Shoshana 05.05.05

[andyf]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 2:04am

OK…I don’t really like when someone starts their own thread every time they see a show to post a review (Emcee, I love you anyway), just because it’s senseless to clutter the board like that. You could just create a “[Username] review thread” and then bump that each time. When I see a show and want to post about it, I’ll usually just bump the most recent thread and post there, but tonight I’m starting a new thread for the love of my life – sorry bythesword, but I know you understand – Ms. Shoshana Bean.

At this point I can say with complete certainty that there was a large oversight in the universe, because somehow or other I’ve been given a LOT of good luck…too much, actually. Apparently I don’t just not-lose the Avenue Q lottery anymore, now I just don’t lose ANY lotteries…at all…ever.

Now if you’ve ever read anything resembling a review of mine before, or worse, had the even greater misfortune of actually having a conversation with me about a performance, you may know that I am a liiiiittle critical. OK…I’m kind of a douchebag and I usually hate something about everything (except Altar Boyz, CattleCall, which IS the greatest musical ever conceived…fear not).

So, today I happened upon the Wicked lottery because I thought it would be fun to get a ticket with today’s date on it (05.05.05). WHY I would assume I could accomplish getting a ticket at the WICKED LOTTERY is beyond me, but due to an unhealthy obsession with Shoshana Bean and a complete lack of self-control…I ended up at the Gershwin.

I won, sans the drama for a change, which was VERY nice. Quick sidebar, there were three other singles in front of me and one of them came up to me and asked if I was alone and if I wanted to team up with one of them. So we end up in two pairs, and I won AND one of the other singles won, she was VERY excited and I just thought that was entertaining. I guess it’s just kind of heartwarming knowing that a family of 4 could have enjoyed the show together, but instead 4 total strangers got to in their places. :)

OK, Shoshana. Yes, I love her more than a little, but I’m also not afraid to be objective about her. I do like the pop-Elphaba, but I’ll be the first to tell you when I think the pop-iness is off. Tonight was not one of those times.

I was worried how Shoshana would be since she was sick last week or something, but she started “The Wizard and I” and I knew everything would fine…sassy even. Now, cutting to the chase, and the reason I made this post…”Defying Gravity.” Brilliant. Shoshana sounded the strongest I’ve heard her and she was having a LOT of fun tonight. She pulled out this glorious e > a vowel change at the end of “Iiiiiit’s meeeeeee” a la Jennifer Hudson because I guess she decided she wanted to belt as loud as she could. So the vowel change let her throw in this sick little crescendo on the diphthong she made at the end of the “me” (which was now meeeeeAAAAYH) that was EXCELLENT.

If you haven’t seen the show in a while, at some point Shoshana started connecting “It’s me” and “so if you care to find me,” so that’s all in one breath now. She also riffs up at the end of “so if you care to find me” like the “eeeeEE-“ in “It’s eeeeEENOOOUGH” at the end of “Dance of the Robe,” except in the appropriate key. Glorious. She threw in a few more tiny riffs than usual (on the “me” in “take a message back from me” and at the end of the second “Bring me down” which was hot), I just wish she would have done even more since she sounded SO strong tonight, the strongest I’ve ever heard her.

In “No Good Deed” she kind of scooped up ever so slightly on the release to the big “FIYEROOOOOO” in the beginning, which was pretty sexy, yet subtle. Infinitely sexier was the scoop she threw in at the end of the big “FIYEROOOOOOO” in the MIDDLE of the song (damn there are a lot of “big ‘FIYEROOOOO’”s in that song). Sooooo hot. I was kind of sad she did the boring end, though, but the scoops were a nice addition.

Anyway, if this is any indication of what she’s going to do for the rest of the week, get down to the lottery and win or regret being alive. And if you don’t like Shoshana…even better, win the lottery and call me up…I’ll take the ticket.

Updated On: 5/6/05 at 02:04 AM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 2:07am

Honey, you know you love me. Probably not as much as Shoshana, but whatever, I can deal with that.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 2:34am

Your obsession is so unhealthy, Andyf. I feel for whatever boy is in love with you at the moment.

[ticenewyorkcity]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 2:42am

so glad to hear you love my girl...haven't yet seen her as i have been away doing shows since dec. but so nice of you to post about her she is my idol MY american brooadway idol

[IMsooHyprToday]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 3:37am

comment comment comment... i made you out of clay....

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 3:44am

Graham, I thought you were going to bed? It might do you good!

[andyf]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 4:09am

Eyes on the prize, kids.

You're supposed to be obsessing about Shoshana not Graham.

God, where are Jwei and Benzy when you need them??

[Jwei123]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 6:39am

Shoshana. riffs. are. the. reason. im. alive.

Is it sad that I know *exactly* every riff andyf was talking about? Please, everyone, don't answer that!


Glad to hear you had fun (yet again, you lucky fvck) at the lotto.


