Which Elphaba was the best?- Page 2
Which Elphaba was the best?
#25re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/22/09 at 8:12pm
too.tragic, I did not know that his name was of Spanish derivation. 'Fijero', huh? ;]
I gotta vote Lisa Brescia myself.
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#26re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/22/09 at 8:13pm
Schmerg-
I, sadly, was one of those fanboys who was like I AM ELPHABA...and then I realized...The Witch was pretty kickass. I mean, she's got this huge grudge against Dorothy over a pair of shoes. To have that much commitment to a grudge and all the energy that has to go into hating someone/thing for that long (ok 48 hours tops, but still) is pretty amazing.
But yea, I get annoyed when people try and apply Wicked to the movie/book...SEPERATE ENTITIES!
#27re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/22/09 at 8:18pmI don't really mind if people want to randomly tell me that they connect to the character of Elphaba, but it's just that I feel a bit irritated when people automatically assume that the shirt I wear because I'm a Wizard of Oz fan and a classic villains fan means that I'm a Wicked fan! (And while I don't really care much for Wicked, I'm definitely more of a Glinda in terms of personality, appearance, voice, whatever than an Elphaba anyway!)
#28re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/22/09 at 8:24pmMy mother ranks pretty high up there.
heo1128
Broadway Star Joined: 7/9/08
#30re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/22/09 at 9:18pm
Am I the only Dee Roscioli fan?
Am I also the only one who doesn't quite get the fascination with Lisa Brecia?
ThankstoPhantom
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/05
#31re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/22/09 at 9:21pmBased on later posts, I'll add that Idina Menzel was my favorite of the those I have seen live. I will mention that despite my liking her the best, it in no way means that the others were unworthy. Victoria Matlock, for example, came at a close second. Her intensity was exhilarating in the role. Every actor has a different approach and quirk, and of those I've seen, I've enjoyed and praised their performances. But there is always bound to be one of preference, without a detrimental opinion on the others.
#32re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/22/09 at 9:23pm
Obviously using the term 'best' brings problems, but...
If I could combine;
Idina Menzel's overall performance and look with...
Shoshana Bean's soulful vocal gymnastics...
Kerry Ellis's pure belt...
and maybe a dash of SJB and the menace of Margaret Hamilton...
I'd be one happy customer.
She'd be called: Idinerry Shoblock Belliston. Which works fine, because I think its a rule somewhere that you have to have an odd name to play the role...
WishingOnlyWounds2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/25/08
#33re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/22/09 at 9:56pm
Of the Elphabas I have seen...
Lisa Brescia
Stephanie J. Block
Julie Reiber
Kerry Ellis
and Marcie Dodd...
I have to say I honestly can't choose, each of them bring something different and brilliant to the role.
I have to say though Lisa Brescia really stuck out to me, I loved how she sang the score and her acting was perfect, all the different emotions, just everything, Stephanie too as well as the rest were all amazing as well!
Also, though I've never seen them live, I love how Caissie Levy, Jemma Stevenson, and Chelsea Krombach sound in the role!
#34re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/22/09 at 10:36pmIn terms of just acting, I think Lisa Brescia is the best. Her acting is so complex and real. She gave Elphaba more depth than I knew she had. In terms of embodying the character overall, I think Idina Menzel is the best. Her acting wasn't as deep as Lisa's, but I think Idina was the best vocally and her Elphaba was by far the most natural.
#35re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/22/09 at 10:48pmPatti LuPone.
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#36re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/22/09 at 11:06pmWanna Be A Foster, she riffs Defying Gravity like no one's business.
#36re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/22/09 at 11:09pm
Oh goodness...another one of these!
Although I will stay Idina or Sho
SJB kinda scares me
#37re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/22/09 at 11:42pm
Colleen Sexton gave the best overall performance and vocals I've seen in an Elphaba.
However, Sho Sho is and will always be THE powerhouse vocal Elphaba. No one tops her vocal power. No one. And the only time I saw Marcie, she gave what had to be the single best performance (vocally and acting-wise) of "No Good Deed" I have seen or heard.
#38re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/23/09 at 12:00amI really enjoyed Kerry Ellis, and I don't see her mentioned much by people on this board.
ifuweregay93
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/19/06
#39re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/23/09 at 12:20amWHAT? No mention of those crazy fangirls who stand in the rush line every weekend? I see how it is.
abominableerror
Swing Joined: 4/30/08
#40re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/23/09 at 12:29am
I'm going to go with Kerry Ellis being my all time favorite to listen to. I really love Julia Murney too, her vibrato is unlike anything I've heard, plus I love her ending to DG. Marcie Dodd isn't that bad either, and Lisa is great too. I'm not a huge Idina fan, but she has her moments where she just nails it.
coolboi952
Understudy Joined: 10/20/08
#41re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/23/09 at 5:00ammine would have to be Ana Gastyer. She was amazing in the role and she is both a strong actress and has such a great voice. Really my favorite.
#42re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/23/09 at 5:04amEasy..........JULIA MURNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
amyja89
Swing Joined: 1/20/09
#43re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/23/09 at 5:25am
Out of the two I've seen live, Kerry and Alexia, I'd have to go with Kerry. Although Alexia was absolutely amazing also, Kerry's No Good Deed blew me away.
However, on Google Video there is a full show posted with Stephanie as Elphaba, and her characterisation of the role is my favourite by far, and her comedy timing is flawless!
I've also seen a full recording online with Idina as lead, but in my opinion she was completely outshone by Kristin Chenoweth and therefore kind of unremarkable. Might of just been that particular performance though. :)
#44re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/23/09 at 10:51amMenzel is the best I've seen, closely followed by Block. Gasteyer was my least favorite.
DefyGravity777
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/28/08
#45re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/23/09 at 11:26am
"Also, though I've never seen them live, I love how Caissie Levy, Jemma Stevenson, and Chelsea Krombach sound in the role!"
Chelsea is really nasally when she plays Elphie but it works. She sounds like a witch to me. She deff doesn't look the part though with her round face. She is way too sweet looking.
As for the question I would say Stephanie J. Block is the "best" Elphie. She is the whole package to me. Julie Reiber come in a close second. Marcie Dodd a close third.
burnsy
Stand-by Joined: 8/3/07
#47re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/23/09 at 12:48pm
Idina Menzel, Willemijn Verkaik, Hamada Megumi, Kerry Ellis, Caissie Levy, Eden Espinosa, from what I've seen of Amanda Harrison, she seems pretty good
Favourite DG by a non-Elphaba: Pia Douwes' "Frei und Schwerelos" at the Sommernacht des Musicals in Dinslaken in 2007. The translation wasn't so great (this was before they came to Stuttgart and it was one of the first times that "Wicked" songs were heard in German; they had to do some work on the translation before it came to Stuttgart), but she was GREAT! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQVqWEjNsT8
#48re: Which Elphaba was the best?
Posted: 1/23/09 at 1:47pm
Husk, did anyone ever tell you you're no freakin' fun? At all? 
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