Idina Menzel and her "flying machine"

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Idina Menzel and her "flying machine"

Posted: 7/1/04 at 11:54pm

Why is it that Cathy Rigby gets to actually fly through the Gershwin Theatre in Peter Pan but for WICKED, which is a much higher budgeted show, the witch doesnt even fly? I'm sorry but I was really expecting the witch to fly and she didn't. I saw "The Wizard of Oz ON ICE" 10 years ago and the witch flew. The monkeys in WICKED fly. How hard can it be? Anyone else think the expandable dress effect is stupid?

Updated On: 7/1/04 at 11:54 PM

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/1/04 at 11:57pm

I think it's kind of stupid, but maybe it had something to do with her singing. Maybe other ways would make it more difficult for her to sing....

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 12:08am

I flew in a ballet and I can't imagine singing while flying. It is hard to breath with the gear on.
I would bet that the Peter Pan songs are easier to sing than the Wicked songs. They were written for Mary Martin, right?
Also, why should the show be predictable? Maybe it has other wonders to offer, than the same old flying thing.

" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 12:11am

We'll have to see if the Vampires in Dracula can sing Frank Wildhorn songs while flying.

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 12:21am

Something makes me think they won't be belting high F's while flying.

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 12:24am

I don't know about that! Frank Wildhorn and Stephen Schwartz are very close in style. Linda Eder has some REALLY high notes in there! You never know!

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 12:27am

I love Linda Eders solo CDs, especially the songs Mr. Wildhorn writes for her. Wonder why I am not drawn to his shows.

" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 12:32am

Yeah I would imagine that it has to do with the singing part. Defying Gravity is a rough song to do just standing there, let alone having a harness pull you around through the air. I think the flying affect still serves its purpose, even though I was disappointed in it when I saw it as well.

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 12:49am

ZFX did the flying for WICKED. Singing ina FOY harness is a bitch and a half because it presses on your diaphram and chest. The zfx harnesses don't press on the diagram and chest because of the harness design -- which is great. But yes, singing while strapped into harness ain't no picnic.

#10

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 1:10am

Well, that seems to have taken care of that discussion.

You are young, life has been kind to you. You will learn.

#11

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 1:15am

ha ha ha. I hope it was taken care of in a good way. LOL.

#12

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 1:35am

This thread amused me greatly. Thank you.

"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#13

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 1:41am

This is just me being philosophical, but I like that she rises instead of flies. It symbolizes Elphaba's rise to power and her refusal to except things as they are. If she was lifted the metaphor is lost. Instead she rises. But I still don't see why she doesn't fly around later in the second act or something.... or perhaps some kind of lift could have been attracted to her waist and she could have rose from behind or something, but then her legs would just be dangling. I'm sure they tried all kinds of things, before settling with this. I dunno. Whatever...

#14

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 1:49am

A full-fledged "flight" would be cool. I've imagined several scenarios for a "peter pan style" flight ever since seeing the TONYS performance. However, it's probably the better thing to keep her up in one spot and not held by harness. For one thing, any sort of harness (unless if it was REALLY good--like the ones Cathy Rigby had from ZFX) could put a great amount of pressure on the diaphragm, leading to less air support. And then we'd be deprived of the amazingly-belted high F from Idina.

Though, I can't imagine how Cathy could sing like she did while flying. It's gotta be a killer on the vocal mechanism to do all those flying acrobatics and support your tone. I've heard people talk about her performance on the 99' TONYs and that she went flat a few times...that sounds like it was an isolated incident compared to my experiences seeing the show and the reports I got from others.

-SuperSchubert

#15

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 1:56am

yes, she did go flat a few times on the Tonys. Playing Peter Pan is not picnic.. trying to belt in midair strapped in a harness, trying to face the audience at all times while you are swing through the air and dodging set pieces in not easy to do.

Yes, I HIGHLY recommend the services of ZFX to ANYONE doing ANY show with ANY flying. They are truly the best out there.

#16

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 7:28am

who said she had to fly while singing? she could have taken off from her platform when she was done with her final note... now THAT would have stopped the show... and as for the flying monkeys, "flying" would be the wrong word... "bungee-ing", if that is a word, would better describe their actions on stage...

#17

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 8:54am

Maybe less people would have issue with the no-flying if you coudln't see the friggin platform. If you're gonna do it, do it right.

#18

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 9:10am

Our school used zfx for our show of Peter pan. It was amazing, they came in and set up the pulley system and trained people to operate it.n This stuff is really good and looks really cool on stage.

In the words of Mr. William Morris Barfee, "In my whole life I have only been able to breathe through one nostril and today is no exception!"

#19

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 11:53am

I never saw it but I heard in "The Witches of Eastwick" they flew over the audience. I dont know if they were singing or not, but that is a really cool concept.

#20

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 12:23pm

Basically the WiItches flew out over the audience, aming 'ohh' and 'ahh' noises (as well as some grat adlibs), and then had to sing suspended above the stage and as they rose into the flies.

It can be done!

#21

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 1:39pm

Folks, if you think about it, why would Elphaba NEED to fly during "Defying Gravity?"

She sings "It's meeeeeee" and raises up to the sky.

If she were to fly side to side, it would take away from the WONDERFUL song that she sings. It would be distracting.

#22

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 2:41pm

I think it would be much dramatic if she moved up/down and left/right a bit in an unstable-like state of hovering making it look like she has not mastered defying gravity yet.

btw - the Tony Awards cameraman was so unprepared for her flight she almost disappeared off screen!

"I've had two years to grow claws, Mother, and they're Jungle Red!" Mary Haines - The Women

#23

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 2:54pm

There are many times in the second act when Idina can actually fly. During Defying Gravity, it is Elphaba's first time ever off the ground, so of course she is not going to fly all over like she has done it before!

CCM '10!

Updated On: 7/2/04 at 02:54 PM

#24

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 3:49pm

Just because it is a flight effect performed with traditional wire and harness does not mean it has to have a side-to-side flight pattern

#25

re: Idina Menzel and her 'flying machine'

Posted: 7/2/04 at 3:54pm

The show is fine as it is. It doesn't need flying in the second act.

If anything at all, I would have had her wade up and down during Defying Gravity, but it is fine as is.

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