Melbourne Wicked reviews-spoilers

[brettystar]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 10:13pm

Wicked - Melbourne July 26th 8.00pm

I have seen the Broadway production twice, the LA production once and the have now seen the Melbourne production twice. Yes I am a fan of this show. However, I was always troubled about aspects of the book not being as good as I had hoped and leaving me with questions. I do not think there have been changes to the script but I can now say that I am happy with the book as some of the things I wondered about have been answered.

The cast is wonderful. Lucy Durack is the best Galinda I have ever seen. She brings a child like wonder to the role that I have not seen any other actress do. This in part makes her even more likeable as it kind of excuses the decisions she makes. She looks fabulous too.

Amanda Harrison is impressive as Elphaba. Her belt is strong and her acting is very good.

Rob Mills is a surprise and does a great job as Fiyero; Anthony Callea is fine as Boq and sings the part better than is probably necessary.

Rob Guest is a disappointment as the Wizard. Maggie Kirkpatrick and Penny McNamee lend solid support in their roles.

The set is glorious and the production standards overall are excellent. There are some changes in 'Popular' that I am not sure are in the other productions but they were not in the LA production in June. Galinda breaks up the 'on their own behalf to think of' line by smacking her lips a couple of times (works better than it sounds) and adds a forecful 'don't' in the 'don't make laugh.. DON'T!!' line.

Overall I can't wait to see it again.

5/5

July 26th - won the lotto

Not much to add other than due to illness, Jemma Stevenson played Elphaba in Act 2. She played the role differently to Amanda Harrison but was still strong and will get better as she gains more experience I think. Jemma was so lovely at stage door too.

5/5
P.S Will try to upload photos of the cast at stage door... once I work out how to do this lol.

Updated On: 8/3/08 at 10:13 PM

[PlayhouseBeauty]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 10:18pm

Glad u had such a great time at Wicked in Melbourne. As for the changes you mentioned I know there doing both the lip smacking and the emphasis on DON'T in the Broadway production. Megan Hilty was one of the first Glinda's I saw to do those changes. For all I know it just could have been an actor's choice that caught on with the others. lol...but anyways glad u had a good time! can't wait to see pics!

[brettystar]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 10:22pm

Thanks Playhousebeauty.

When I saw Kendra twice last year she did not do it. Erin Mackey made a tight sound with her lips like one does when putting lipstick on and talking. You might be right, might be up to the actress.

I did have a brilliant time.

[Judas]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 10:37pm

Any pictures of the marquee while you're uploading the others?

[brettystar]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 10:42pm

This is a test to see if this works... if it does it is of me in front of a Visitors Centre in Melbourne... for ahem... obvious reasons.

[brettystar]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 10:50pm

Me with my latest crush - the adorable Lucy Durack who plays Galinda

Updated On: 8/3/08 at 10:50 PM

[brettystar]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 11:01pm

Sorry about the pic size, I am new to uploading pics doh...

With Amanda Harrison (Elphaba)



With Rob Mills (Fiyero)

Updated On: 8/3/08 at 11:01 PM

[Kaz2]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 11:09pm

Thanks for your post brettystar. I've seen the Melbourne show twice so far too, and really enjoyed it on each occasion. The set and costumes were worth seeing in themselves, and I thought the entire cast was great, each with particular strengths they brought to their roles.

I'm interested to know why you found Rob Guest a disappointment as The Wizard. I thought he did a good job, although he did struggle a bit to reach some of the higher notes. Was that the problem for you?

Lucky you winning the lottery. I'm thinking about going back a third time to see Wicked and trying my luck. It's a great idea, isn't it, hopefully it'll be the start of other innovative ways to sell theatre tickets being used in Aust.

[brettystar]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 11:22pm

I shouldn't be too hard on Rob Guest as his performance overall was nice enough. However, I was very surprised how much his voice had deteriorated since he did Phantom. I know that he is older now but he still did quite a few alternate notes and spoken instead of sung words.

I was just being really picky and out of all the cast he was the weakest in my opinion.

