Elphabean! ie...SHOSHANA BEAN ROCKED!

[TheOneAndOnly]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 10:47am

So! Shoshana Bean made her debut in Wicked last night. Can we first say, how crazy is it that six months ago she was understudying for Tracy Turnblad, and now for Elphaba. The characters are so different in every possible way, yet she pulled off both beautifully. I'll definitely go into detail, but the overall feeling is that..there is always room for improvement, but for her very first night as Elphaba she was stunningly kick-ass.

It was a full cast minus Joey McIntyre, as Kristoffer Cusick (sp?) was on. I had only ever seen Norbert, and I really wasn't upset about missing our resident NKOTB. JLT doesn't get entrance applause, which surprised me, but apparently those of us in the center were Sho's cheering squad, because she got lots of love when she first walked in, suitcase in hand. So let's get to the songs:

The Wizard & I: Solid, an excellent start. She threw her little ShoBeanisms into some of the phrases which totally made the song hers without straying too far. I was hoping for her to hit some crazy high notes like I had heard Eden do, but I'm sure as she gets more comfortable she'll play more.

What Is This Feeling: I don't know what was up, we all know Shoshana has a very strong voice, but it was hard to hear her on some parts. The music was too loud and her mic was too low. Still fun.

Popular: I just have to mention this, as it was my first time seeing JLT. She is really wonderful, I enjoyed her much more than Kristin. Yet it's surprising how much she sounds like her sometimes. She's added a lot of her own stuff though that is very fun.

I'm Not That Girl: Ok, here's the Shoshana we all know and love. She's got those low notes, and she knows how to emote a song like nobody else. Without the possible nerves (?) we had on Wizard & I, she started just glowing here. Don't get me wrong, Wizard & I was very, very good. But I expect Sho to blow me away on every single note, which she totally started doing on this song.

Defying Gravity: The biggie! Her acting on this specific song/scene was stronger or as good as Idina. During Madame Morrible's wicked witch speech, Shoshana went to a place it looked like she's never been. Her entire body was overcome with emotion and she was just 1000% ON. "I'm not, it's the Wizard who should be afraid: OF ME." Ook literally, it gave me chills last night, and again just now again thinking about it, LOL. What else can I say about the song itself? It looked like the 500th time she had done it, not the first. Not to say it wasn't fresh, but she just was right on, each step of the way.

As Long As You're Mine: Ok, this is probably my favorite song in the show. However, whatever they did to it for Joey Mac..(apparently they lowered it for him, I've heard?)...totally ruined the song. It wasn't a case of just lowering it a bit; it's like all the harmonies are different, the melody seemed different, just not good at all. It was performed well (mostly), but being a fan of the original version, I was not pleased.

No Good Deed: Who was it that said this would be Shoshana's song of the night? Well you were right. Simply THE BEST I have ever heard this sung, and I've heard all three ladies. When she rose out of the stage wailing, "Fiyerooooooooooooooooo!", it was by far my favorite moment of the night, because you knew she was going to take this song and sing it like it was meant to be sung. The passion, the heaving, the emotion, the desperation...it all came through, and those extended notes were goosebump-inducing.

For Good: JLT & Sho blended very nicely, not much to say on this one except that it was done exactly how it should be. Shoshana was stronger on this than I've seen Idina do it.

The verdict: If you can get a ticket this week for Wicked, you are in for a performance you will not soon forget. If Shoshana were to take over for Idina (which it has been said she most likely will not), then Wicked would be lucky to have her! Any questions?

Thanks!

[wickedfan2]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 10:51am

I've seen both Eden and Idina as Elpheba and both were outstanding. However, with your review of Shoshana I am DYING to see and hear now now!!!!!!!!!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 10:53am

Thanks a bunch! I knew she'd be outstanding! Glad to hear you loved her so much.

[luvWICKED416]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 10:56am

ugh... I want to see her soooo badly!!!! Dammit, i bet she is incredible!

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 10:58am

Shoshana Bean is one of my favorite preformers and I'm so happy for her success.
Thank you so much for posting a review Updated On: 10/21/04 at 10:58 AM

[luvWICKED416]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 11:11am

I've only seen her @ Queer Songbook... and she def. didn't didn't show all she had... ugh, i'd die to see here in Defying Gravity!

[greenifyed]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 12:01pm

Thanks SO much for the review. I wish I could see her as Elphie, dammit.

Excellent review :) Everything I anticipated.