PS- andyf, was the time i was there the ONE time you lost? if so, oyvey.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 6:54am

Sounds like she was great tonight. And I'm glad that she is making the part her own.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 7:10am

I'm in love with Shoshana Bean. I'm more in love with her riffs.

I read an interview or something with her from when she first assumed the role of Elphaba and she said that the producers were making her cut down on the riffing. I guess they've come to and realized how fantastic they are! Thank God!

[MissNY]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 8:06am

I am not even going to comment on your Shoshana obsession (:P), all I can say, is your lottery luck better hold until the 15th...

[massofmen]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 9:26am

i think its interesting that you only talk about her vocal performance. Did she act at all in the show or was it just vocal aerobics? I personally can't wait for Eden to come back.
-Paul Miller

[wickedfiyeroofoz]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 10:02am

Doesn't anyone miss Idina? lol Thats awesome that she's gotten better then the clip I have of her. In the clip she was terrible but that was one performance. It must have been a bad night.

[Benzy92]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 11:18am

Andy sure knows how to make one jealous!!! Wish I was there


Anyone who calls themselves a "Wicked fan", MUSTTTTT check out the brilliance of Ms. Bean!

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 11:24am

yay for loving shoshana's riffs. this thread is long over due... i too have an unhealhty little obsession for ms. bean. i saw her 5.4 mat, and she was fierce! during W&I there was some extra riffing, then for the rest of the show it was jus phenomenal. she's been so on it this week!!

so seriously people, run to the wicked lotto to hear this girl! go, go!

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 11:35am

Question....how does the lottery work? I buy my tickets ahead of time, as I am in Denver, but thought I might try the lotteries when there in a few weeks.

[TheOneAndOnly]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 11:35am

Well I make no strides to hide the fact that Sho is gonna be my Baby's Mama, so thanks for the update on the changes & riffs she is starting to implement in the show. Having seen (or at least heard) her at various times throughout her run, it's interesting to see how often she changes things up.

I think I know the end of No Good Deed that you're talking about, because I also don't like it. Idina started doing it near the end of her run, and then Sho starting doing it as well. A big scoop up on the very last "aaahHHHHHHH---Geh-eeeennn" instead of (wow this is hard to explain in a text post) "ah GEEEH eh eh eeeehn".

And just to qualify this post, I promise ya'll I'm not some Wicked groupie. I may have issues but I ain't sick in the head
Updated On: 5/6/05 at 11:35 AM

[Kris2]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 11:36am

i think its interesting that you only talk about her vocal performance. Did she act at all in the show or was it just vocal aerobics? I personally can't wait for Eden to come back.

Eden acts? Guess you learn something new every day.

[Trisky]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 11:47am

Andrew next time you're running for a lottery, please remember who owns your soul and what they can do for your soul. Thanks.

[andyf]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 12:20pm

Hahahaha OneandOnly, you're very good at writing out riffs. That's brilliant.

But you have it completely wrong. The ending Idina started at the end of her run, that Shoshana subsequently perfected is the "hot end" to "No Good Deed." The second one you're talking about is boring, but not THE "boring end". The boring end is like what Idina does on the OBCR without the little riff, it's just "Aaaaaa gaaaaaaaaain" on the same note.

Oh and she went up on the "love" in "well if that's loOVE," which was fun.

[TheOneAndOnly]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 12:44pm

lmao we should probably take this to private messages, otherwise people are gonna think we're a little too obsessed..

But I think there are actually three different "again"s. The one Idina does on the cast recording, the scoop 'cheat' one that was easier cuz it spends the shortest amount of time on the high note, and the great one that one where Sho takes it up another note and riffs it.

I'm happy as long as during Defying Gravity she does the trademark Sho switch-up (not really a riff tho) of going way down on "I'm through accepting limits, 'cuz someone says they're soo-oooooo...", and her growled/belt on "so if you care to find me 'LOOK' to the western sky". And "tell them how 'IIIIiiiii' am defying gravity.."

To me, she's the best-sung Elphaba. Eden had wild notes, but they felt sort of empty, and her low notes were too masculine. Idina near the end of her run just got lazy, just popping up to the high notes and falling off of them. Shoshana is consistent, classical where she needs to be, yet with subtle riffs in perfect spots.

[andyf]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 12:47pm

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, I love that someone else is finally writing out the riffs. Well done.

And please, my review is a about page too long to worry about people thinking I'm a little too obsessed.


EDIT: And yes, the riff down on "so" is CLASSIC. And she still growls out the "LOOK" which is just brilliant.

EDIT: And the "hoooowIIIII" is EXCELLENT.

Updated On: 5/6/05 at 12:47 PM

[massofmen]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 1:00pm

did you see her in Wicked? Or is your "eden acts?" comment based on the mess of a show she is in now?
-paul miller

[Derek]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 3:07pm

I know what ur talking about. there is a clip i have of shoshana's defying gravity from 2 weeks ago that is just amazing. it is rare that i get chills in a song....i got like 10 with her!!!

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 3:24pm

derek, care to share this clip of shoshana two weeks ago? feel free to pm me...thanks

-vincent