We saw the show Tues & Wed and the changes are plentiful and for the most part, an improvement. Rue did speak about half her lines instead of singing them on the first night, but by Wednesday, she sang most of them and performed very well. She was also scary when she needed to be, unlike Tuesday.
Megan Hilty and Shoshana lit up the stage. Their duets were perfectly timed, on-key and both appeared to display real emotion - tears were running freely, as was their makeup. Shoshana's solos were masterful. Defying Gravity is always the show-stopper, but both nights were beyond belief. She's looking more the part every day as the memories of Idina begin to fade. Megan should become the new gold standard for Glinda. Her new bits in Popular and the fight scene are great.
Ben Vereen's voice adds depth and energy to the Wizard. We loved George Hearn, but Ben's voice and moves are wonderful, without being scene-stealing. Hearn could look sinister, but Ben simply cannot - his 'foreboding' look is no more sinister than a petulant chipmunk, but we'll forgive that.
Perhaps we're being over-optimistic, but even Fiyero sounded better. He has tended to go flat in the past, but perhaps he's getting it together. He still seems a beat slower than the rest of the cast.
There is so much buzz on this website that effectively trashes Wicked, but for my money it is a solid value in entertainment. The audience is fully engaged throughout. We saw six Broadway shows this past week and nothing compares to the crowds that attend this show. The thunderous climax to Act 1 remains the most astonishing moment I've encountered in decades of theater going.
There is a reason Wicked remains one of the toughest tickets in town - why it is sold out through December. People love it.
Wisdom often comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone
