Kristy Cates as Elphaba- Page 2

[Aigoo]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 12:12am

Elphabuff, I can see where you're coming from. Kristy's voice doesn't appeal to everyone. I don't know if HORRENDOUS should be quite the degree you should use, but I do know that there are those who don't like the sound of a voice as much as the next person.

[me_myself_and_I]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 12:13am

Elphabuff, where did you find the photographs of her in her chorus costume? Too bad you didn't like her, I will have a conference in Chicago this February and hope to catch her performance. It will be my first live Wicked experience, can you believe it?

[Aigoo]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 12:16am

Me, Myself-

Those pictures can be found on her website http://www.kristycatesonline.com

[me_myself_and_I]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 12:19am

That site needs some updating.

[Swiftynifty15]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 11:42am

Did she not wear all of the Elphaba costumes when she went on? I am confused. LOL.

[Swiftynifty15]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 11:44am

I think there is another Kristy Cates website but I am not sure what the URL is.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 12:02pm

There is a new website in the works:

http://www.kristycates.com

[cubbiegirl]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 12:17pm

Some of the costumes take some time to make. Maria Eberline, the understudy on the tour, posted on her site that she just got her real simple dress that she wears right before the curtain call yesterday. Before that, she had to wear her "Popular" dress again.

[Elphabuff2]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 3:26pm

Sorry, let me clarify what I meant. As cubbie just said, it takes a while to get the costumes. When I watched the September 2004 performance, instead of her very first outfit (Shiz, WAI, WITF, etc.), Kristy had on just a skirt, a coat with different stitching on the back, and an extremely unflattering vest.

As far as her performance, anyone can have one bady day, especially when starting out and not expecting to perform. And her Sept 2004 performance is what I would expect from an inexperienced understudy. However, 13 months later, several times in the role, both on the tour and in Chicago, certain very important notes (end of DG, WAI, NGD, etc.)were lackluster and disappointing. If I could hit notes better, something's wrong. I guess she would be fine as an emergency/understudy Elphaba, but standby, no way.

While I mentioned it, is there something wrong with being the standby in the Chicago theater circuit? I have heard performances (mainly DG) from every single Elphaba ever and I wonder why no one else is the standby in Chicago. I'm guessing it's due to time conflicts?

[me_myself_and_I]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 4:25pm

Why the hate against Ms. Cates? You seem to know a lot about the show, but she's the only one you continue to speak badly about; a personal vendetta perhaps? I just downloaded her Gravity and No Good Deed and I think the last notes sound very strong. If you can hit the notes better, why aren't you Elphaba? I know this is a message board, but your responses seem a bit extreme.

By the way, are you in Chicago? Have you seen Ms. Gasteyer as Elphaba?

[SavageBeauty]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 4:57pm

Normally I only lurk but I felt me_myself_and_I it's YOU who is being a bit extreme and you haven't even seen WICKED yet!
This is not the "Kristy Cates LOVE" thread, everyone is entitled to their opinions.
I have seen Ms. Cates both in New York and Chicago, both times she was filling in, so I wasn't expecting to see her. She's average IMO. She sings very nicely, but I didn't find much fire in her portrayal either time. I'm not sure in NY if it was her first time ever doing the role or not but I gave her the benefit of the doubt.
When I saw her in Chicago a couple of weeks ago she was again, just average. She has a very trained voice and her interpretation is stiff and very by the music, except for her riffs at the end of songs which at that point are too late, again IMO.
I do not have a personal vendetta against Ms. Cates (that comment made me laugh), I simply just did not enjoy her portrayal. I'm not sure she's ready to take over the role every night, but that's not my decision and it is an "out of town" cast so I don't think the producers particularly care, as long as they're selling tickets.
No doubt Ms. Cates will have a collection of young girls who will adore her and build websites and start more threads than most will care to read. That is all fine and good just as it is to have a different opinion.
I think as someone mentioned earlier, she does use her body well in the physical acting. Her hand movements were grand.
And the debate about her costumes, they're not cheap to make, perhaps they weren't sure if she could pull off the role and instead of investing all the money into making costumes for her (as her body type is way different than any of the other girls) they waited to see if she could do it. She had the standard issue when I saw her in Chicago.
And in conclusion, I've never spoken to her or seen her out of green makeup. I generally avoid stage doors, so I cannot tell you she is OMG THE nicest person ever, nor do I care.

[GClef2]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 5:06pm

Wow! very well worded-Can't argue with that.

[me_myself_and_I]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 5:12pm

Perhaps you are right. I have not seen Wicked. I suppose I just feel protective of her because I saw her when she was still a college student and I feel like I "discovered" her before I started reading these message boards, LOL. I do still hope to see her when I go to my convention. Perhaps she will loosen up a bit once the role is actually hers and she is not filling in for other actresses, as I would imagine that would be a bit hindering. Guess I will post my review then.

