Megan Hilty Vs. Jennifer Laura Thompson...

[Justice]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 11:06pm

I'm starting this thread off saying that I LOVE Kristin Chenowith.
However, when I saw Jennifer in this role, I thought she was so much better than Kristin - so much so, that I saw her again, and plan on seeing her at least on emore time before she leaves...
BUT
My cousin is coming into town the first week of June and I am taking her to see Wicked. Initially, she was supposed to come up before May 29th to see the show before Jennifer left, but plans changed, and now she has to come up after the cast change. This upsets me, because, personally, it's Jennifer that makes the show for me. I have no idea how Megan is, and I have heard some good and some bad things....
I was wondering if I could get an unbiased comparison of the two performers, for those that have seen both...What can I expect? What does Megan do better/funnier than Jen, and what does Megan not do that Jen does?
I need to know what I am going into here, because I am not a great fan of Shoshana's Elphie, nor do I see anyone other than Carole Shelly as Morrible, though I am sure Rue will do a great job. I wanna know if Megan Hilty is as good, if not better than either of the other two Glinda's.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 11:10pm

I personally think Megan is better than JLT.

[SimpleJoysHaveSimpleVoice]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 11:13pm

Back in December I was able to see JLT and Megan in the same week. Like you I love Kristen, but JLT worked the stage and stole my heart...she was great...her Popular had me holding my side with joy. She light up the stage with Idina.

3 days later Megan showed signs of apprehension at the beginning but went on to carry the role very well. Her stage presence was big...she did not minimize or faint the role in any way...she got stronger as the show went on. She looked real comfortable. I was glad to hear she will take over, she will do a great job.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 11:14pm

theres a clip of megan doing noone mourns the wicked on limewire (evil, evil program) i downloaded it by mistake but she has a very interesting (in a good way) take on glinda, just a touch drier than her predecessors

[Up In Won]

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

I liked Megan, actually. I saw her for the first time last night. She wasn't as 'perky' as JLT and Cheno, but she was definately very good. I can't think of the word I want to use, but she was more, calmed--SUBDUED! That's the word. She was more subdued then th eoher two. Kind of like Glinda knew she was a little ditz, you know? That doesn't make sense, doe sit? WHATVER! I liked Mefan a lot. JLT is still my favorite by miles though.

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 11:34pm

No competition, JLT is far better than Megan. Megan has a very good voice but is nowhere near as funny as Jennifer. She misses a lot of the laughs and tends to play Glinda as a 'straight character'.

I think she's good but not in JLT's league.

QM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 1:09am

I dont think theres any contest. JLT is perhaps the best Glinda Broadway has, and will ever see.

[Katecab99]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 10:22am

amen to that theatreguy!

i think JLT is absolutley exceptional in the role. i'm very upset to see her leave next month.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 11:13am

Am I the only one who doesn't like JLT's interpretation? She over-acts and has no sense of comic timing. And she doesn't open her mouth when she sings.
Updated On: 4/28/05 at 11:13 AM

[bunchamuncha]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 11:32am

yes Elphaba3, you're the only one.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 11:38am

I just don't get it. She was a nice voice and a beautiful presence onstage, but she's trying way too hard to be funny. What worked about Kristin is that she played it straight. There's no doubt that JLT is a very talented young woman, but she's gotta learn how and when to deliver her lines.

[bunchamuncha]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 11:50am

She gets laughs at parts Kristin couldn't and she plays it differently. Some people will say Kristin mugged too much and worked for the laughs, whereas I don't think Jennifer does. They have different interpretations. Jen was smart enough to take from Kristin certain things that worked and then add her own, which makes it a different Glinda.
I think this whole "who is better" thing is a little unfair.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 12:13pm

Yeah, let's just agree to disagree. :)

[bella cantato]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 1:33pm

I've seen all 3 (Cheno, JLT and Megan) and they're all very different... personally, Cheno stole my heart the most, but I do think that you will enjoy Megan. She definitely isn't as perky as Cheno & JLT but she does do a very good job. And she's so beautiful!

[alphieboy]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 1:39pm

I do not have a hugh problem with JLT, but Kristin is the best Glinda by far. She is Glinda, and JLT can not hold a candle to her.

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 1:43pm

Why must we keep harping on this? Everyone is going to play the part differently. That being said:

Justice (even though you posted this damn thread), TheatreGuy2, Katecab99, QM, Up In Won and Bunchamuncha-- you are all wonderful people. And you are invited to my super-cool, stylin' parties.
Updated On: 4/28/05 at 01:43 PM

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 2:59pm

"I just don't get it. She was a nice voice and a beautiful presence onstage, but she's trying way too hard to be funny. What worked about Kristin is that she played it straight. There's no doubt that JLT is a very talented young woman, but she's gotta learn how and when to deliver her lines."

?!

JLT is the one who played it straight. What Kristin did was more like schtick. JLT actually ACTED and played a character, while Kristin just did her thing...and while she was quite funny, there is simply no contest. JLT is a superior actress. Kristin is a good comedianne.


I enjoyed Megan as well, but not as much as Chenoweth and certainly not as much as Jennifer Laura.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 4:45pm

Kristin did do schtick, but I think it worked better than "hey look at me, I'm funny." I guess it's all about timing to me. Kristin has natural comic timing and Jen, in my opinion, doesn't. Nothing against her personally of course. I actually think Jen's Thank Goodness is much better acted than Kristin's.

[admanrich]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 4:50pm

Megan I think has a better voice, but JLT is a better actress.

I saw Megan in December and JLT most recently in March and I personally like JLT better.

[Benzy92]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 4:53pm

Megan :)

I also saw Megan in Dec and her voice is incredible, it cant be compared w/ JLT who is also fabulous.

Megan's acting may be a little weaker, but I'm sure she's grown with the role since then!

[Glindafan]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 7:04pm

Comparisons like this are inevitable when actors change, but in all fairness - if you want to compare apples and apples, Kristin & JLT settled into their roles over long periods of time. Conversely, Megan has performed dozens of times - rarely twice in a row, much less getting settled into the role. Start this thread after August, when she's got 3 months under her belt. Then we will see that these gifted ladies are cut from the same cloth.

[DickonDefysGravity]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 7:19pm

No one will ever capture the role like Kristin!!! The woman is unstoppable...

[bunchamuncha]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 8:37pm

I thought this guy's review was pretty spot on.
Glinda comparison

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 9:36pm

Limewire does not work on my computer. Could someone please, please PM me with Megan singing "No One Mourns the Wicked?" Thanks.

[Derek]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 9:43pm

I heard JLT, Megan and Laura...I actually love all 3. I was surprised at how well Laura was after what I heard, she sounded great!