LENNON review and WICKED check-in

[Thenardier]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 12:50am

Lennon Review

I must say upfront that, aside from a few songs, I do not know much about Lennon, the person. In fact, I went to the show mainly for Julia Murney. The show is, let’s say, better than I expected. The orchestrations weren’t pumped up in any way. The performances were all first-rate, save for Chad Kimbell, who seems talented – but not right for this show. Two stand outs were Will Chase and Chuck Cooper. Marcy Harriell’s “Woman is the n* of the World” is very energy-packed. Poor Terrance Mann and Julia Murney need to rocket it out of there. They are DRASTICALLY underused.

Unfortunately, as with most historical recounts, the truth was slightly slanted due to Yoko Ono’s involvement – hence the coined term “The Yoko Show.” In the end, Lennon (well, all the Lennon’s) come out looking like that bad guy, with Yoko as the victim.

The stage was set up as a rock concert with three huge television screens behind. Each member of the cast plays Lennon. Certain cast members have certain roles they reprise (Julia as Cynthia, Julie as Yoko, Chuck as a police officer, etc).

I will conclude this by saying, it was fun. Would I recommend it? If you are a Lennon fan – yes. If you are a Beatles fan – NO!

I’ll let you draw your own conclusions from that. Feel free to ask questions.

3/10

Wicked

Not so much a review. This was my 6th time seeing the show – FINALLY won the lotto – sort of.

They changed a few lines, as well as some different blocking (there’s no a martini glass AND olive for Mme. Morrible during “Dancing Through Life.” Definitely for Miss McClanahan to get a little buzz mid-way through the show. Unfortunately, or fortunately, she was out. Adinah Alexander was in. Let me say, GREAT. Not as fiery as Carole Shelley, but still very strong. And very skinny compared to Shelley.

Megan Sikora – finally after 5 times, Michelle is out. As much as I love Michelle in the role, it was nice to see someone else. She is also Glinda’s understudy. And it is quite obvious why, by her voice. She lacked something that Michelle had – but all around, a great performance and a GREAT person.

And the regular Chistery was out.

Ben Vereen is funny as the Wizard. Sean McCourt remains my favorite. He (Sean) is, however, not very good as Dr. Dillamond. He lacks the sophistication of Bill Youmans.
He still plays the Witch’s Father and all as well.

Lastly, I’m not in the mood to bash anyone so I will not really review Shoshana. She has some good moments. Nothing powerful. She lacks stage presence.

OK, I lied. This was my second time seeing David Ayers. He seemed really out of it tonight but he also really irked me during his performance. It seemed very lackadaisical, which is sad because I thought he made a great Fyedka.

I will just say, THANK G-D for MEGAN. She is the best part of the show.

And I must put in a shout out to Kathy Deitch – I miss her!

Anyway, in all – the cast is so-so.

[zippyjen]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 12:53am

did you ask megan out lol? oh and i fianlly saw the show!

[Thenardier]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 12:57am

FINALLY!

I did not. I had a flower from Lennon but it was dead by the end of Wicked (sorry Megan).

I took a terrible picture with her - she looked good, I did not.

[admanrich]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 12:59am

I tried the lottery for the night show, but lost

I really wanted to see Adinah Alexander and Megan Sikora so it was upsetting. I saw Lennon's night show instead which was okay.

[StarbuckQAF]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 1:00am

I'm glad Lennon was better than you expected, though I'm sorry it wasn't WAY better than that for you. I always hope people will see it and come out thinking "Whoa! I really enjoyed that!" :) -- Thanks for posting! It's nice to hear your thoughts.

[zippyjen]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 1:01am

man sorry bout that flower. yeah i fianlly saw it and i know you will kill me but i was pretty dissapointed. my friend and i walked away thinking fiyero was secretly gay, rue drunk and just wow so why aren't we raving about it like everyone else!

[Thenardier]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 1:03am

The cast isn't as spectacular, save for Megan.

Rue - oy, I could only imagine. At the end, when they take her away, I see her screaming, "NOT AA, NOT AA, NOOOO!"

[shira467]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 1:06am

I do love me some Megan Sikora.

[liotte]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 1:06am

I also wasn't hugely impressed by Wicked tonight, though I wasn't nearly as critical as Thenardier! Lennon was ok, great voices, I wasn't so key on the story though.

[zippyjen]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 1:07am

hehe. i enjoyed megan. she was very perky. and what i liked was at curtain call she seemed truely happy to be on that stage.

[PerforMeg]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 1:09am

I knew someone who worked with Rue in "Annie" at an outdoor theatre and said that she used to lie on her back at night and talk to the stars.

[superstarjpp]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 1:12am

I love how you say a GREAT person like you actually know her

[Thenardier]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 1:13am

"I knew someone who worked with Rue in "Annie" at an outdoor theatre and said that she used to lie on her back at night and talk to the stars."

That's what happens when you're drunl, stoned, etc.

[zzannahk]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 1:17am

martini glass?

[overthemoon419]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 1:28am

Lennon is a slanted view because it is from JOHN'S eyes, JOHN'S words, JOHN'S emotions-- not Yoko. i don't know why no one understands that "his words" means just that-- HIS words. not hers.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 1:29am

I think it was added when Rue took over.

There is a waiter there when she gives Galinda the wand...and she eats the olive when she says, "But I doubt you will."

[zzannahk]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 1:37am

thanks, i thought it might have been a joke

[Thenardier]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 1:53am

419 - His words, yes.

But they favor Yoko.

[StarbuckQAF]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 1:58am

true, they favored Yoko... because... well, John did favor her. I accept that.

As Yoko said recently in an interview:

"If I had any power, I would erase myself from the musical, just so people wouldn't mind it or something like that, because some people get upset because I'm in there.. But history speaks that I was there, so what are you going to do?"

hey, maybe she's just pandering to those out there who are accusing her of leaning the show in her favor, but... That doesn't mean that what she is saying isn't true. It is.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 2:04am

Hrmph, I still love Wicked despite cast changes and I prob would have enjoyed it more than you, you should have let me get the lotto seat. Grrr. Actually glad I went to BATB, but that's besides the point...

"The orchestrations weren’t pumped up in any way"

Hmm, you're not thinking of any show in particular are you? Not the one that we both walked away from with massive headaches and the first time ever I didn't cheer and scream and stand for the orch b/c they/speakers/what was too loud

[Thenardier]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 1:01pm

1st, I enjoyed it plenty as I love Megan - and seeing Ben perform up close is great.

I was NOT referring to BKLYN, but rather ASU.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 1:12pm

Ah okay, my mistake, I apologize.

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 3:02pm

I'm glad you finally got to see Megan! I adore her.