And thought I would give a quick review while it's fresh. Let me start by saying that having seen the Original Broadway cast and the touring cast, I was hesitant about this evening. I walked away mostly pleasantly surprised. I said this would be quick, though, so here is the jist.
Ana Gasteyer-She has two things going in her favor, one: audiences will not expect her Elphaba to live up to the others because they have visions of SNL Celine Dion in their heads and two: she can really, really, sing. She is a bit awkward, not in a young Elphaba way, but in a "I have only done this five times in front of an audience" way, but she came into her own as the evening progressed and her "No Good Deed" was dead on. I would love to see her again six months from now, I think she will settle into a nice groove and that comfort a great Elphaba will make.
Kate Reinders- Best Glinda I've seen. I know I am going to get slammed for this. She is sweet, funny, natural and not over the top.
Rondi Reed-She is a fine actress. Best acted Morrible, although in my opinion, not the best sung Morrible. It is nice to have a Chicago icon on stage.
Telly Leung- He was adorable and I don't use that word lightly. He has a glorious voice and his acting was spot on. I always find it sad that we don't get more Boq, the casting for this role is always great. Telly was a treat.
Heidi Kettering-Seems that she might have seen Michelle play the role. Very similar approach but a far stronger singing voice. Her Wicked Witch of the East was fiercely acted and equally well sung.
Kristoffer Cusick-The only disappointment of the evening. I thought his acting marginal and his voice was just not up to par with the rest of the cast. For those of you who know the ending, let's just say that what usually makes the whole theater go ballistic, fell completely flat this evening, and I believe it was because the audience was not rooting for him.
Gene Weygandt and Steven Skybell were both good, not much to point out about either of them.
The Ensemble was excellent, not touring company excellent, but five performances in, they are on their way.
Susan Hilferty's costumes are still the third biggest star in the show in my opinion and I was mesmerized by them once again. Overall, I was impressed and happy that Wicked has found a home in Chicago. Goodnight!
OMG! Can you go a little more in detail about Ana!? I LOVE HER! But I've been wondering about her singing...
"I've always secretly longed for an actress to get to the top of the cherry picker and projectile vomit all over the guards below."- Wonderwaiter in the "Defy Gravity?" thread.
~~~~~~~~My dream? Sutton Foster as Cassie in A Chorus Line
Fosse, if you're having doubts about Ana's singing, I recommend you go listen to "The Stuff". Her High G that she belts is nothing short of jaw-dropping.
I just don't understand how they keep not getting good Fiyeros. If I can sing the hell out of the role, as can many of my fellow non-equity actor friends...why the hell can't they find someone who can.
Well to be fair there weren't any auditions in Toronto, even though there were a few Torontoian cast members. Even so...I have heard that the understudies are even better than the main ones. I heard Adam Lambert has an amazing voice...hah. Put him on instead of Derrick.
Fiyero is just a terrible role in general. Even Norbert fell flat in that role.
He didn't fall so flat that I didn't take notice of him, though. It's thanks to Wicked that I ever found out who he was. Heh. But I think the problem is that Fiyero is so horribly underwritten, plus it's one of those roles that you have to do just right. You can't make him too much of a pompus git turned lover boy overnight or no one's going to like him.
Fiyero IS terribly written, but Joey Mac made the most of it and turned out a star. Kristoffer Cusick on the other hand isn't right for the role. His acting is far too bland and his vocals are too nasally. Fiyero is supposed to be the epitome of hottness. He needs to have a bold voice. He needs to look extremely hot. He needs to be Cheyenne Jackson or someone to the effect. Kristoffer complained he didn't get Fiyero on the tour. I'm sure the reviews will prove why.
Really? I think of all the Fiyero's, Kristoffer LOOKS the part, other than Joey. But Joey's a stretch.
Someone like Cheyenne is WAY too intense-looking to play Fiyero. It'd be bad casting, physicality-wise.
And Fiyero's character is complicated...he's supposed to be that cliche "popular-rebel" guy who's magically changed into a good-hearted soul by having this romantic moment with this girl who goes against all odds.
Thanks for the review! Wicked is my favourite show. I never got to see it on Broadway but I saw it in Toronto and I thought that it was amazing! Thanks again
Joe, I saw the tour two rows from the back and thoroughly enjoyed it. As you know, the Oriental is not the Auditorium. I saw LSOH through a fish bowl last night!
I just saw the show last night. I have seen both the original and touring cast. I must say that this cast is able to live up to both of them. I am excited to see the show in a couple of months, because it will be wonderful.
I was so surprised by Ana! Her Elphaba was far different that any other Elphaba I have seen (Idina, Stephanie, and Jenna). She made Elphaba very awkward and strange compared to the other Elphabas. It worked! THE WIZARD AND I started a little shaky, but as the song went on she became more comfortable. I'M NOT THAT GIRL was beautifully sung and acted! DEFYING GRAVITY was very powerful. Her belt at the end blew me away! And NO GOOD DEED was just awesome! Her voice was so strong! Overall, I think she makes a different Elphaba than any other---which is a good thing!
The rest of the cast was good. Kate Reinders was sick at the show, but you couldn't tell. She was a good Glinda. Rondi Reed as Madame Morrible was really fantastic! Telly Leung has a beautiful voice for boq. He did a very nice job.
I was shocked to see Adam Fleming in the cast! He is great! I met him at the stage door after the show---so nice! He was excited to have a fan!
The Chicago cast is already really good--and it is still in previews. I can't wait to see how they do in the future!
I have a feeling that when all is said and done that Ana will turn out to be the strongest Elphaba.
Telly could sing me the phone book and I would love it!
"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds."
~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns