I saw Wicked last night.....

[leeinlondon]

Posted: 2/5/04 at 10:24am

I had a great seat - row F in the orchestra on the left hand side but not too far over... a great place to see the show from and all the cast were in..

It took me a little while to get into the show... I wasn't really sold on it early on and then it took wings when the fantastic Idina sang "The Wizard and I".. that was the first point when I thought I might actually love this... I was suffering form jet lag.. my body thought the show started at 1.00am so I guess that didn't help me get into it. Also I had the wildly enthusistic laughers in front of me.. I remember thinking I am sure the person that wrote the book does not think it was that funny but they were getting their 100 dollars worth of laughs each thats for sure... At first I was also thinking Oh God another empty show with lots of pretty dancing and tons of DUH DUH !! musical buttons when they want applause......

However I was pretty much sold on the show by Popular and absolutely loved the first act ending scene... whilst it was not a "how do they do that" moment it is SO effective. I enjoyed the second act much more because by that time I was so into the show and the charatcers and whilst the ending is a COMPLETE cop out I went into the night with a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart...

I don't think it is a great great musical since I only really rated a couple of the songs but it sure is a wonderful production.. I can't understand critisism of the sets.. they didn't have to be literal representations of all the locations but symbolic of the atmosphere of the piece and they worked very well.. I was a bit disappointed that I could not hear what the chorus sang early on but the sound for individual songs was great.

I think that the central casting was key here.. I thought Kristin was fantastic in the much less sympathetic role of Glinda and once I learned to join in with the wildly over enthusisatic laughers I really enjoyed her performance. The show really belongs to Idina.. I worship that woman !!! The charatcer really goes on a journey through the show and you are there with here every step of the way... just lovely... I would have loved to see Norbert as Roger in RENT..just loved his voice and I bet he was fanastic in that role...


I will happily see this again on my next trip !!

[EddieVarley]

Posted: 2/5/04 at 10:31am

Welcome Lee, I also went back to see it again, Idina finds many interesting choices as she grows in the role, a pleasure to watch. A woman sitting behind me said at intermission to her friend that "Elphaba" is the "female's Phantom", make up and all!

Posted: 2/5/04 at 12:37pm

Lee,
I am glad you enjoyed the show. Your experience was very similar to mine.