Who's Your Favorite Elphaba?- Page 8

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:37am

"Did someone here actually say that Eden goes on these vocal runs too long to "show off" but then listed Shoshana as their favorite? Dear Goodness, it gets better every day. If anyone did NOTHING but vocal runs (and not a drop of acting) it was Shoshana"

So maybe Shoshana did show off a bit with her runs. The difference, OrdinaryJukebox1, is that she did them well because she was comfortable with them, and she clearly cared a great deal about the role she was playing. Eden tries to do things that are simply vocally too difficult for her for the sake of showing off and not caring about the impression her interpretation of the character has on the audience. And Shoshana's acting was way better than Eden, whom I saw last week and absolutely bombed. I saw Eden opposite Katie Adams, the understudy for Megan, and Katie totally blew Eden out of the water. When an understudy can perform in 10 leagues above the veteran performer, there's a problem.

[CFK]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 1:09am

Idina in the West End will probably be my favorite.

But for now Idina in NYC.

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 7:19am

Well, Bjh, we'll just have to agree to disagree. I thought Shoshana, although vocally talented, lacked greatly in actually "acting." I could see the wheels turning in her head, and all they said was, "I'm just another white, Jewish girl, trying to sound like Aretha Franklin, and since my R&B singing career hasn't taken off, despite my efforts to add a vocal run to every single note I sing, I'll do this Broadway show for a while." Don't get me wrong, I didn't totally dislike her when I saw her. However, after seeing Idina Menzel twice, I was left kind of like, "eh." Then, I saw it with Eden after she took over, and I, personally, thought that an actual character was brought back to life. She didn't over do it with the vocal insanity, every run was a delight, pitch perfect, and her acting was spot on. To say nothing of the fact that most of the vocal runs that Shoshana did, she didn't create. Lots of the stuff she did is what Eden did originally as Idina's stand by. Again, we'll just agree to disagree.

-Vincent

[Claire2141]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 8:05am

^ summed up why I've never liked Shoshana's portrayal. Yes her singing was strong but the character wasn't there. She played the part to 'ghetto' for my liking. Hopefully Eden's bought the character back to how Idina made it...

[danaonotlater]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 11:55am

Julia Murney...
of the three Elphabas I've seen (Idina and Eden, as well), she was the only one who made first act Elphaba/young Elphaba as dimensional as I wanted her.

[Sparklesss]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 7:17pm

Julia does do a great job on first act Elphie..

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 7:23pm

"And Shoshana's acting was way better than Eden, whom I saw last week and absolutely bombed."

Frankly, Shoshana's acting was non-existent. She made no choices. All she did was speak in a voice tone that may or may not have fit the moment, and she tried to sound natural. That is NOT acting.
Updated On: 4/27/06 at 07:23 PM

[BtMartin25]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 7:33pm

Looks - Stephanie J. Block

Vocals - Shoshana Bean

Acting - Idina Menzel

[Horton]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:08pm

The thing I hated about Sho, was she TRIED to build the moment, and then the moment a song came along it was like "Shoshana Bean R&B One Night Only at Joe's Pub".

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 1:27pm

Idina hands down She won the Tony for the role and is simply awesome as The Green Girl

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 1:35pm

Stephanie J. Block...Julia Murney is a VERY close second though!

[broadwayxminixidina]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 1:37pm

Julia, Sho-Sho and Idina. They are all FANTASTIC.

I saw Eden at the pantages when she was just an understufy and I didn't care for her. Maybe, and HOPEFULLY, she has improved now that she is on Broadway.

[Unmasked05]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 2:09pm

Hmmm well everyone approaches the role differently

but I think Shoshana vocally and acting wise does a DAMN good job.

Idina will always be the ORIGINAL elphaba and sings and act the hell out of the role and she's the girl all Elphie's have to look up too and sometimes borrows from.

[admanrich]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 2:13pm

Idina and Shoshana. Shoshana vocally, Idina everything else haha

[RentHead2]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 2:28pm

I have seen this show a couple times (4): which is not alot compared to the rest of you on this board. I saw Idina 3 times and Anna Gasteyer. Anna was good vocally but I just didn't feel that she was "Elphaba." I was able to see Idina all three times in the first 2 months of the show. She was amazing and she brought that house down Wizard of Oz Style.

Many people were given the wrong perception after watching the Tony's that year: Idina was way off but that never happened when I saw her live.

However, I am so jealous that you guys got to see Eden Espinosa. I love love love her voice but I'm not sure if she can nail it the way Idina could. Oh well, I can't judge until I see it. I NEED TO GET TICKETS! CRAP!

[aidaxx3]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 2:30pm

ana gasteyer

=)

[elphaba432]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 5:17pm

I really don't know! I liked Shoshana. I've never seen Idina perform live, but if she won the Tony she must be good. I never seen Eden, but everyone says she's good. Same with Stephanie and Julia.

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 5:24pm

Julia Murney.

[Horton]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 5:24pm

Julia and Stephanie.

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 5:26pm

Idina. She was Elphaba to me. She was so much more real than any of the actresses playing Elphie now. She was just so natural on stage, and I know this sounds weird, but her speaking voice was really pleasant to listen to, lol.

[LeadingDude]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 5:30pm

Idina played the role very truthfully. She made the role one of the biggest roles for a female to play. Her voice and musicality is incredible. She is Elphaba.

Shoshana made the role more interesting. With her crazy riffs and runs...she made it fun to watch. She added this fire to the role. Shoshana is amazing.

those are my 2 faves

[alliez92092]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 5:39pm

Julia Murney. I don't think any description is needed. She IS Elphaba.

[GretchaSketh]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 5:40pm

hands down Stephanie J. Block!

Her passion in this role is so amazing to watch. When she is up there she IS Elphabe. I feel like she brings SO much of herself to the character. Every time I saw her to me she was truly Elphaba. Her interpretation of the character is one that is so real to me. In my opinion she is an always will be my favorite!

[mikeyb16]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 5:54pm

Idina Menzel for sure without a doubt! can't wait to see her in London

[JamesMacon]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 6:23pm

I have only seen Eden, and I thought she was amazing. She was also so sweet at stage door. But I would love to see Julia Murney - that would be awesome.