How fitting that a bomb cyclone drenched much of the East Coast today...
Today was my third time seeing Wicked, and first from the Gershwin mezzanine (interestingly enough, all three trips were on March 12). It was my first Broadway show since Omicron was first detected, and it felt GREAT to be back.
It's been 18+ years since this show opened, and it still holds up beautifully and in all its glory. Because of my mezz seat, I was able to get a full view of Eugene Lee's set design (including the dragon animatronic), and what a beautiful set it is.
Wicked is in excellent shape musically; it no longer feels somewhat stiff and stale, as it did at many points before the 2020 shutdown. Dan Micciche conducted this afternoon and continues to kill it.
LINDSAY PEARCE - Easily the best Elphaba I have seen. There's a quiet intensity to her voice that seems ready to explode at any given moment; when it does, she is absolutely electric.. A couple shades of Menzel, but she makes the role entirely her own. If you watch the video of Pearce in the show's first rehearsal back, her voice has dramatically improved, which felt so good to hear. Of note, she didn't hit the low E at the end of "I'm Not That Girl," instead opting for the higher E (Anyone, is this common with her?). She sounded excellent on both "Defying Gravity" and "No Good Deed," hitting high Fs on the tail end of "Tell them how I..." and "Fiyero." Great actress too, rock-solid book work. You only have just over 2 more months to catch her!
Brittney Johnson has been getting a lot of mainstream attention this last month, but what all these sources never mention is that Johnson is one of the best Glindas PERIOD - easily top 5 in my book. She nails all the big, comic, egoistic moments in Act I like any Glinda should (The sass! The intonation!), but then comes Act II where she does an outstanding job with the more serious and intense moments. I echo the fact that her "Thank Goodness" is a masterclass. I was lucky enough to see Johnson play Heather in the recent revival of Sunset Boulevard, and it's amazing to see how much she's grown since then. What a leader she is.
The male principals are all comfortable in their roles: Sam Gravitte, Jordan Barrow, and especially Michael McCormick as a deliciously evil Wizard. Michael X. Martin made a good Dillamond, he didn't overdo anything.
Just one swing was on today (Micaela Martinez), and I got to see Courtney Iventosch play Nessarose because Mili is on medical leave for a few weeks. Courtney was also good, way to step in there.
Schwartz's score is a mixed bag, as everyone knows by now. Some strong melodies, but several weak ones as well. There are many lyrics throughout that could possibly displace "It's the 'Thrilla in Manila' / But with Diana and Camilla" and haunt me for some time. The house was well-sold and the audience was respectful today. Perfect mask compliance. Pearce, Johnson, and McCormick received some nice entrance applause. Some of the blatant foreshadowing in Holzman's sketchy book did not really get any reaction.
Hilferty's ensemble costume design... yowza. Just ugly to look at.
Other notes:
"...although some of us still tend to favor form over content..." Thank you, Doctor Dillamond, for reminding me that the last time I saw a Broadway show was the day Sondheim died. Cue me shedding a tear.
"Fellow Ozians... friends... we have been through a frightening time, and there will be other other times and other things that frighten us..." During the shutdown, I have to think more people were imagining Glinda's first line of dialogue than her last. This line hits MUCH different after the COVID shutdown.
There was a slew of latecomers blocking me a bit during "Dancing Through Life," but having seen the show already, I didn't mind at all.
The show began at 2:03 today, and ran closer to 2 hours 40 mins, rather than the listed 2 hours 45.
I had seen a few shows since Broadway reopened, but this felt more like a proper "welcome back to Broadway." A new interpretation of a tried-and-true product I appreciate despite its flaws. There has never been a better time to go see Wicked. It has now become the Broadway show I have seen the most times. Could cases please stay down so I can have more days / nights like this?
“I am furious, but I am sailing.”
Updated On: 3/12/22 at 07:15 PM