Why ever did Norbert Play Fiyero?

[SirLiir]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:39pm

Having now seen The Last Five Years, Wicked, and DRS (twice in two weeks lol), I am trying to understand why Norbert ever would have taken up the role of Fiyero. Now as you can tell from my name, I am a huge Wicked fan (and have read the book 4 times) and Fiyero has always been my favorite character. Norbert of course did a phenomenal job (though I am a stauch supporter of David Ayers who I feel is the best Fiyero looks (I can very much picture him as book Fiyero- Norbert was a tad too old and Joey...no comment) and acting wise) but I feel the role was so suppressing of his real comic and singing skills. TL5Y was a true showcase of some incredible talent. Why did he follow it up with the shallow, self absorbed Vinkus (ed: fixed)prince who was unfortunately under-written for the musical? His subsequent Tony Winning Freddy performance in DRS speaks loudly of what most knew all along. Was Wicked just a step for him to get into the bigger Broadway crowd or did Stephen or Joe Mantello have him in mind when they were looking to cast Fiyero?
Updated On: 9/3/05 at 11:39 PM

[PJ]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:40pm

It was a paying job.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:42pm

Because Wicked ended up being the gigantic phenomenon it has become, it really served as a vehicle to get his name and face out there.

Besides, when you make your living in the theater you take the part you get. There probably wasn't anything else coming along at the t ime.

[Leadingplayer]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:50pm

He has two kids to support and most of his previous jobs were short running shows (Thou Shalt Not) or off-Broadway which don't pay as much. The big musicals are where the money is and he probably needed a job.

[JoMarch]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:51pm

If it weren't for Wicked, he might not have gotten DRS. Sounds like a good career move to me.

[meagan9848]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:54pm

I've seen all 3 Fiyeros and liked him best. Joey was second. I didn't like David Ayres...his vocals aren't as good.

[JulianHookbucks]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 11:54pm

and with the talent in the show, and the amazing budget, backed by UNIVERSAL STUDIOS... It's almost sure to be a success, and it's pretty stable. So yes. It was a paying job. And really, it helped really establish him as an... well... established Broadway actor. Would he have gotten DRS if he didn't do Wicked? Or would they have picked a bigger name?

[sipos]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 12:03am

A really big Broadway musical with songs by Stephen Schwartz? Yeah, I'd audition AND go for it given the opportunity.






??????????????????

[Elphaba]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 12:04am

sheesh, what a typical newbie question.........
and a Wicked snob to boot.....yawn

[Mythus]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 12:10am

For someone who's read the book four times, you should know it's Vinkus, not Vintus.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 12:10am

I thought Norbert was way to old for the stage WICKED, I much prefer David Ayers.

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 12:12am

I thought he was a great Fiyero. I didn't know who Norbert was until Wicked!

[RockabyeHamlet]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 12:31am

Jobs come along so rarely that your gonna take what you can get.. nevertheless, it was a good move on his part.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 12:34am

But when he was cast, no one knew it would be a hit. It was actually a surprise to most people that it became the hit that it is. I personally don't think he's all that great, and I thought he was totally miscast in Wicked.

[Theatreboy33]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 1:47am

Because his dinstinct smooth/rock voice was the only one that could sell those awful pop ballads in act 2.

And by the way, i LOVE in DRS when he mocks his own talents here in "love is my legs"

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 2:22am

Hey, i really like that "awful" pop ballad in Act2.

[PerforMeg]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 2:23am

I always forget he was in it. Now that he is in DRS I always think of him as playing major roles and while Fiyero is important he definitely lives in the shadow of the witches. Oh well, if he'd never done it he wouldn't have met Michelle Federer!

[thespian geek]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 2:37am

He said himself he did it because they offered him the job. Plus he said he was a fan of the book way before he ever knew they were going to make it into a musical, so that might have helped a little.

Okay, and while Norbert may have been "too old".. what were Kristin and Idina? Kristin's, what, 36 or 37 now and Idina's 33. Ooh, right.. like they're youngin's.

[Theatreboy33]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 2:43am

sorry to offend rentboy, but i still think its awful. it will hardly go down as a great or defining piece of musical theatre.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 2:46am

I think they actually wrote it with him in mind.

Also look at it this way, if he ever needs a job he can always go back to Wicked, I'm sure they'd love to have him back.

[SirLiir]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 3:17am

Alrighty, so basically he was offered the role, and having read the book, he took it. Its interesting if Wicked really got him the part for DRS. Its a starnge correlation because Norbert did not get nominated for anything as Fiyero. Yet for Thou Shall Not, LFY, and the Rent tour, he received many nominations and awards. Being in a mutlimillion dollar musical must help somewhat though.

As for the age thing, does Kristen honestly look a day over 20? And Idina wore green makeup so you really could not see any signs of a 30+ year old woman.

Oh and thanks for the Vinkus correction >< Cant believe I did that. Twice...

BTW Elphaba, were you directing that toward my question? If so that was kinda of uncalled for. I was just curious about why he made the career move. How is that a 'newb' question? Seemed like a valid question to ask because I could not see Norbert as desperate for a role that was so radically different from ones he did before. Oh and why am I a Wicked snob? I just explained how I didnt see him as right for the role. Geez

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 3:27am

Norbert was too old...he is a good singer....but i've no idea why he got hired to play that role...Joey was way more appropiate for the role.

[Jon]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 9:59am

In person, Kristin doesn't look a day UNDER 35.

And she look 5 months pregnant.

[Forester]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 10:06am

Cause he needs to pay the bills.

[Joelbeans]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 10:11am

You know this wasn't the first big thing that Norbert did, he was getting great reviews in the Broadway production of Cabaret, and he was also in Rocky Horror.