Wicked Review: 6/25(If you're gonna bash this don't bother...)
Wicked Review: 6/25(If you're gonna bash this don't bother...)
threatXthree
Understudy Joined: 11/7/04
#0Wicked Review: 6/25(If you're gonna bash this don't bother...)
Posted: 6/26/05 at 3:19am
For starters I have some great news...Jenna went on as Elphaba tonight. :) Oh, there will be no overly exclamted random rampants like other obsessed Wicked fans would do.
Jenna was fantastic. Kudos definitely go to her. What a voice. She had different take on Elphaba that was a little surprising but still she nailed it. (A little note: I have no idea whether or not this was Jenna's first time on so don't ask if it was.)
Kendra I had mixed feelings about towards the beginning. But by the time "Popular" came rolling about she had the audience in the palm of her hand(as the song was designed to do.) Her voice surely is unique. I wouldn't say it is bad or great. It's good and strong but not poignant and graceful as I would have wanted it to. She hit the notes involving her upper register with flying colors though. All in All, good performance.
Carol Kane was little too much for me. I preferred Carole Shelley who had a much scarier intrepetation. I had really no reason to come up with why Glinda or anyone else would have been intimidated by her.
David Garrison. Hands off best Wizard I have ever seen. And I praise him for when he found out the big detail about Elphaba's heritage he did not cornily bend down and "cry" but just dropped to his knees and had a look of despair.
Derrick Williams had his own, different interpretation of Fiyero. I liked it. His voice can be nasal at points though.
Logan Lipton. Can you say adorable? For some reason he reminded me of Princeton/Rod from Avenue Q. It worked though.
Lori Holmes as Nessarose was a little weird. I could tell that this was one of her first performances in the role. However, she had beautiful singing voice(She really belted her song) and she was good enough not to just randomly say "Elphaba, shut up!" It actually had purpose, she made it seem as though she did not want people in her palace to hear Elphaba so she told her to shut up.
As musical highlights of the evening. None. Every thing was exceptional and wonderful. Could not have seen a greater show. However, For Good really stood out for some reason tonight. The girls sounded great on their parts and they got the emotions to really come through.
Set wise. As an entirety not a whole lot has changed. Without the privileges of a sit down production certain parts of the set obviously had to be readjusted for the tour. The part that I noticed the most was the platforms on which Madame Morrible(before Defying Gravity) and Boq(during March of the Witchhunters) make their speaches on are no longer on the sides of the theatre but are platforms that roll out from the wings. And as said in other reviews their very little use of platforms throughout the show so no Elphaba rising up from the stage before No Good Deed. However, I guess to make Elphaba's entrance to No Good Deed(this could have been in the show from the beginning but no previous reviewer mentioned it) a little more lucid, they added monkeys as well I guess make the ilusion that she "flew" to where she says the incantation.
Well that's it. Oh and I finally figured out how Elphaba makes her entrance during March of the Witchunters. PM me and I'll tell you.
broadwaybelter
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/26/04
#1re: Wicked Review: 6/25(If you're gonna bash this don't bother...)
Posted: 6/26/05 at 3:36amawesome thanks for sharing!
#2re: Wicked Review: 6/25(If you're gonna bash this don't bother...)
Posted: 6/26/05 at 3:44amWas there a reason as to why Jenna went on, anything that might tell if she'll be performing tomorrow?
JoMarch
Featured Actor Joined: 9/22/04
#3re: Wicked Review: 6/25(If you're gonna bash this don't bother...)
Posted: 6/26/05 at 4:01am
Stephanie's absences are getting ridiculous. It's sounds like she's only performing the show every other day.
How are the LA audiences liking the show? Good audience? I'm seeing it this week and can't wait!
elphie30
Understudy Joined: 2/5/05
#4re: Wicked Review: 6/25(If you're gonna bash this don't bother...)
Posted: 6/26/05 at 1:33pmSounds excellent can't wait to see it in houston.
gavrochegirl
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/16/05
#5re: Wicked Review: 6/25(If you're gonna bash this don't bother...)
Posted: 6/26/05 at 1:37pmI can't wait until I see it...
#6re: Wicked Review: 6/25(If you're gonna bash this don't bother...)
Posted: 6/26/05 at 1:45pm
Stephanie's absences are getting ridiculous. It's sounds like she's only performing the show every other day.
She missed A LOT of performances when she was in BFO
#7re: Wicked Review: 6/25(If you're gonna bash this don't bother...)
Posted: 6/26/05 at 2:00pm
Yay Jenna! Isn't she amazing?
It's not her first time as Elphie...she's gone on quite a bit..but it might be for LA.
#8re: Wicked Review: 6/25(If you're gonna bash this don't bother...)
Posted: 6/26/05 at 2:12pm
sounds great! thanks for sharing
MissElphie
Broadway Star Joined: 4/4/05
#9re: Wicked Review: 6/25(If you're gonna bash this don't bother...)
Posted: 6/26/05 at 2:15pmI got to see Jenna in Toronto as Elphaba. I though she was a great Elphie! I'm glad she got to go on again! Great review. Thanks for that!
broadwayman
Stand-by Joined: 1/10/04
#10re: Wicked Review: 6/25(If you're gonna bash this don't bother...)
Posted: 6/26/05 at 2:54pmHmmmmm.... do people remember that Stephanie got seriously injured the day before the tour opened? There have been sooo many posts about Stephanie's absences, she was severly hurt and came back to work a little too soon, so on A DOCTOR's Order, she is performing a limited schedule. Mostly meaning not doing matinees, as that is the only time to go to doctors... there is a message from Stephanie on her website, explaining this... so lets give her a break.
JoMarch
Featured Actor Joined: 9/22/04
#11re: Wicked Review: 6/25(If you're gonna bash this don't bother...)
Posted: 6/26/05 at 4:39pmI remember quite well that Stephanie got injured the day before the tour opened, but the idea that she isn't doing matinees has been refuted on this board several times. She has performed in some matinees, missed other matinees and missed a lot of evening shows. She's keeping an erratic schedule to say the least. If she really is performing a limited schedule due to doctor's orders, it might be a good idea if the show's producers cut back Stephanie's schedule for her (since she's obviously not willing to do it herself) i.e. decide that she will only doing 4 shows a week and announce which days/nights she'll go on. This way most people know ahead of time who they are seeing and Stephanie does not continue to get bad buzz for her absences. I know someone who has seen the show in LA twice now, neither a matinee, and missed her both times. Do a search on this board and you'll see that she's been out more than those two times. That's far too much for someone starring in a show that hasn't even been open a week.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#12re: Wicked Review: 6/25(If you're gonna bash this don't bother...)
Posted: 6/27/05 at 2:53am
great review! i saw it twice this week, (tuesday and friday) i didnt get to see Jenna as Elphaba, erg, but she was amazing as Nessa. i did, however, get to see both kendra and i think it was Emily, as Glinda. my opinion is that Kendra's vocals weren't as strong as Emily's.
but omg Logan Lipton as Boq was the most adorable thing EVER. after the show my friend and i told him we thought he was sooooo cuuuteeee. I also saw the Broadway production in May, and found that David Garrison was MUCH more energetic and much better suited for the role of the Wizard. he was also adorable, if i do say so my self. hehee.
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