#1
Posted: 1/7/05 at 8:56am
Well, since everyone is giving a daily review on the show, I thought I'd give mine. So, here tis...
At about 1:30, i dragged myself down to the cancelation line, thinking that it was going to be packed. I was wrong, because I was the first one there. I got my three tickets by 6:00, and was ready to attend this show for the third time.
Idina's Gasping: Yes, she gasps. So does Michelle Federer. But, i think the only reason I noticed it was because so many people have posted about it on this board. There is a perfect explanation as to why she gasps. Every performance, Idina is ingesting "actor friendly" smog. The truth is, it's not actor friendly, and the more you ingest it, the more it can effect your voice.
Idina's best number last night was "No Good Deed". She really did a great job with that one. So great, that I thought she might get a standing ovation, but instead she got a long and loud applause, which is just as good.
Jennifer Laura Thompson: Personally, I think that she is the best one in this show. She has the character perfect, takes her qualities and runs with them. Not only is she the funniest thing, but she has such an amazing vocal range. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Kristin Chenowith. (I really do, I'm seeing her at Carnegie this month) But, I prefer Jennifer in this role, because she makes you laugh from beginning to end. Everything about her performance last night was on the ball. As a matter of fact, she has become, to me, one of those actresses that I would see in anything now.
Joey: I like him. I like his voice. I like his acting. No complaints. I think he's a great Fiyero. Same goes with...
George Hearn: He's a GREAT wizard. He's very genuine and pleasant as the wizard. He almost makes you not want to hate him.
Carole Shelly: Awesome, as always. She is a true Diva in the performance sense.
Rob Sapp : Or whatever his name is. He was alright. I prefer Fitzgerald, but Rob did a good job for an u/s
Ensemble: Everytime I see this show the chorus has many new people. I don't know why, but I felt they were weak last night. It seemed like a lot of them were new, because the energy level for them was low. (I miss the fat girl)
The audience: Towards the end, when Elphie gets slapped, some dick in the audience clapped, making the audience laugh. I found it to be quite obnoxious, although when Glinda got smacked, the audience cheered, i assume in retaliation to the lone clapper.
The curtain call: Earlier on these posts someone wanted us to talk about Curtain Calls. Well, this was one I really enjoyed. When the girls came out for their bow, screams of joy from the audience erupted, and the applause went on for a good five minutes. They tried to quiet us down, as they were to make an announcement about Tsunami fund raising, but we kept on applauding them. Finally, as the applause got lower, Jennifer, in a tiny, pip-squeaky voice, said :"This is my real speaking voice", which had us, as well as Idina, cracking up. It was a genuinly hysterical moment.
All in all, I had a good time. My partner and I had taken a friend along with us. The friend was not crazy about this show, and I sensed it throughout. But, it made me realize, this show is not for everyone. True the majority of people like it, but there's always one or two in the bunch.
I really have to say, I'm gonna miss Idina, not as Elphie, but as a performer, because when B'way stars leave, we never really know what show they will be in next. Sure, we'll be seeing her in the Rent movie next year, but there's something different about seeing things live, besides the fact that Idina probably may never have an opportunity to create a role and be as much of a success as she has with this one. (My belief is that she will return to Wicked in a few years)
That being said, if you haven't seen it with Idina, I hope the ones you do see it with are just as good.
At about 1:30, i dragged myself down to the cancelation line, thinking that it was going to be packed. I was wrong, because I was the first one there. I got my three tickets by 6:00, and was ready to attend this show for the third time.
Idina's Gasping: Yes, she gasps. So does Michelle Federer. But, i think the only reason I noticed it was because so many people have posted about it on this board. There is a perfect explanation as to why she gasps. Every performance, Idina is ingesting "actor friendly" smog. The truth is, it's not actor friendly, and the more you ingest it, the more it can effect your voice.
Idina's best number last night was "No Good Deed". She really did a great job with that one. So great, that I thought she might get a standing ovation, but instead she got a long and loud applause, which is just as good.
Jennifer Laura Thompson: Personally, I think that she is the best one in this show. She has the character perfect, takes her qualities and runs with them. Not only is she the funniest thing, but she has such an amazing vocal range. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Kristin Chenowith. (I really do, I'm seeing her at Carnegie this month) But, I prefer Jennifer in this role, because she makes you laugh from beginning to end. Everything about her performance last night was on the ball. As a matter of fact, she has become, to me, one of those actresses that I would see in anything now.
Joey: I like him. I like his voice. I like his acting. No complaints. I think he's a great Fiyero. Same goes with...
George Hearn: He's a GREAT wizard. He's very genuine and pleasant as the wizard. He almost makes you not want to hate him.
Carole Shelly: Awesome, as always. She is a true Diva in the performance sense.
Rob Sapp : Or whatever his name is. He was alright. I prefer Fitzgerald, but Rob did a good job for an u/s
Ensemble: Everytime I see this show the chorus has many new people. I don't know why, but I felt they were weak last night. It seemed like a lot of them were new, because the energy level for them was low. (I miss the fat girl)
The audience: Towards the end, when Elphie gets slapped, some dick in the audience clapped, making the audience laugh. I found it to be quite obnoxious, although when Glinda got smacked, the audience cheered, i assume in retaliation to the lone clapper.
The curtain call: Earlier on these posts someone wanted us to talk about Curtain Calls. Well, this was one I really enjoyed. When the girls came out for their bow, screams of joy from the audience erupted, and the applause went on for a good five minutes. They tried to quiet us down, as they were to make an announcement about Tsunami fund raising, but we kept on applauding them. Finally, as the applause got lower, Jennifer, in a tiny, pip-squeaky voice, said :"This is my real speaking voice", which had us, as well as Idina, cracking up. It was a genuinly hysterical moment.
All in all, I had a good time. My partner and I had taken a friend along with us. The friend was not crazy about this show, and I sensed it throughout. But, it made me realize, this show is not for everyone. True the majority of people like it, but there's always one or two in the bunch.
I really have to say, I'm gonna miss Idina, not as Elphie, but as a performer, because when B'way stars leave, we never really know what show they will be in next. Sure, we'll be seeing her in the Rent movie next year, but there's something different about seeing things live, besides the fact that Idina probably may never have an opportunity to create a role and be as much of a success as she has with this one. (My belief is that she will return to Wicked in a few years)
That being said, if you haven't seen it with Idina, I hope the ones you do see it with are just as good.
"Do you know what pledge time is, Andrew"? said the PBS Executive.
"Yes", Lloyd Webber replied. "My 50th birthday special must be one program that gets done a lot."
"No", mused the man from PBS heedlessy. "Not so much. Our Stephen Sondheim Carnegie Hall concert. That's a big one."
Spoons, forks and knives seemed suddenly to suspend their motion in horror, all around the table.
Updated On: 1/7/05 at 08:56 AM
