Jenna Leigh Green as Elphaba Review (Some spoilers) - Pictures! -

[Musical_nerd]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 9:51am

I saw Wicked last night in Hartford (for the 2nd time) and before people were asking for reviews so I thought I'd write one up.

No One Mourns the Wicked- The monkeys were cool in the beginning, Kendra was very good. Same old same old.

Dear Old Shiz- Jenna's interpretation of Elphaba is my favorite so far. She seems to know the limits but really plays the part well. Afterwards at the stage door she was saying how she almost kept answering herself when she was talking to Nessarose. Lori Holmes as Nessarose worked very well. She looks the part and has a nice voice. Jenna looked AMAZING in green, very pretty.

The Wizard and I- A few parts were rushed, but the money note at the end was fantastic. Jenna really can sing. Her vocal transitions during the song were smooth, and you could see the soft side of Elphaba. Carol Kane as Morrible was not very good compared to Carole Shelley. She spoke all of her lines. At first I was like "It's a different take, she sounds nice..." but then she spoke the whole thing and I got really pissed off. Urrrrgg....

What Is This Feeling?- The reactions on both sides (Kendra and Jenna) were the funniest I've heard/seen. Jenna's 'blonde' received the most laughs. When I first saw it on Broadway, I was kind of bored with the fact that at the beginning of the song they kind of just walked around. Jenna and Kendra both did some great hand motions which made it much more enjoyable. My favorite part was when the ensemble came in, surrounding Kendra and Jenna looked all lonely in the corner. Perfect.

Something Bad- Sounded exactly the same.

Dancing Through Life- Derrick is really good. He was such an upgrade from David Ayers. The beginning was somewhat rushed, but I still think most of the audience understood what he was saying. I loved his entrance, it set the mood of the character very well. My favorite part "The Presentation of the Hat" was sped through. Not many people heard the Kendra's funny lines. "You know black is this years pink".. etc. Jenna's Elphaba dance was nice but didn't involve the legs, it was mostly hands. Not many people understood why she was dancing, or why Galinda joined it.

Popular- This was by far Kendra's best scene of the whole show. She went crazy. She did some of the same actions seen on the trailer but about 100 times bigger. She kept kicking up her legs and at the end held up her skirt and shook her butt showing the frilly pink panties.

I'm Not That Girl- Jenna fixed the nasty note at the end and it sounded beautiful. Much better.

One Short Day- The bobbly thingies we're AMAZING. I don't know what their names are. I loved the lady with the swirly type hat. Ensemble was great.

A Sentimental Man- Eh... ok.

Defying Gravity- I really loved Jenna's expression in, "It's me. It's MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!". That has to be one of my favorite lines. I was sitting close so you could obviously tell the cherry picker was there but the rest of the audience was stunned. Money note at the end was amazing as usual.

No One Mourns the Wicked (Reprise)- Ensemble people rock.

Thank Goodness- Kendra sounded very falsely (is that a word?) happy, just like shes supposed too. She hit a really high note at the end that I would probably die if I tried to attempt.

The Wicked Witch of the East- Lori is the perfect Nessa. No one laughed at the unelected official line which was sad. Logan Lipton as Boq was horrible. He can't sing.

Wonderful- David Garrison and Jenna were very good in this number. They kept it interesting. I really liked the way David sang this song, it got the message across clearly. We had one flying monkey coming from the ceiling of the stage. It was very nice.

I'm Not That Girl (reprise)- Sounded heartbreaking as always. Nasty note at the end was somehow gracefully attempted by Kendra.

As Long As You're Mine- Derrick + Jenna= HOT HOT HOT. Their voices were amazing, I loved it more than the recording.

No Good Deed- I saw Shosh with this number in NYC and she's known for being amazing at this song, but Jenna was a very close second.

March of the Witch Hunters- Logan was really bad in this number. Ensemble was fantastic. They should just overtake Logan and push him out of Wicked. He he he.

For Good- Beautiful.

Finale- Kendra's voice was very delicate and pretty. It left a good feeling afterwards. Unfortunately, at the Bushnell we don't have trapdoors- so Derrick knocked and Jenna just ran out.

Stage Door- Jenna told us that not having a trapdoor was "so lame". She is one of the nicest people I've ever met at a stage door. She let us take pictures and everything. Overall, she was an amazing Elphaba.

Updated On: 12/10/05 at 09:51 AM

[Unmasked05]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 9:56am

WOW.....I hope I get to see her in Atlanta...I mean I wanna see Ms.Block...but I really want to see Jenna's.

I've often wondered if she could play Glinda as well.

[Musical_nerd]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 10:20am

Yeah, I was thinking about that. She really fits Elphaba- much more than Nessarose. She's so pretty too... *jealousy*.

