:53am

"1) Did she use an American Accent, or did she just play it normally?"

She started with an American accent, and was very conscious of it early on. However, it started to come and go by the middle of act 1. The accent fluctuated all night. I hope they just tell her to not even bother with it, because there is nothing that says Elphaba has to have an American accent. Just let her do it with the British accent.

"2) Did she still do her *Growl* at "Loooooook to the western sky"? "

Yes. She growled a LOT last night.

"3) Finally, did she do her *Special* version of Wizard and I, or did she sing it 100% true to the score?"

No, she sang every song 100% "as written," which was one of the things that greatly disappointed me, and why I said there was no excitement in her vocals. Very dull. Competent, but dull.


The balance of the show has completely tipped in Glinda's favor at this point, which I've seen happen a couple of times before, when you have a strong Glinda and a weaker Elphaba.

On a positive note, Jayne Houdyshell was back last night and she was fantastic. Best Morrible since Carole Shelley.

[Misplaced]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 8:01am

Apparently she got told off for riffing *The Wizard and I* in London - with any luck she's just playing it safe for now (she's marvelous when she wanders from the score). But the accent bit is just strange. If it's first-night jitters I do hope she settles.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 8:13am

That's interesting, if it's true, because riffing seems to be encouraged over here. The vast majority of the American Elphabas have taken some lovely liberties with the score.

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 8:44am

What did you think of the chemistry between her, David and Kendra?

[Misplaced]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 8:46am

No idea if the telling-off rumor is true. I have heard her riff, however. Fabulous.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 8:58am

She and David didn't have any chemistry at all, not that it matters much, since he leaves Sunday. I assume she did most of her rehearsing with Aaron, who takes over on Tuesday.

She and Kendra were fine together, and will presumably get more comfortable with each other. However, as I noted before, the balance of the show was very much thrown off, and it really felt like Glinda's show.

[winston89]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 10:46am

I will admit that the Wicked score is something I can take or leave. But, I do enjoy when the actress playing Elphaba decides to take liberities with the score then do it as written. I would have trouble belieave that Ellis wasn't allowed to riff at all on Broadway considering the fact that almost every Broadway Elphaba has and she wouldn't be he first. Either way, I am seeing the show next week and here's to hoping that all of these problems are solved by then.