I am going back in the next few months but will buy a ticket. If I lived in Melbourne I would drop by to try the lotto often. I wouldn't risk it unless I lived there though.

Also, some of the front row has restricted viewing.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 11:26pm

Annaleigh Ashford(Broadway and Chicago) does the lipsmacking while putting the lipstick on Elphaba. I don't know if she's the first to do it but she does it at every performance.

[Kaz2]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 11:45pm

Thanks for the clarification re Rob Guest, brettystar. No doubt his voice has deteriorated somewhat since Phantom, but as you say, it goes along with getting older. I noticed too that Maggie pretty much spoke all of her Morrible lines, but her background is in acting of course, not singing.

Nice photos. Lucy so much looks a Galinda, doesn't she. Her sense of comedy was so good, she milked every drop of laughter out of each and every funny line.

Thanks for the tip about the restricted viewing from the front row. I am lucky enough to live in Melbourne so I definitely will give the lottery a try.

[brettystar]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 12:02am

No problem Kaz2.

If I were you I would try heading into the city on a Sunday (or Wed if you can) and try for both shows that day. The only thing is I don't think you get a say where you sit, so to avoid the restricted viewing you need to get your name called out after the second lot of tickets and before the the last two - just to make things challenging lol. You also get a neat Wicked lotto badge.

[Elphie95]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 1:47am

Those are some fabulous pictures you took with the cast. I also saw them on the Wicked facebook group. They are all so wonderful, taking the time to speak to you, take pictures, sign autographs.

When I first met Amanda I was surprised to see how tiny she was. i couldn't believe how a voice so strong came out of her body! She was so lovely. I forgot to bring my camera the last 2 times I have met her, I need to remember. I just have to say sitting in the front row watching, is a pleasure. She has the most intense eyes I have seen.

I ADORE LUCY. That picture of you and her is great.

Rob Mills basically would probablt stand out there whole day if he could talking to people. He's just a decent guy.

But the best experience I've had was with Jemma Stevenson (standby Elphaba) who had about a 10 minute conversation with me. She was just super friendly and kind to everyone. Plus, she's absolutely fantastic as well.

I'm glad you had such a great time.

[brettystar]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 4:50am

Thanks for the kind words Elphie95... I will PM you.

[PlayhouseBeauty]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 8:18am

BrettyStar: Great Pictures! This looks like a gorgeous cast!

DefyGravity777: Annaleigh does do the lip smacking but she wasn't the first one. Im pretty sure it was Megan Hilty who did it and she also started the over exaggerated "DON'T"

[Kaz2]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 7:05am

brettystar, just letting you know I tried for the lottery last weekend for the afternoon session, seeing as I had to be in the city that night anyway. No luck, but I've never won anything in my life, so to be expected. I was soooo tempted to just pay full price and go anyway, but I resisted, and went window shopping instead. I might try next time on a Wednesday like you suggested, when I can get a day off work that is.

Lucy's lip smacking in Popular is a crack up.

[Urban]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 8:14am

I know it is most likely just the angle of the camera et cetera, but by jeeves! Amanda Harrisons lips look huge!!!

I saw the same show that you did Brett where Jemma Stevenson came out in the second act to replace an ill Amanda Harrison, plus I saw the matinee earlier that day as well where Jemma did the entire show.

So Jemma was my first Elphaba.

While the half an act I saw Amanda in was awesome (don't get me wrong), Jemma had such an infection zeal to her performance, I couldn't help but get wrapped up with her. She was clearly having the time of her life and it was just enjoyable to watch! Jemma certainly has now gotten a huge fan in me!

My friend who brought the tickets got the matinee in the second row (which I wasn't too keen about because I like sitting a bit back to see the entire set). Plus when I saw Priscilla, the stage was very high (which at the least wasn't an issue here - there was no orchestra in Priscilla and all that was covered, while with an Orch in Wicked it was uncovered and everything ended up being alot lower).

