I saw Wicked for the first time last night and...

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 7:08pm

it totally surpassed my expectations. I admit to occasionally teasing the wIkUd fans, but I must say that- at least based on what I saw last night- it deserves all the hype and praise it gets. I have listened to the OBCR a few times, but was never particularly impressed with it. In the theatre, the score was gorgeous. The acting was extremely detailed and layered by all of the actors, notably Julia Murney, who had an incredibly rich voice to boot. The technical aspects were perfect, and I was moved by this powerful show.

[vfd88]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 7:17pm

Your absolutely right. I always thought the cast album was good, but to see the show in the theatre was unbelievable. The sets, costumes, orchestra, all were amazing. It certainly wasn't the best show I've seen, but it was probably the one that I enjoyed the most.

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 7:18pm

Really? We must have seen a different cast or even a whole different show because mostly all of the acting was not extremely detailed and layered. Who was on for Fieyro? I KNOW we did not see the same Fiyero...

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 7:18pm

All I can say is...wow.

[ElFantasma14]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 7:18pm

Julia and Kendra are amazing. Seeing Eden and Kate Reinders the second time I saw the show was such a step down from Murney and Kassebaum's amazing performances.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 7:19pm

I'm so glad you liked Julia! She's a favorite of mine and I think she's amazing in the show. Who else was in last night? Sebastian and Kendra?

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 7:25pm

Yes, Kendra and Sebastian. Kendra took some getting used to, but that might have been due to some intonation problems in the beginning. All in all, she was excellent. I didn't really care for Sebastian, as his voice seemed a bit weak and his acting was good but not on the same level as the others.

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 7:26pm

Ahhh Sebastian and Kendra. That's who I saw...

I remember liking Julia Murney because she didn't scream She had a nice belt that made me like her.
Kendra I thought was not the best singer at all but fine with acting.
And Sebastian was...just..I can't even talk about it because I think I was staring at his body the whole time..because that was about the best thing concerning his performance.

Not that I'm trying to rain on your parade, you understand.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 7:29pm

Julia and Kendra are A-MAHZ-ING. Like Anna said, Julia knows how to belt. She doesn't scream and is properly trained.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 7:35pm

I'm very glad you liked it.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 7:39pm

Anna, either you had an off-night or (and) I had an on-night, but Kendra's voice managed to drastically improve during the performance from shaky to polished. As I said, I did not really like Sebastian, but he wasn't terrible. I agree that one of the many reasons I liked Julia was because she was able to belt without screaming, and used her head voice when appropriate. It, was her acting, though, that escalated her performance to "amazing".

[i.heart.link]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 7:50pm

I saw it on Sunday, and wow! Its such an extroadany show, the sets, costumes, singing and acting is exremely wonderufl. I can see why people who listen to the soundtrack might not love it, but seeing the show is such a better experience. And I think its quite a funny show, but mostly because i love the Wizard of Oz, and all their little allusions to it made me happy! But i agree its a great show.

[vfd88]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 7:53pm

I haven't seen Julia, but I heard her on The Wild Party cast album and she is FIERCE. You're lucky to have seen her.

[beautyofmydream]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 10:03pm

I saw Julia, Kendra, and Sebastian when they were all touring together. They exceeded my expectations and blew me away. I saw them about a year ago and I can just imagine how much they've grown in their roles. Julia especially, she has an amazing voice and is an amazingly talented woman. Best of luck to them when their run is complete.

[lucydee]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 10:13pm

bwaylvsong,
So glad you enjoyed Wicked. Its a great show and one of my favorites. Going to see it again on June 6th my second time but the first time for my office staff. I think they are going to be in for a great treat!

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 10:30pm

Julia Murney acts the part fabulously. I always thought the characters in the show were terribly written, but she somehow managed to bring a lot of depth to the character, certainly much more than Idina!

But Wicked really is a dreadfully overrated show. Terrible book, so-so score...

[usmma2010]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 10:47pm

wicked is not one of my favorite show, but i still have a soft spot for it, since it got my lil sis into theater and now i have a buddy, but it fills its spot on bway very well, its a great family show, its catchy and harmless and most people like the story, will it change your life, prob not but it serves a purpose almost

dont know i never loved it but i thought it was good for what it is

just my opinion

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 10:50pm

"Wicked" will always have a soft spot with me, for one, I am a big "Wizard of Oz" fan, and for another, the OBC was the first show I ever saw on Broadway.

I'm glad you enjoyed it...while Idina has been the only "official" Elphaba I've liked, (I've liked some of the understudies better) Murney is better than most.

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 2:53am

Murney, in my opionion is the BEST Elphaba that Wicked is ever seen.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 2:57am

I saw Murney twice on tour and was impressed with her performance. I was going to try to get tickets to see the show in July or August with my mom but it didn't work out.

[theatregeek2]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 12:35pm

"Murney, in my opionion is the BEST Elphaba that Wicked is ever seen."

>>> I totally agree. She does not only sing the part WELL (with a good rich belt ang NO screaming!) BUT her acting is icing on the cake! She shows so much depth of character in her Elphaba....it's thrilling to see!

[singingbackup]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 12:54pm

I just saw EDEN here in Los Angeles, and she was a friggin ROCKSTAR! And this was a Saturday night, to boot. She was in amazing voice and all of her riffs were enhancing, not distracting. Soaring vocals.

[Justin D]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 2:49pm

I hhope Julia is still there in September, will be my first time seeing it in NYC and am hopeing to see her.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 3:36pm

What I also love about Julia is that she doesn't just riff all over the place just to shwo she can riff.

[raphael06]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 3:46pm

"What I also love about Julia is that she doesn't just riff all over the place just to shwo she can riff."

AMEN! Some of these leading ladies need to understand that it IS ok to sing the melody every once in a while...

As far as the current casting goes, as I have stated before, I think Julia is the only actress so far to really color Elphaba as a three dimensional character. Unlike Idina, Sho, and everyone else, I really saw a journey and complexities in Julia's performance.

I loved Kendra! Her voice is fine and nice but her comedic timing was priceless.

Sebastian on the otherhand, I thought was awful. His voice is weak and unimpressive and I wonder how mmuch acting experience he has had.