#1
Posted: 9/9/05 at 11:27pm
Tonight at Wicked, Shoshana Bean only performed for the first act. Thirty seconds or so before the curtain came back up for Act II, an announcement was made that due to illness, the role of Elphaba would be played by Saycon. Quite a few people in the audience were noticeably upset. If they were this distraught over Shoshana, I can imagine how people must have been when Idina was out.
But as far as this show is concerned: The ensemble needs to pick it up or get out. They were horrendous this evening. Completely lifeless and just going through the motions. When the ensemble can't keep up the energy, something's wrong.
In fact, the entire cast tonight seemed to have taken NyQuil prior to going on. Even the usually perfect Megan Hilty seemed dead. The vocals were there, but there was no energy. And even though Shoshana left sick, she still managed to deliver her songs in her usual stellar manner. Which is why I was quite surprised to see she had left.
In other news: There were so many technical malfunctions! I swear, I lost track after I had to start counting on my second hand. And these were noticeable slip-ups that even those who have never seen the show before noticed. Here are a few of the major mess-ups: Everyone's mic had static through out the entire performance. Shoshana even at one point had to turn her back to the audience and mess with the tear drop mic on her forehead. Megan's mic went out once or twice, as did Ben Vereen's. The trap door Glinda exits down into right before "As Long as You're Mine" was not working. So Megan had to stand there for several moments until it opened up. She did manage to get off stage the split second before Saycon and David began singing.
And as for Saycon's performance: The girl can sing. I will give her that. But while watching her, I never once thought "Oh wow. This girl should be the star!" Her vocals were there, but there was something missing. And her acting was so over the map, too. One minute she would be sassy and distinguished, and the next she would be a blubbering mess. If these were her characterizations, I certainly hope she improves in the event she does take over for Bean in January.
All in all, this was the worst Wicked I've ever seen. I was quite disappointed, really. I've seen the show a number of times, but this is the first time I truly wondered when it was going to end. I heard several audience members saying they were expecting more. One woman even said "We should have gone to see Chicago or The Lion King."
But as far as this show is concerned: The ensemble needs to pick it up or get out. They were horrendous this evening. Completely lifeless and just going through the motions. When the ensemble can't keep up the energy, something's wrong.
In fact, the entire cast tonight seemed to have taken NyQuil prior to going on. Even the usually perfect Megan Hilty seemed dead. The vocals were there, but there was no energy. And even though Shoshana left sick, she still managed to deliver her songs in her usual stellar manner. Which is why I was quite surprised to see she had left.
In other news: There were so many technical malfunctions! I swear, I lost track after I had to start counting on my second hand. And these were noticeable slip-ups that even those who have never seen the show before noticed. Here are a few of the major mess-ups: Everyone's mic had static through out the entire performance. Shoshana even at one point had to turn her back to the audience and mess with the tear drop mic on her forehead. Megan's mic went out once or twice, as did Ben Vereen's. The trap door Glinda exits down into right before "As Long as You're Mine" was not working. So Megan had to stand there for several moments until it opened up. She did manage to get off stage the split second before Saycon and David began singing.
And as for Saycon's performance: The girl can sing. I will give her that. But while watching her, I never once thought "Oh wow. This girl should be the star!" Her vocals were there, but there was something missing. And her acting was so over the map, too. One minute she would be sassy and distinguished, and the next she would be a blubbering mess. If these were her characterizations, I certainly hope she improves in the event she does take over for Bean in January.
All in all, this was the worst Wicked I've ever seen. I was quite disappointed, really. I've seen the show a number of times, but this is the first time I truly wondered when it was going to end. I heard several audience members saying they were expecting more. One woman even said "We should have gone to see Chicago or The Lion King."
