Just back from first London "Wicked" preview..........- Page 3

[karatekid1]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 4:04am

Do the flying monkeys fly over he audience like on broadway or do they just stay in the proscenium area like the tour and chicago?

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 6:08am

the monkeys just stay in the proscenium

[AngusN]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 8:09am

Thanks for your reviews guys.
I can't wait to see the show! I'm so excited. Although, I'm waiting until Idina has left. I don't mind her, I just think she is generally 'average' (for a professional). When I saw the show in NY, I thought she sung reasonably well and her acting talent was very limited. I am going to wait for the replacement. I can't wait!

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 8:59am

Thank you for this fabulous reviews I am glad to know it was well received and seems to be in good shape with a great cast!

Updated On: 9/9/06 at 08:59 AM

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 10:35am

I don't have problems with various accents...personally I always wanted the show to have a mix of accents, but when your sister has a diffent accent than you, I can no longer suspend my disablief, despite doing so for all other blind castings. I need to have some form of a real connection between families so I can really care about their relationship.

Updated On: 9/9/06 at 10:35 AM

[snl89]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 12:39pm

^EXACTLY seriously, I totally agree about like all the accents. If fiyera and g(a)linda have different accents, thats totally fine, because again, they're SUPPOSED to be from different places, but its a MUST for nessa and elphie to have the same accent. They grew up in the same household, with the same people sorrounding them. They would NOT have different accents. THAT ones just distracting. I def think that before it opens one of them should change the accent to match the other. It doesn't even matter who changes and who stays the same. If idina did a british accent, that'd be totally cool (though she just better not go all SJB-style on defying gravity and sing it with a thick british accent haha),and if the girl playing nessa (I feel bad, I forget her name) wants to change to american, that'd be equally fine. Accent diversity is fine, its just got to make sense with who the characters are and everything.

Updated On: 9/9/06 at 12:39 PM

[HatBoy]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 2:12pm

Although this doesn't pertain to the first preview...

At today's matinee Idina didn't fly. :)
My friend called me during "Defying Gravity" and I found it rather strange that nobody clapped as she sang "It's Me"-- but it made sense after he told me.

[wowobball2000]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 3:02pm

It seems that the technical difficulties they were having the other night continue on if Idina didn't fly. Either that or Idina was having difficulties of her own.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 3:10pm

Sorry but, I knew this show wouldn't work in UK from Day 1. It's an American show and is just not right for a British audience.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 3:15pm

"My friend called me during "Defying Gravity" and I found it rather strange that nobody clapped as she sang "It's Me"-- but it made sense after he told me."

That audience sometimes does not clap because some people don't know what is going to happen. Even if you are with a very excited audience that does not happen all the time.
Updated On: 9/9/06 at 03:15 PM

[snl89]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 3:34pm

well, I think most audiences prooob do clap, just cause no matter what you can tell its an extremely climactic moment.. I mean she's FLYING.... thats a huge part of the story :) but yeah, some audiences just do it more than others. I mean, some people prob just figure, its part of the show, just enjoy it, there's no need to clap.

by the way, I'm listening the the obcr defying gravity... and really. really. REALLY wishing I was there right now. haha

[elphieisperky]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 3:43pm

Wow. Thanks for the reviews guys, I'm so jealous! I would do anything to be there. And that's interesting about the flying thing. Weird. Anyhoo, sounds like it's going to have a great run. Those who are seeing it are very fortunate :)

[OxfordsLeadingMan]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 3:54pm

I Am So Happy For Idina... She Really Deserves This...

[Sargar]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 4:31pm

thanks for the reviews guys! I was really hoping to get out to London to see this, but I don't think it's meant to be.

[HatBoy]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 5:41pm

"That audience sometimes does not clap because some people don't know what is going to happen. Even if you are with a very excited audience that does not happen all the time."

Oh, I realize that not every audience claps then, but the shows only been in previews for TWO days! I would hope the energy doesn't die down too drastically from the first preview (which as previously stated had a very enthusiastic audience).

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 5:43pm

British audiences are normally incredibly sedate, even when they enjoy something. Even if WICKED is an enormous hit in London, I'm pretty sure the reaction to the first preview is not going to be the normal audience response to the show in the UK.

[strawintogold]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 6:07pm

Not ALL British audiences are sedate. Case and point: We Will Rock You. That was insanity (good insanit, but still).

