Did anyone see Kerry tonight?- Page 2

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 10:58am

lets hope she doesn't carry on attempting the accent. there's no need.

i was curious whether her performance would seem bland because she doesn't riff her songs like most american elphabas do.

she kind of relies on power belting and the occasional growl, which works for her.


plus...has anyone heard her cd yet? mine still hasn't arrived.

[sarla]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 11:06am

"the balance of the show was very much thrown off, and it really felt like Glinda's show."
Yes! That's exactly it. Exactly how I felt when I saw her in London. Powerful voice, but not an ounce of stage presence. (Or at least that's what it seemed like when I saw her.)

[sarla]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 11:06am

oops double post Updated On: 6/18/08 at 11:06 AM

[Misplaced]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 11:13am

"plus...has anyone heard her cd yet? mine still hasn't arrived."

Release date for her (teaser) CD on the Dress Circle site is July 7.

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 11:22am

whoops.

that would explain why its not come yet hahaha.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 11:49am

FYI....They are selling her CD at the theater for $12.

[Misplaced]

Posted: 6/18/08 at 11:55am

"FYI....They are selling her CD at the theater for $12."

Really? Wow do I miss American prices...it's 8.99 GBP here (and not even out!). *Sigh*

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 6/19/08 at 1:20am

It seems like I saw a different show than everyone else. I LOVED Kerry. Her accent did fluctuate at times(The British accent came out strong in NGD and Catfight) and I was upset that she said gravidee instead of gravity(I forgot about it when she growled though...lol). I also thought that her and David had great chemisty and her and Kendra looked like they were working together for years.

[IssaMe]

Posted: 6/19/08 at 9:16am

I agree with the pro comments about Kerry. Loved her in London, loved her in NY on Tuesday and Wednesday (note Julie Reiber went on for the Wednesday night performance).

Having seen all (or almost all) of the Elphabas multiple times around the world in the past 5 years including the various understudies, my three favorites are still Stephanie, Julie, and Kerry (in that order). But that is just personal opinion.

Kerry's 3-song sampler CD (with a rocking version of "Defying Gravity" and a semi-rocking, a bit more subdued "I'm Not That Girl") I believe sold out immediately in the lobby of the Gershwin and is being restocked. It might be back by today?

I, for one, love her "growling"...especially in "Defying Gravity"...

And thought the chemistry between her and David Burnham's Fiyero was exceptional.

But different people see things in different ways.

[jigblob]

Posted: 6/19/08 at 11:17am

Why do performers get "told off" for throwing in some riffs? I've never really understood that. I can see if they like totally tear the score to shreds with it, but i dont get why she would be told off for like her one riff in "the wizard and i." I've also heard things about becky gulsvig getting in trouble for riffing in legally blonde?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/19/08 at 11:32am

"Why do performers get "told off" for throwing in some riffs?"

The performers in the Broadway company certainly haven't been told off for riffing. Every Elphaba they've had, plus a lot of the standbys, riffs to some extent. It seems to be encouraged in that company.

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 6/19/08 at 1:20pm

It may have been someone like Kerry's vocal coach or something telling her not to riff because its uncertain how her voice could cope with the added strain?

I only say that because it seems unlikely that producers or whoever of the Broadway Wicked company would say something like that....I mean come on, they've had Eden Espinosa + Shoshana Bean who like riff everything and anthing.

So yeah, I'd say it would more likely be in order to save her voice than trying to prevent adding their own flavour to the score.

She should take their advice, she hasn't riffed since she started and thats maybe one of the reasons she's been consistently great since 06 or whenever.

They may also be concerned because if she started wearing her voice out riffing now, she wouldn't be able to perform her best all through her Broadway run AND upon her return to the West End.

Seems a shame, because she can do it so well.

[EvanK]

Posted: 6/19/08 at 1:22pm

I am currently listening to her Rock version of defying gravity.. holy crap.. amazing....

[sgv123]

Posted: 6/19/08 at 1:38pm

^ i agree, that version is amazing!