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 1:25pm

Great review, can't wait to see her tonight

One question thhough as I'm not a Wicked expert (having seen the show 'only' three times):
With regards to As Long As You're Mine, haven't they just lowered one key for Joe Mac? Or even hasn't 'he' just lowered his last MINE? That's all I think sounds different when comparing his version to Norbert's...

I don't know if I'm deaf (I wouldn't be surprised, all these rock concerts!!!) but the melodies, orchestration, keys are all EXACTLY the same to me except the last note MINE when obviously Joe Mac decided to lower the key whereas Idina kept it 'higher', making it sound a bit off-ish. I don't even understand why he wanted to lower it as I think he hits a similiar note in Dancing Through Life and holds it well.

Can anyone enlighten me?

QM

Updated On: 10/20/04 at 01:25 PM

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 6:03pm

I give credit where credit should be given. That was a very well written review.

[ponine24601]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 6:08pm

ahh!!! yay!!!!!!!!! i'm SOOOOO glad that shoshana ruled!! i want to see her!!!

[Al Dente]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 6:12pm

I just hope she kept the Mariah Carey-isms' to a bare minimum. Carey is no longer someone worth emulating, even if you're channeling her circa 1990.

Posted: 10/20/04 at 6:14pm

thnx for the gr8 review. Glad u enjoyed it. She Rox.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 6:48pm

huh?

[wicked4life51]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 6:54pm

I am a good freind of shoshanas and so sad that i am unable to see her this week hopefully when im back home i would go see her would be around the time in december hopefully shes perfomring then i love her and im glad she did so amazinf thanks for the review...
Zack

[Songsstresss]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 8:51pm

QueenMuppet-
Yes, the key of As Long As Your Mine from Fiyero's verse to the end of the song has been lowered for Joey. And once they sing together the harmonies have changed so that Elphaba has the higher part.

[jmaclover]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 8:58pm

Not beacuse I'm a Joey fan or anything, but he does ALAYM great! They did lower it - and Idina and he both changed - I thought it sounded fine!!

Maybe kristoffer or w/e his name is was off??? (Not saying he's bad but maybe Shoshana and hi through each other off - it's rare two understudies sing a song by themselves - I KNOW IT'S HAPPNENED im just saying its rare)

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 10:00pm

so... my understanding is that Shoshana Bean was u/s for Tracy Turnblad... Shoshana does not look fat to me... did she use a fat suit or something? and how did that look? i don't know... granted they use a fat suit for Edna Turnblad... there's something that doesn't seem right to me about making a skinny girl fat when there are plenty of larger girls (hmm... i don't quite know how sensitive that was... sorry!!!) who could use the exposure (sorry once again no pun intended) in a role such as Tracy Turnblad... just rambling...

either way... i have her clips of Shoshana and she does have an AMAZING voice

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 10:03pm

here is how the Tracy situation works.

they need TWO covers for that role. a stand-by and a "just in case" inderstudy if the stand-by couldn't go on (and that happens all the tiem in shows). The stand-by is traditional Tracy type, but one of the ensemble girls also covers the role "just in case".

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 10:18pm

aah.... so does it look realistic... the fat suit that is on the girl that is?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 10:22pm

theyd on't overly pad her up... it would look too articifial. The audience knows what is going on and what the conceit is..

[Chip1012]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 11:05pm

someone on "the other board" posted that Shoshana will NOT be doing Sunday's performance. Can anyone confirm this?!??!!? If so, there will be multiple murders in my dorm tonight. Updated On: 10/21/04 at 11:05 PM

[TheOneAndOnly]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 11:56pm

Chip...in regards to posting it here and on ATC, I have a few reasons..

I've seen many people cross-post before, and I'm sure "95% of the people" do not read both boards, as even I was reading ATC for a few years before I came here. There are two fairly distinct groups between the two sites, and I knew most everyone would be interested in hearing about Shoshana. Lastly, if you saw it on one site after already reading it on another, is it really *that* difficult to just pass by it? They're not such big threads that they should get in your way...Honestly, some people just have to be picky...

Thanks for all the positive comments from most people, I am happy to have been able to post the review!

[Chip1012]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 2:00am

bump.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 8:32am

To be fair and to put it in a palpable context, Bean used to be a bit more "physically appropriate" for a role like Tracy.

[Chip1012]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 6:58pm

can anyone here confirm or deny that Shoshana will be performing at Sunday's matinee??