I got my way with seating for the evening show and was 20 odd rows back (which considering how cavernous the Regent is, was still well in the open and not under the Mezz - and yes I am the one Aussie I swear that says Mezz and not Circle - I swear I always get teased about it). But anywhoo, I enjoyed that seat a hell of alot better then the second row seat because I suddenly 'saw everything' and more importantly how the gorgeous set actually comes out and into the theatre, like it grew out and invaded part of it. Not to mention the flying monkeys (which in that scene in the Matinee I had zero idea what the audience was ooohing about since I naturally couldn't see them from the second row).

So I am thinking though Amanada Harrison is going to be the biggest thing in Australian theatre since Anthony, Marina & Phillip. What does everybody else think? She has that something about her that screams 'big' (well not in height - after seeing a billion publicity photos of Idina & Kristen, it was a little weird to see Galinda taller then Elphaba).

The one big disapointment I had in the show was Rob Mills (and yes, I admit openly I was like the one person here on BWW that openly defended him - alot). He was extremely lackluster I thought in both 'Dancing Through Life' and 'As Long As You're Mine'. It is a shame since Fiyero is a role that requires some meat to it and Rob just didn't cut the salami.

Sidebar - I am so annoyed (now, naturally) that beautiful incidental music from 'Dancing Through Life' didn't make the CD!

Anthony Callea was okay, but in reality Boq is such a tiny role, it would be quiet difficult to f**k it up. Of course it was a wee bit funny to see Nessarose get out of her wheelchair during 'The Wicked Witch of the East' number and we find out she is taller then him.

Of course that does make sense since he is technically a munchkin, and Nessa, as Munchkin royalty doesn't have the same short genes the rest of munchkin land does.

I will admit something. I just didn't get into Galinda. Nothing against Lucy (I swear I was one of 5 people in the audience that actually laughed during Glinda's 'Eva Peron' moment in 'Thank Goodness).

I think my issue is the role is so clearly written for Kristen - to the point of incorporating random operatic rifts and being all over 'cupie doll like' it was just hard to disassoicate that in my minds eye with another actress. I have been told Lucy though has gotten better when she stopped trying to emulate Kristen and started to be Lucy playing this character.

I have to say one thing - the audience was ELECTRIC. I havn't seen an audience this amazing and into the show ever (I did see a rather vocal audience during a production of Rossini's 'The Italian Girl in Algiers' - but that is another story). The audience was clearly lapping it up and enjoying it. I gotta say I completely understood. The show was on fire.

Wicked is the biggest thing to hit Australia since "Les Miserable" (I think it is going to be bigger then 'Phantom' as well). In fact I wouldn't be suprised if it eventually eclipses 'Les Mis' due to its much more audience friendly storyline, music, lyrics and entertainment levels then 'Les Mis' (I am a LM fan - but even I can admit it can get rather bogged down in places).

My one and only big pet peeve? The Ozification of various words. My eyes rolled at every word.

And lastly... The Freak as Morrible? Classic! Best. Stunt. Casting. Ever.
Updated On: 8/13/08 at 08:14 AM

[kyeale2]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 6:28am

I only joined this board today and the last thing I was expecting to find was a Melbourne Wicked thread. Nice surprise!!

My thoughts on the show and cast are uncannily similar to yours Urban, well except for the Jemma Stevenson bits as I saw Amanda Harrison instead. I was so impressed with Amanda, and thought she was truly the star of the show. I thought her voice was just amazingly good, but I also thought she really let loose in the vocal dept. in the second act, and it sounds like you didn't get to see that.

You didn't mention Nessa. What did you think of Penny? I thought she had a really sweet voice, and drew a good contrast b/w sweet and innocent in Act One and bitter and twisted in Act Two. She and Callea worked well together too I thought.

Must say I loved the 'Ozification' as you put it, of the dialogue, even though you didn't. It made me laugh, but I think a lot of it passed the audience by.

Really good audience the night I went too. It's great to go to the theatre and see such a cross section of people loving what they see. Sure, Wicked is a little cheesy and cliched, but it works! I rarely go back and see a show a second time but I think I might make an exception for Wicked.

Updated On: 8/14/08 at 06:28 AM

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 7:58am

Glad to hear that Elphie and her friends are flying high Down under

GREAT pics and wonderful reviews. Thank you!!!