Idina And Kristin Rumors- Questions

You always hear that they didn't get along and a whole multitude of things, but how valid are they? Are they just tabloid rumors? Or truth that is being blown up or misinterpreted? What exactly were the rumors/stories that allegedly claimed that they had difficulties in their relationship?

In the book "Nothing Like A Dame: Conversations With The Great Women Of Musical Theatre", the writer Eddie Shapiro asks about the very subject of Kristin and Idina and even states that(paraphrased quote, don't have the book with me now) "in your book, you dance around the question of Idina a little bit" and basically politely points out that she doesn't really give a definitive response to whether or not they had an adversarial relationship. She answers his question, but in my opinion, still evades any truly definitive response. Look, I understand that the possibility of that if she said anything along the lines of "me and Idina just don't get along" or "we had some rough patches yeah", that the media would have a field day over it and pit them against each other constantly or the possibility of that if she flat out denies any conflict, she could be proven wrong by other sources, but why not try to put an end to it and just flat out answer the question? Then the speculation and questions about their relationship could be more or less put to rest.

because OP should realize it’s been 15 years and that they don’t need to be friends.

Countless actors do not like each other AND many play romantic leads opposite each other. Famously too.

Teri Garr recently said Gene Wilder was a complete and total jerk yet they starred together in the Mel Brooks' famous YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN film.

Debra Winger and Shirley MacLaine could not stand each other during the film of 1983's TERMS OF ENDEARMENT and Debra and Richard Gere hated each other during the filming of AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN.

Its endless.

Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams also didn't get along and they both starred on ABC TV's LAVERNE & SHIRLEY. Heck, even Bea Arthur couldn't stand Betty White during the run of THE GOLDEN GIRLS.

Viewing old interviews during their run in WICKED, its quite apparent there is some friction between Kristen and Idina. You can see it in the body language that they both wish they were somewhere else instead of sitting next to each other.

#9, #15, #18



https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1058719

Didn't this whole thing start when the show was initially conceived as more of a vehicle for Kristin/Glinda? Throughout the writing process, the Elphaba role grew larger and larger (to the point where Stephanie Block was no longer a big enough name to fill the role) and so Tony Award winner Idina Menzel was chosen. Then, when it finally started to become a hit, all the misfits (or those who like to think of themselves as misfits - and that's most of us at heart really) identified with Elphaba and the whole thing started to revolve around that role. Then, they were up against each other at the Tonys and Kristin lost. I mean, who wouldn't be upset at anyone who could be perceived as eclipsing their big star moment? I'm sure it wasn't a knock-down constant battle like Baby Jane, but I'm certain there was tension and some bad blood.

And there's little to be done about it, as written, Glinda doesn't have the best songs or lines and she's certainly not the "hero" of the piece. The only time I have ever seen the balance between the two come out equal (or even slightly in Glinda's favor) was when Megan Hilty played the role. She gave depth, nuance, and power that I have never seen before or since in that role.

^^^ That makes sense, considering
the source material. Although
Galinda is important, there's no
question it is Elphaba's story.

***

As for interviews, I doubt there's
an actor alive who gets to the
point of starring in a Broadway
show, but wants to be chained
to another actor at every non-
show appearance. Folks that
talented don't work that hard
because they lack ego. (This
is not to libel either lady; I'm
just stating a fact.)

Updated On: 1/5/18 at 07:08 PM

Streisand didn't get along with Sydney Chaplin, and Arnaz and Klein used to speak for the first time every night when they met on stage. He went on Merv Griffin (I'm dating myself) to talk about it, and quipped about her dislike of him, "Hey she married a guy who looks like me, so go figure." (Luckinbill). Decades later, they did a reunion concert together. People are professional, they don't work together because they're pals, they end up in shows because the artistic synergy/chemistry is ideal for the material. But when it's two women, well, we certainly do ascribe more animosity. (See the "Feud" dynamic.) Another point: Actors don't all work alike. Anyone who's worked on a show knows that rehearsal process is personal, specific, no matter how unifying the directorial approach. More often than not, one star "gets to" the performance level quicker than another. It creates friction. But in the end, a show opens, and runs, everyone benefits. Read Bacall's books, and LuPone's: both simply leave out many people they didn't enjoy working with. It happens.

To further dismiss these claims, during rehearsals of the Brazilian production of Wicked, the cast said they asked this to the creatives that came from abroad and they said that they just aren't best friends, but there was no rivalry whatsoever between them.

This all reminds me of Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells' 2012 'Funny or Die' video about their post-Book of Mormon relationship:

Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad: Best Friends Forever