WICKED Australia starts previews today... — Page 2

My favourite is always Her Majesty's. Big musicals just aren't the same for me unless they are at the Maj. The Princess' auditorium always seems slightly down at heel, and the Regent is a barn of a joint.

The "Ugly Betty" episode was shot in Los Angeles at the Los Angeles production. The Gershwin Theatre (New York), seats 1935.

Nah, it was at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles.

I was there, and it was beyond fabulous. The first thing that struck me was how enormous the set is - it seems to extend a lot further around the sides than the one in the Gershwin. I've seen Wicked over a dozen times over the past four years, but when I walked into the Regent last night I was *stunned*. Also, during the show I noticed a LOT of lighting effects and detail to the scenery that I had never noticed before. I can't figure out if they really went all out, or if I just...never noticed all that before. (Am I really that vague? I've sat front row at the Gershwin and never noticed that much detail!)

In place of the Priscilla mirror-balls are quaint little lamps.

The cast are among the best I have ever seen. For me, Amanda Harrison (Elphaba), Lucy Durack (Glinda) and Maggie Kirkpatrick (Morrible) trump all others I've seen in those roles. ESPECIALLY Lucy - girl was born to play Glinda! She is a constant joy to watch, and it's so apparent that she is having a ball herself!

Rob Mills (Fiyero) I found a little wooden, but I really think he's going to be awesome - come on, it was first preview, I'm not going to pass judgement that hastily. His and Amanda's voiced blended SO gorgeously as well...although she did drown him out a little, hehe.

Penny McNamee is a phenomenal act 2 Nessarose - very bitter and angry and a little bratty. I didn't notice her much in act 1 - sweet, but she didn't come to the fore until Wicked Witch of the East. And then, *whoa*.

No major screw-ups, either. Bubbles worked, gravity was defied, one or two minor line flubs but pfft, that can happen any time.

Oh and the monkeys fly out over the 7th row of the stalls - I was seated there and they were right above my head!

That's probably as close as you'll get to an Australian Cast Album.

lfae, what kind of changes or things did you notice differently in the show with the set? I love the set and i just find it amazing to watch it work during the show.!

Sounds fantastic!

That's the best version of that song I've heard for a LONG time.

Wonder what the understudies are like?

Sean

Updated On: 6/28/08 at 04:59 AM

I think you're informant is wrong, it should be Elphaba's understudy. Amanda has a throat infection and required an understudy to go on. At least that is what I heard from within the Wicked camp.

That was possibly why I made the hint.

Sean

Updated On: 6/28/08 at 08:13 AM

Maybe they've replaced both...

Amanda sounds great.

I'm glad that Helen Dallimore didn't originate the Aussie Wicked. When I saw her in London, she just really didn't do it for me =S

Isn't it weird that Helen Dallimore is in BOEING BOEING at the Comedy while WICKED is previewing a couple of blocks away at the Regent? On top of that I watched on cable last night the 2006 Command Performance and there she was with Idina Menzel and the London WICKED cast performing.

Question:

Is Helen's actual voice her Glinda voice (it was like Australian trying to be Anglo-American...I was not a fan) or...was it just that, she's Australian and can't do the Glinda voice so it came out like that?