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 6/19/08 at 1:40pm

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4P-cMh4QjYA&feature

this is the youtube vid of Kerry's Defying Gravity 'Wicked in Rock' version.

she's such a rajj.

love it.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/19/08 at 1:46pm

"(note Julie Reiber went on for the Wednesday night performance)"

Anyone know why?

PS- I'd have killed to see Reiber in this role again. Stunning performance.

[Marcus2]

Posted: 6/19/08 at 1:46pm

I'm sure the riffing thing is due to the producers wanting to keep the show a certain way, once you start allowing performers to riff and change the score its easy for them to start just hijjacking what the show is about. This seems to be more in England with Wicked on Broadway it seems like they actively encourage it. I mean Shoshana Bean didn't stick to one note the whole of Defying Gravity (which I personally love).

I think riffing keeps shows fresh for both performer and audience and can give an actor a chance to make a stamp on their performance!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/19/08 at 1:54pm

I agree Marcus2. I love to hear an actress take some liberties with those songs. It is one of the reasons I like revisiting the show when a new performer takes over- to hear their interpretations of the songs. It keeps it fresh.

But can we really make a judgement about the London company and riffing yet? I have no idea how the new Elphaba does it, but of the two previous ones, we know Menzel did it, and Ellis did it sometimes. Can you really say they discouraged it over there?

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 6/19/08 at 1:59pm

Well from the London Elphabas i've seen...Idina did semi riffs (aka not to Eden/Shoshana levels), Kerry doesn't really riff, but she does her version of the score...slight changes here and there.

Cassidy (the Standby who just left) didn't really do it either, however it wasn't always a carbon copy of Kerry's performance either.

Alexia I have a feeling will have a riff-fest when she's settled in.


I agree that the London Elphaba's don't riff to American standards, but I'm not sure if thats because its discouraged or the fact coincidentally the Elphaba's they have had just don't do it/don't feel confident doing it.

[musicandtemiror]

Posted: 6/19/08 at 3:20pm

Maybe she was just tired from jet lag or something?
Maybe she has to adjust or was nervous

Idk

[Kalimba]

Posted: 6/19/08 at 3:27pm

I don't think it was jet lag as she's been here rehearsing. I've said this before, due to the singing Elphaba has to do, there should be a "matinee" Elphaba assigned. Hell, if Christine in Phantom only has to sing six performances a week, why not the actress who plays Elphaba?

[sarla]

Posted: 6/19/08 at 3:56pm

I remember reading on one of the Wicked message boards a while back that a cast member had said the UK conductors definitely discourage riffs. One of them made sure that the actors stuck strictly to the score. I believe only one of the conductors allowed it, that's why it was only on certain performances that the cast would take liberties. Also, on a slightly related note, there is a youtube video of the standby Tracy in Hairspray called "the forbidden riff" or something along those lines, basically I think the comments said she's no longer allowed to do that riff as the principle Tracy doesn't do it and the standby basically has to give the audience the same show they would have gotten if the principle was on. Sounds bizarre, but more than a few people have said it. I'm not quite sure why, but I do know that Kerry has said on a number of occasions that she has been told off for riffing in Wicked. Which I agree is a shame as like people have said before I love to hear an actress put their own stamp on it. But the UK shows most certainly discourage riffing, or at least the big Broadway transfers are discouraged from doing it.
This was far more rambling than I have planned, so my apologies!
Updated On: 6/19/08 at 03:56 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/19/08 at 4:18pm

Oh well. Those Brits are too uptight!

It seems silly that a conductor gets to decide this, especially since the show's creator obviously has no problem with actresses riffing his score, since all the women on Broadway have done it.

[Weez]

Posted: 6/19/08 at 4:28pm

It's true. Whenever I hear a riff, I come over all queer and have to have a bit of a sit-down and a nice cup of tea. But don't tell anyone about my problem; stiff upper lip an' all that, chaps. :P

Updated On: 6/19/08 at 04:28 PM

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 6/19/08 at 4:52pm

what is this "special" version of wizard and i? I listened to a few of them on U tube and they all sound the same as anyone else...