Jenna as Elphaba in Chicago (my review)

[bwayballerina]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 8:04pm

Hi! I just got back from Wicked... wow. First of all, I had no idea that "Libby Chessler" could sing! Jenna was amazing- no gasping, always on pitch, lines delivered well, everything. I didn't know that she was going to be Elphaba until I got to the theatre today. When I found out, I wasn't sure if I should be happy or sad or what. I was really looking forward to seeing Stephanie J. Block, but I had also read good things about Jenna too. I went into the show a little unsure about Jenna, but by the end of The Wizard and I, any doubts that I had were gone.

The show itself was very good. I can understand why some people wouldn't find it to be anything special, but I myself found it amazing. I would definately go back again.

Kendra did a good job as Glinda. She was no Kristen Chenoweth, which showed in some of the songs. I think they might have changed the harmonies in Defying Gravity and/or For Good, but it still sounded decent. Popular was funny and well done. During the first act, Kendra would do these little fidget-y things that got some laughs. Not as good as the Broadway Glindas, but still well done.

Derrick was quite good as Fiyero. I actually preferred his beginning of Dancing Through Life to Norbert's... he wasn't as flamboyant as I think he could've or should've been when he first got to Shiz, but he acted the later scenes with Elphaba and Glinda nicely.

Nessa was played by someone else (well, yeah, since Jenna was Elphaba), I'm forgetting her name, but she was good; I thought she did The Wicked Witch of the East well.

Boq (Logan Lipton)... was hot. He was good; I especially liked the scene during Wicked Witch of the East. Oh, and his dancing during Dancing Through Life was well done, for some weird reason I didn't think Boq would/should be able to dance.

The Wizard (David Garrison) and Madam Morrible (Carol Kane) got a lot of entrance applause... Morrible didn't really sing her song stuff, she sort of spoke-sung, but it worked. The Wizard's songs were good, the dancing in Wonderful was good, but I didn't like his last scene with Glinda at the end. It was OK, could have been better.

After the show I went to the stage door and met everyone except Kendra and Carol. They were all nice; they signed my Playbill and took pictures. Jenna seemed a little surprised that so many people waited around for her; she was the last one out. There were some old Sabrina fans there, I think Jenna got a kick out of that.

Sorry for the long post. If you've made it to the end (which is here), you get a cookie. (Or some fudge from the fudge and popcorn shop that was conviently just a block away from the theatre.)

[ashley0139]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 8:08pm

Glad you liked the show! I can't wait for it to come to Atlanta next year. I'm glad Jenna was good. How strange was it to see Libby on stage? Lol.

[UnsaneLily87]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 8:14pm

Having been a long-time Baree, I just about shrieked when I saw Jenna's name on the Understudy board.

Although I don't have time to do a full review now, I will be back later to sum it all up.

However: Jenna? FANTASTIC!!!! She was amazing. Everything, from the belting to the alto parts was amazing! Her acting was great as well. Defying Gravity gave me goosebumps. I was lucky enough to be able to meet her after the show and tell her how big of a fan I've been of hers since Bare and get an autograph. She is such a sweetheart. So nice and gracious. And talented. Broadway, snap this girl up before someone else does!

[sassypanz]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 8:38pm

Who was Nessa?? I want to know! Maria Eberline or Lori Holmes? Does either ring a bell?

[UnsaneLily87]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 8:46pm

I believe it was Lori Holmes, but don't quote me on it.

[bwayballerina]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 8:50pm

Yup, it was Lori Holmes.

[Parks]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 9:40pm

I'm sad I don't have tickets when it comes to Dallas.. One of my friends might be taking me to see it though..

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 9:51pm

You're so lucky you saw Jenna Leigh Green! She's so talented! I almost wish I didn't live in New York so I could see her in Wicked.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 11:57pm

So Glad Jenna has gone on in Chicago
She was Amazing her first time out of the gate in Toronto
anyone who has seen and loved her in WICKED should tell Mr. Schwartz.
I'm gonna play my BARE CD right now
chat on

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 1:27am

I'm so glad you enjoyed her performance. Anyone know why Stephanie was out?

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 3:28am

Hah,

I just got an email from Jenna last week and she was saying that she was enjoying Chicago audiences so much, although the weather was a pain. She did not however mention that she would be going on as Elphaba, so I can only imagine this was a recent thing that she did not know about in advance.

Akiva

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 3:37am

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOO!!!

NOOOO I missed it!!!!
ARGGG how long is Steph out...cuz I NEED TO SEE JENNA!?!!??!

Updated On: 5/16/05 at 03:37 AM

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 3:38am

Steph,

I will try and find that info out for you.

Akiva

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 3:43am

Thank you thank you thank you!!!!

I can't go till Tuesday so I really hope she'll be on still!! OMG..I have been WAITING for this..I asked her myself when she would be going on but obviously she didn't know...OMG

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 6:04am

When i asked her if she KNEW if she was going on anytime soon she said no..and that she only had 4 hours of rehearsal before she went on last time! she rocks..i need to see her..:) and maybe she'll remember me

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 9:13am

I think I read somewhere that Stephanie doesn't play matinees. So, if you want to catch Jenna, your best bet is to go to an afternoon show.

[metoog]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 9:39am

Not true. Stephanie does do matinees.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 9:58am

Hmmm...does Stephanie ever go on? I've seen more reviews on this board of Jenna than Stephanie? Did Donny Murphy invade her body when we weren't looking?

[taperina]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 11:34am

Steph is rarely out with the exception of the beginning of the Toronto run when she was injured. Other than that, she seem to have been good attendance wise.

[Mimi Imfurst]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 12:37pm

Jenna is so amazing. Thats all i have to say.

The only thing that surpasses her talent is her heart.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 12:42pm

Although she was in the two times I saw it, didn't Stephanie have a shaky attendance record during THE BOY FROM OZ?

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 4:47pm

Bump! If anyone knows yet feel free to tell me! i'm gonna call the box office soon and see if they know..but an you guys will probably be more trust worthy!

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 5:36pm

Stephanie DOES matinees. I was there on the first matinee, and she was there (and she was amazing). I'm so jealous bwayballerina that you got to see Jenna in Chicago. :-p

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 5:42pm

ME TOO!! I'm going tomorrow and PLEASE pray that Jenna goes on as Elphaba!! ahhh I love Stephanie with all my heart but I hope she takes the night off!

[LilMiZBroADwaY23]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 5:59pm

Just saw the Saturday Matinee, Steph did it.

I can't wait to see the show again. Frikkin amazing.