[Matthewjames]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 7:03pm

it's weird, I've been hearing alot of people tell me that Adam is the weak link in the cast. that is odd to me since he was the original Fiyero in the Wicked workshops before Norbert..I guess there was a reason Norbert was cast lol.
and this is the only review where I've heard good things about Idina, I've been hearing that her voice got worse and that the "Ever gonna bring me down" is very bad.
I've never been a fan of Idinas "Elphaba" her acting is the great, but it's hard to for me to beleive that she has perseverence especially in a song like defying gravity when her vocalls are so weak.
and her breathing, it kills me.
i though one of the broadway rules was "Never let them see you sweat" but with idina it was like she was obviously struggling. it made me sad...and want a refund

[colbol2005]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 7:22pm

Just back from Saturday evening show. Really enjoyed it, with a few reservations.

Biggest one, by far, is the accents. The script is written with an american rhythm. Galindas english accent seems stilted, because it is being forced upon a script that is written with the beat of a US accent. It just doesn't sit well, and I really felt for Helen Dallimore. Even if you didn;t know the show, you could tell that laughs were being dropped all over the place. Having said that, as technically proficient as she is, I kinda got the impression she doesn't possess the best comic timing at the best of times. Very early on in the run though, and I don't know her as a performer, so I could be wrong.
Same with Boq, I felt. Love the idea of different accents, but they would have to rewrite the script, and change its tone, as it feels forced, and detracts from the piece.
Finally, Adam Garcia. Oh dear!!!!! So surprised. Thought he'd be great. Bad voice, and just not right. I don't think he'll get better either. Wrong actor, wrong part.
Apart from that, really enjoyed myself, as did my other half, who didn't know the show at all. Interestingly, he picked up on the accent thing as well. I really hope they change this back in previews. Maybe they think we won't connect with the piece if they don't "sound like us". Think West Side Story done with cockney accents. Bizarre.
Idina Menzel. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't know if she had warmed up from the first preview, but she was phenomenal. Really made it into something special. Just wonderful.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 11:20pm

I still don't think the family thing is an issue. Did you see any pictures from the recent Bernarda Alba staging? Obviously they weren't all the same race and they all didn't speak the same, but it still works. They might not look like they belong, but you're suppose to buy that they belong becuase it's theater. Suspend.

[JamesMacon]

Posted: 9/10/06 at 12:14am

With regards to the clapping- I think that in America, everyone who sees Wicked knows that it is a BIG thing and that is is extremely popular. They are many, many people who know the song "Defying Gravity" and know that she flies at "It's me..." They know that that begins the most climactic part of the show.

Yet in London, no one has seen the show before. Yes, they know its is huge in the states, but they do not even know what to expect scene after scene. So I do not find it strange that they did not clap. They had no clue what was happening next.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 9/10/06 at 12:45am

i though one of the broadway rules was "Never let them see you sweat"

Well, if this is on the West End, Broadway rules don't apply.

[Claire2141]

Posted: 9/10/06 at 11:19am

I'm seeing it next weekend - actually I'm seieng it on Saturday, Wednesday and then again the next Saturday (who can turn down £5 tickets? Brilliant way to kill 3 hours before I see TL5Years).

Anyway, hopefully the tech difficulties will be knocked out by then. I really would like to see her fly at least once. I saw Beauty and the Beast last night on tour in Milton Keynes and the final transformation part had to be haulted, 2 minutes before the end! They re-started from the begining of the scene. Luckily everyone took it well....

With the accent thing...I was thinking about it last night when I saw B&tB. Everyone apart from Gaston, Babet and Lumier had English accents, while Babet and Lumier's were fine Gaston's fake american accent just left him sounding like Ace Ventura while around him everyone else sounded at ease. I would prefer to see everyone talk in their own accents than stilted US ones.

Oh well...I'll reserve my judgement until Saturday. St least having three sets of tickets makes it likely I'll see her fly at least once...

[sam08]

Posted: 9/10/06 at 1:03pm

Idina was actually said to be ill on the night she didn't "fly," and wasn't even suppose to go on, but the standby wasn't ready or something. So, I think that's the only reason she didn't "fly" and we shouldn't worry about missing the flying sequence too often.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 9/10/06 at 1:30pm

^What does being sick have anything to do with flying?