[SavageBeauty]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 5:24pm

It's fine to be protective of her, but not at the expense of belittling someone's opinion (who's actually seen her performance). A promising college portrayal and a Broadway caliber performance are miles apart (as many casting agents will tell you).
I'm sure Ms. Cates is going to be just fine if in fact she takes over the role. The show doesn't need stars in it to do well.
The one thing I will say about the show itself that I did not like (and perhaps this contributed to it's flatness) is the non-raked stage. I didn't realize that where actors stand made such a difference.

[me_myself_and_I]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 5:28pm

Can I ask what you thought of the overall production in Chicago? Should I just hold out and see it in New York someday?

[SavageBeauty]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 6:06pm

I thought the Chicago show was average. I admit I walked in with the snobby attitude that this was the 3rd string cast. I know, that's a terrible thing to say, but that's what I felt walking in and what I felt walking out.
I though Fiyero almost out-girled Glinda and the actor playing Boq was a little too fun loving. I've read all the threads about how nice these actors are, but that doesn't make up for weak portrayals.
I've seen the original Broadway cast, Jennifer Laura Thompson as Glinda (Ms. Cates was on as her Elphaba) and the Chicago production with Ms. Cates. I also saw the tour in Los Angeles (it's what I get for having 5 nieces in different cities) and I just like Broadway better. I admit to being a snob about it, but if given the choice, I'd always pick the Broadway version of a show.
Of course, the more times you've seen something the more apt you are to pick it apart and notice the little things more!
Go see it wherever you'd like and then make your own opinions. If you see Chicago first and love it, then perfect! If you then see the Broadway production and love that one less, that's all good too!

[Elphabuff2]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 10:23pm

Wow Savage, nice. Just nice. Couldn't have said it better myself.

[boytobroadway]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 7:02pm

Well, I just heard her sing Defying Gravity....and ya, not much to say. I did NOT like that voice, but my thoughts may change.

[songbird21]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 7:19pm

Wow, I'm surprised at how many people don't like her. She's my favorite Elphaba...probably because she has fantastic breath support and is the only person who can sing the end of Defying Gravity without causing me to grimace. And she's a soprano! I have to stick by my fellow soprano gals.:)

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 7:34pm

Kristy was my least favourite Elphaba. That isn't to say that I didn't like her in the role at all...but she was the most bland and "safe" of all the Elphabas that I have seen. She didn't seem to make any strong character choices to bring to the role, just choosing to kind of go with what is written (as opposed to...say...Steph who brought a fierceness, or Jenna who brought a sweetness an naivette to the role). He singing was alright, but she screwed up the last note of Defying Gravity when i saw her, which isn' so great. But she looked wonderful, and did her best.

Akiva

Posted: 1/12/06 at 11:17pm

does she belt the bejeeezus out of the ending of Defying Gravity..because of all of the Elphies i have seen...if they aren't great in the role...acting OR singing..they CAN hit those last notes..it seems to be the most important thing.
i wish kristy all the luck in the world!

[gustof777]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 11:28pm

It is always interesting to read all the opinions on the different elphaba's. i have heard an audio of KC's DG and thought she sounded great i loved her voice. Could i tell she wasn't right for everyone>? yes but i thought she sounded excellent. Everyones taste in Elphaba's must be different because When i saw the tour production w/ Stephanie Block i was less than impressed. I had heard that stephanie was very sick that day and i blame it on having an off day but vocally she left a LOT to be desired! I thought her acting was great though...then i saw ana...i'm sorry i don't know who said they thought the Chicago sit down was third rate but they clearly NEVER saw Ana...that girl is amazing!! AMAZING!!!

[DefyingEDCT]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 11:30pm

"I've seen the original Broadway cast, Jennifer Laura Thompson as Glinda (Ms. Cates was on as her Elphaba)"

That is not the OBC at all.

[Kimmygonbefamous]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 11:43pm

I think SavageBeauty meant to say the Original Cast as WELL as JLT as Glinda, etc.

Posted: 1/13/06 at 12:02am

Elphabuff-
to answer your question regarding being a stand by in Chicago...i would have given my right arm for that job and i had an audition for it. the day i went, i had a bad sinus infection and sang and acted everything very well except for the ending of Defying GRavity, i cracked, which i DO NOT DO on a regular basis! Mr Oremus said i sounded amazing and asked for the ending again..i just couldn't do it THAT day...i sing the crap out of it and i am bummed that i just couldn't do it. that was the end of that..who knows if i will ever go in again...but alas Dee doesn't have a problem standing by in Chicago!! she got the job!
i DO think that a stand by would RATHER be standing by in NYC so they can be on hand to audition for other projects and be a part of readings and just be in NYC in general. thats why its not as appealing a job as some would think. i would like to play Elphaba ONCE in my life no matter where it is!