Wicked 1st National Tour Review

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 4:25pm

It was my first time seeing Wicked at the Dallas Music Hall in almost five years. It was great to be back. The last time I saw the show here it was with the Original National Tour cast. I've heard some of the best things about this year's cast from my friends and I was looking forward to seeing them. I realized tonight that the show is not 100% perfect, but it's still one of the best musicals I have ever seen.

Cast:
Donna Vivino: Elphaba
Chandra Lee Schwartz: Glinda
Richard Kline: The Wizard
Richard H. Blake: Fiyero
Jayne Houydshell: Madame Morrible*
Brynn O'Malley: Nessarose
Justin Brill: Boq
Tom Flynn: Doctor Dillamond

Act I

No One Mourns the Wicked: The ensemble had good energy when they sang the opening lines. Then, Chandra came down in her bubble. She didn't get any entrance applause but she looked beautiful and the audience loved her "It's good to see me isn't it?" Vocally she's not an amazing singer, but she still had a pretty voice. Her acting in this scene was also very strong. She looked like she was having a great time on stage.

Dear Old Shiz: Donna came out with some entrance applause. At first I was distracted by the lighting because it reflected of her glasses and I could not see her eyes. However, once I was focused again I really enjoyed her acting in this scene. She played Elphaba as such a bookworm. Jayne was on as Madame Morrible. Her portrayal was very fascinating. After Chandra said, "You Can all come visit me whenever you want" it seemed she may have forgotten her lines for a moment because Jayne said, "Well" but then Chandra remembered them. The audience also loved her "Magic wands need they have a point." I also liked Brynn's portryal of Nessarose. She played her as very young.

The Wizard and I: Once again the white light reflected off of Donna's eyes and I was distracted by it. However, her singing was very strong. I also believed every word she was singing. She also finished the song very well. The audience went crazy at the end.

What is this Feeling: Donna and Chandra had very good chemistry in this song. Their voices blended very well together. Donna's imitation of Chandra in "Every little trait however small" was also very funny.

Something Bad: Tom was a very kind Doctor Dillamond. Chandra's, "It seems the artichoke is steamed" didn't actually get many laughs. Instead it got many "Ooooooohs." I thought Chandra did a terrific job with making Glinda seem she was annoyed with Doctor Dillamond. The audience also loved her, "Why can't you just teach us history instead of always harping on the past." Once again I found Donna to be very believable in this scene. She seemed like something really needed to be done about what was happening in Oz.

Dancing Through Life: Richard was terrific in this scene. He singing and dancing were very strong. I also believed him as a character who was there to have a good time. I thought Justin's Boq was very polite. Brynn's singing was very pretty in this scene also. The audience really enjoyed the dancing between Chandra and Donna.

Popular: Donna was once again a believable Elphaba in this scene. I felt sorry for her when she was telling her story and I could see layers of the character. Chandra was hilarious in this scene. She had so much energy and looked like she was having a blast. When Donna said, "this is never going to work" Chandra lay down on the bed and the audience laughed really hard. They also really loved how Donna was "Toss, toss" and giggles. Chandra's, "Oh hello!" also got a ton of laughs. She also got plenty of appluase at the end.

Lion Cub Scene/ I'm Not That Girl: I thought Donna and Richard had very good chemistry in this scene. I really liked Donna's, "Oh, it's heart is pounding. I didn't mean to frighten him." She also brought a lot of passion when she was explaining to Richard what her problems were. Vocally I don't think this was Donna's best song, but her acting was strong in it.

Train Station Scene: I thought everyone's acting in this scene was very strong. Chandra was funny when she revealed that she would changing her name to Glinda. She also seemed to be disappointed when she realized Fiyero was not himself anymore.

One Short Day: Great energy from the ensemble and the girls. The lighting was brilliant.

I am a Sentimental Man: Richard was a very kind Wizard and his singing was very good. I also found Jayne made some very good acting choices in this scene. Donna also seemed very upset with what just happened to the monkeys.

Defying Gravity: Donna and Chandra had very believable chemistry in this song. Donna started off the song very strong and hit the notes very well towards the end. Vocally, I didn't think she was as great as Stephanie J. Block, who gave me goose bumps everywhere when I last saw the show, but I still thought Donna was a powerhouse in this song. My friend who also learning disabilities did not actually think Elphaba was flying. She thought she had become gigantic, but I explained to her what happened in the song afterwards.

