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Rue McClanahan in Wicked. — Page 2

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#26

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

calling her terrible is a little over the top..she is pretty good in the role..no Carolle Shelley tho..she does speak the role but the part doesn't really call for singing.
#27

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

No one's complaining that she doesn't sing. That isn't the issue.

She IS terrible in the ROLE, she is not a terrible person.
#29

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

Don't mean to beat a dead horse, but it's sad the hear her in the role, too. I wanted to like her, but I just couldn't.
#30

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

I went to the show last night.
All I can say is I now know what happened to baby jane, she is performing Madame Morrible in the body of Rue McClanahan. The casting is atrocious. I'd rather see Bea Arthur do it. Words cannot even explain. She commans nothing and just sounds like a foghorn. "good fortune, good fortune, fortune hunters...." who????
Terrible, didn't sing a note and is not intimidating in the least, the audience actually laughed at her.
As for the rest of the new cast. Ben Vereen is great, my only gripe would be that he's not mean in the least, but I just think it's a poorly written part. But he's very entertaining and moves incredibly. He also makes you realize Shoshana seriously has no rhythmn.
Megan Hilty. She has a beautiful voice (it's nice to have the high notes back) and she is aided greatly by wardrobe. All her skirts are hiked up a bit and it works. She clutches her handbag throughout and brings out the vanity of Glinda well. Her "Thank Goodness" rivals Kristin's. And you actually see Glinda's arc nicely because of it. The Glinda that leaves us at the end of the first act, is gone come those opening notes. Her Popular as good, more JLT than Kristin but uniquely her own. I can't rave enough about her voice, never wavers, and for someone who is as young as Hilty is, she has stage prescence beyond her years. She and Shoshana have a nice chemistry.
The audience was a little dead and the mics during the first act were a bit off, you could barely hear them (someone different was mixing last night).
But I can't wait until January when Rue leaves, she almost ruined the show for me.
If you really want to help the American theater, don't be an actress, dahling. Be an audience..... Don't be taken in by the guff that critics are killing the theater. Commonly they sin on the side of enthusiasm. Too often they give their blessing to trash... Tallulah Bankhead
#31

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

Poor Rue.
"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." -- Author Unknown
#32

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

I don't care what people say. Rue is a sensational actress and always has been. The fact that she's still out there and working is a credit to her talent. She wouldn't have been offered the role if the casting director hadn't seen anything in her.

I challenge everyone who says she's terrible to go out there and achieve everything that Rue has and then you can tell me she's terrible.
"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde
#33

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

What about Ben Vereen? How long will he be there???
"Needless to say the crew is well acquainted with my ass and that's ok because they are the coolest guys ever." - Idina Menzel
#34

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

I didn't say she was terrible in everything, she's just horribly miscast in Wicked.

If you really want to help the American theater, don't be an actress, dahling. Be an audience..... Don't be taken in by the guff that critics are killing the theater. Commonly they sin on the side of enthusiasm. Too often they give their blessing to trash... Tallulah Bankhead
#35

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

This is so sad, but Morrible is clearly not the role for Rue from all who've seen her. She's such a fine performer, but she just may not be up to 8 performances a week. And it's been ten years since GG. Unfortunate. Somehow, though I can't help but think this is miscast, too. I'm not sure "evil" is her forte.
"And the postman sighed as he scratched his head, you really rather thought she ought to be dead..."
#36

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

Saw the show last sunday...having seen the show two times before..once with the original cast and once after kristin left with jlt...this third time was a disappointment..and not because of Rue. Found Rue to be just fine. She doesn't sing the role..but like someone mentioned before..it's not really a singing role. I thought she was a commanding presence and made good out of a thankless role. Shoshana Bean was the disappointment for me. Didn't care for her singing at all...and she didn't come off to me as someone that would have all these people scared to death of her...just my opinion.../:)
#37

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

Personally, I don't where the "horrible" reviews are coming from. I thought is was fine. I thought she acted the role very well when I saw her about a week or so ago. Singing not so much, but not really required (as stated above). She certainly didn't ruin the show. I thought she brought some interesting shadings and comedy to the role. Her energy level was quite good on the performance that I saw. The audience give her a warm round of applause at the curtain.

The part is very different from Blanche on the Golden Girls. If you went in expecting to see Blanche as Mde. Morrible, then you would be disappointed. Rue is a fine actress and capable of playing many different parts. I thought she did a fine turn as Morrible. I, for one, am glad I saw her.

(Just one person's opinion.)
#38

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

I saw Rue on June 11th and thought she was fine, yea not the best morrible but she does what she can. She tries very hard but you guyhs ahve ot give her a little break, i mean shes not amazing, not horrible, shes good.
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
#39

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

Has anyone seen Rue in all fifteen of the filmed NUNSENSE musicals? I thought she was freakin' hysterical! I think it is wonderful that she has found some comedy in Mme Morrible. I think another thing that is not being taken in is that often times after a hit show opens and the original cast leaves a tour is out and often times the show is changed. For instance Maureen in RENT went from bitchy JAP girl to blonde cheerleader. I could give a very long list but my point is that perhaps this is where they have decided Mme. Morrible should go. Carol Kane I'm sure plays the part similar. I can almost guarantee that the roles of The Wizard and Mme Morrible will have "names" in them from here on out. GREASE anyone?
"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds." ~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns
#40

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

rue is just horrible,i couldnt stand her to the least bit grrrrrrr wheres carolee when we need her
"what? what is it? do i have something in my teeth? ok lets get this over with : no im not seasick,yes ive always been green, and no i didnt chew grass as a child "
#41

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

As if Carolee Carmello would play Mme Morrible! Puh-leez!
"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds." ~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns
#43

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

Well I'm glad the reviews for Rue aren't all negative, they are basically mixed. Which isn't that bad.

Morrible and the Wizard are such horribly underwritten parts, it's disgusting. The Wizard gets absolutely sh*t to do, while Morrible has better stage time, her role still isn't that great. If Kane on tour can speak/sing the role, than don't get on Rue's back for doing the same.
#44

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

Found a pic on Broadway.com...still waiting for the ones on the Website.
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic. --Dave Berry
#45

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

Dang...didn't work.
How do you put pictures in?
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic. --Dave Berry

Updated On: 7/1/05 at 12:50 PM

#46

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

I thought she did fine. I think the problem is she is trying to cover her accent and SOUND like Carole Shelley and it just doesn't work, because she gets too loud, over-the-top, and sometimes mumbles. That's really what I noticed about her, because when it didn't look like she was trying to hide her accent, she was fantastic. I thought her interpretation of the role was fine, she just needs to find a "voice" so to speak.
#47

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

yes...its really funny that people who has seen her say she talks instead of singing...lol...that cracks me up....she looks so old......its a wonder she memorized her lines. LOL!!!!
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one". -Felicia Finley-
#48

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

But this is Broadway! The most proffessional kind of Theater besides Elementary School plays!
#49

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

she is apparently a horrible morrible--------LOL!!!! -without a trace-

"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one". -Felicia Finley-

Updated On: 7/1/05 at 04:35 PM

#50

re: Rue McClanahan in Wicked.

Perhaps she`ll improve in the role? Does anyone like Rondi Reed?

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