[Candleshoe2]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 10:26am

Since there was no trapdoor, did the audience get the ending?

[Musical_nerd]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 10:35am

I'm not sure. It was probably split down the middle. Kinda sad.

[EverythingIsRENT]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 10:50am

"No one laughed at the unelected official line which was sad."

what's supposed to be funny about that line?

[Musical_nerd]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 11:00am

She's saying that if you're an elected official then you can basically do anything. Funny political line.

Posted: 12/10/05 at 11:00am

sounds like Libby was born to be green.

[PJ]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 12:08pm

The line is...

"And besides, I can't harbor a fugitive. I'm an unelected official."

[WickedRentHead]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 12:22pm

I was there also last night and agree that Jenna was fabulous. Kendra...eh...Im not so much a fan. Her voice just really bothers me. Its really pretty sometimes but so very un-Glinda like most of the time. She and Jenna like switched parts during "What is This Feeling?" Like Jenna sang the high parts and Kendra the low when really it should have been the other way around. I just dont think Kendra could sing it the way its supposed to be.

Jenna got better and better as the night went on. Her "Defying Gravity" was excellent and that last note was awesome! She has so much emotion as Elphaba and I really liked how she played it. Carol Kane really annoys me, she played Morrible as like a ditzy half drunk person. The woman who played Nessa was good but she cracked severa times and was really noticable but she was REALLY good during "Wicked Witch of the East"

Back to Jenna, her "No Good Deed" was phenomenal. Its sad that they didnt have a trap door because she looked really silly running around the stage and stuff but again she was so so awesome and she plays such an angry Elphaba and I love it.

Overall the show itself was just...meh...but Jenna was amazing...SO glad I got to see her.

[Musical_nerd]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 12:27pm

Oops.. nvm.

Updated On: 12/10/05 at 12:27 PM

[Kimmygonbefamous]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 12:39pm

Where is the stage door at the Bushnell? I wanted to try and stop by after I see it Thursday if it's not too cold.

[WickedRentHead]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 12:42pm

You liked whose hat?

And yeah where is the stage door? We didnt even notice where it would be we just wanted to get out of there

[Musical_nerd]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 12:52pm

I asked a lady when I went to Rat Pack and found out. It's outside, if you go out and you see that pointy building on the left in the distance.. then keep going and theres a door on the ride that says "West Stage Entrance". I'm not good at directions so I would suggest asking. There was only like 4 people at the stage door, it was really nice.

[greenifyed]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 1:01pm

So who's sending me pictures to put up in the Pieces gallery? Email Kimmie & I! [e-mail]

Glad you loved her Elphaba. I really need to see this up close and personal. ;D

[stylinbohemian]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 1:08pm

ha! ozome! I love Jenna's voice. Im torn because I love Stephenie J Block's voice and Jenna's too! Ah, I can't decided who'd Id rather see as Elphaba!

[Musical_nerd]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 1:09pm

Once my dad uploads them, I will. He he he.

Posted: 12/10/05 at 1:09pm

does anyone have any pictures of her as Elphaba. I would love to make a Jenna as Elphaba icon.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 1:13pm

Wow you liked Lori but didn't like Logan?? When I saw Jenna Lori went on and she was HORRIBLE (the worst out of the 5 I've seen)...She must have improved..and I LOVED Logan, such a cute Boq, and he normally has a very great voice!

[Musical_nerd]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 1:19pm

Logan, cute, acted the part of Boq well, couldn't sing that night. Someone else who was there said Lori cracked a lot but I obviously didnt here it, and I was in the 2nd row. I think we all agree that Jenna kicks butt though.

[stylinbohemian]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 1:21pm

AH I love Logan! He's a cute boq!

[WickedRentHead]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 1:37pm

Lori definately must have improved since you saw her. She was good...but yeah she was just off in a few places

[AnotherDay46]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 2:56pm

Hands down, Jenna was amazing.

[Popular]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 2:58pm

I'm glad to read such nice reviews for Jenna. I have never seen her play Elphaba but it's clear from the quote I have below that she has a tremendous respect for the role so I'm sure she gives it her all!

I hope Steph is enjoying her time off! :) Updated On: 12/10/05 at 02:58 PM

Posted: 12/10/05 at 3:13pm

i saw the touring cast twice in LA over summer...

maybe logan had an off night, cuz when i saw him is voice was great! overall, i think he's perfect for the role.
Carol Kane i thought was terrible, she didn't take the part and make it stand out, she was just kinda.. there.
i didn't see Jenna as elphie, but she was AMAZING as Nessa.
sucks that there was so trap door, i can only imagine how awkward that must have been.