Act II

Thank Goodness: Once again I don't think Chandra is the greatest singer to ever play the role, but she still has a very strong voice. Her acting was not over-the-top at all in this scene and she made excellent acting choices. I believed the transformation Glinda was going through.

Wicked Witch of the East: Brynn made clear that her character had gone many troubles in her life. There was plenty of emotion coming from her. I also was very impressed with Donna and Justin in this scene.

Wonderful: Richard was an excellent singer and actor in this scene. I don't think he had as much stage presence as David Garrison, who I previously saw play the Wizard, but I believed him the entire time while he was singing.

As Long as You're Mine: Donna and Richard had very good chemistry in this scene. Their voices blended very well together and I loved Donna's, "For the first time I feel Wicked!"

Cat Fight/ No Good Deed: Chandra looked very sad to see that Nessa had passed away so did Donna. The audience and I also loved Donna's witch cackle. Chandra made in interesting acting choice in this scene. After Elphaba runs off and Fiyero is still pointing the gun at her, she walks up towards the gun as if she was ready to be shot or to see if Fiyero would really shoot her. As for "No Good Deed" Donna's voice was very strong while she was singing it. I think this was her best song after "The Wizard and I." Even though Donna did not come out from the floor the Grimmie did on a stand. Maybe the Dallas Music Hall has some trap doors.

March of the Witch Hunters: Like the last time I saw the show this scene reminded me so much of "Kill the Beast," from Beauty and the Beast. Jayne's lines in this scene were delivered with so much evilness. Justin also sounded like he really wanted Elphaba dead.

For Good: Chandra overacted a little bit in the beginning, but then she calmed down as she began to sing. She and Donna sounded as if they really did mean the words they sang. Two things that I found interesting in this scene was that Chistery was still there while Donna and Chandra were singing and that the torch with a flame would slowly go out.

Finale: Everyone was clapping after Chandra told Jayne that she would going to prison. There was no response from them after Donna came out from a trap door (the Music Hall must have more than one). The door under the clock seemed to open slower than usual. At first I thought it was not going to open all the way, but eventually it did. Donna, Richard, and Chandra finished the scene very strong.

Curtain call Chandra actually had a different bow than everyone else. When everyone bowed together she actually curtsied.

Stage Door: Richard H. Blake was the only principal actor who came out at the stage door. He said that Chandra left early because she wasn't feeling well. I found that surprising because she did not seem sick at all during the performance. he wasn't sure where Donna was, but my friend and I had to get going.


Actors:

Donna: Very strong vocals and I found her Elphaba very believable. She also brought plenty of passion to the role and I could see layers of the character.

Chandra: Great vocals and she had a terrific sense of humor. I also believed in her Act II transformation.

Richard H. Blake: He's definitely one of my favorite Fiyeros after tonight. Excellent acting choices and singing. Plus he was such a nice guy at the stage door.

Richard Kline: He played the Wizard as very caring and I also thought he had a strong voice.

Jayne: I am glad I got to see her as Madame Morrible. I can see why she was asked to come fill in for Randy while she was recovering. She played the character as very polite at first but then did a terrific job of showing Morrible's true colors.

Brynn: Excellent acting choices and singing. She played Nessarose as very young and not too angry in Act II.

Justin: I really liked the kindness he brought to the character. He's one of my favorite Boqs after last night.

Tom: He was a very kind Doctor Dillamond and I liked his singing as well.

Overall: I really enjoyed the show. It was definitely worth seeing a second time. The cast was terrific. I don't know if they all could top the cast I saw in 2005, but I enjoyed each of their performances. I think Richard H. Blake and Justin were probably better than Derrick Williams, Logan Lipton, and Tom ties with Timothy Britten Parker as my favorite Doctor Dillamond.
Updated On: 1/10/11 at 04:25 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 4:42pm

When it was here late last year, I went to the "preview" performance and the Elphaba understudy was on. She was very very good and she knocked Defying Gravity completely out of the ballpark. It was my 3rd time seeing the show and didn't expect the song to leave me jawdropped but she did it. I forget her name.

I saw Block in the 1st national Tour and she just walked thorugh the part. I was very disappointed.

Updated On: 5/30/10 at 04:42 PM

[wickedpoppinsfan]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 4:44pm

It was probably Stephanie Torns, because she was the understudy for a while, and she is probably one of the best that company's ever had, shes now on Broadway understudying.

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 4:53pm

Doesn't sound familiar but it could have been her. I can't find my Applause Magazine from the show to find her name.