Wicked Saturday night - who the heck hired Annaleigh Ashford?

I haven't seen her yet WaltSummers but between you and WAT it seems Ashford doesn't stand a chance. She's 22 years old and up until now, for the most part, they've had women pushing 40 playing both roles. It's a big role and maybe she's finding her way and by all accounts, improving daily. I didn't know the character was so "complex" to begin with. It's broad, it's schticky and from what I have seen from Ashford, that seems to be what she's good at. I can't put too much stock in the "reviews" till I see it for myself, but it's an awful lot of bashing of someone everyone was so in love with mere weeks ago.

Updated On: 10/22/07 at 09:51 AM

As I said, it's something I have to see for myself. But you'll have to admit, these sized roles are for more seasoned actresses.

I saw her Saturday night too, with my 60 year old father (who had never seen Wicked)

I thought she was cute - and that she had a lovely soprano (I'd never heard her use it before so that was a surprise) - some of her scenes were stronger than others - but I really feel like she's going to grow into being a great Glinda. Was she my favorite? No, but I've seen several. Did I think she was bad? No, and I've seen Glindas before that were. I found her very present - she was really focused and reacting in every scene, whether or not what she was doing was a traditional choice.

My father who had never seen the show (or actually, didn't know anything about it) adored her and told me he wanted to go find her and shake her hand...which he did.

I'm no champion of Ashford's (actually I was fairly sure I'd hate her in the role) but I just don't get all the vitriol - or maybe its because I'm not especially attached to Wicked but... I thought she was just fine!

Agreed though on Seelbach's riff on "it's up that I fell" - that was beautiful. I enjoyed him a lot.

And Lisa Brescia being brilliant is a given, she always is. Love her.

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Thank you, WaltSummersPI. I agree with you 100%.

Lea, that's how I felt about Ashford during "Popular". After awhile, the antics aren't funny anymore. And during the one scene where she really should have gone overboard (the wand fight), she looked completely lost.

PS - Lea, where you in lotto seats? We were seated right next to an actress from a recent Broadway show who spent the ENTIRE three hours talking to her friend next to her.

Updated On: 10/22/07 at 10:39 AM

Oh Withoutatrace, you need to find something else to do besides bash a lovely young actress every chance you get. Really, we get your point.

In my opinion, the only Glinda that was actually great to watch (obviously after Chenoweth vacated) was Jennifer Laura Thompson, many others were, well, pretty mediocre at best. I have a hard time believing AA is *that* much more painful to sit through than Hilty, who IMO was far from humorous and didn't sing well either. To answer your original, albeit sarcastic question Walt, Telsey casting.

LOL, Bree. I was, of course, being rhetorical.

Glinda is not a hard part to play. Elphaba is a MUCH more difficult role, and yet, most actresses with that part seem to do fine. The key (and this is my wild theory) is that Chenoweth and Menzel created FULL, interesting characters, and while you wouldn't want anyone else to give THOSE performances, you DO want them to be playing the same character. Because there is such familiarity with Oz and with the entire Wicked phenomenon, Glinda and Elphaba are characters you can't take liberties with. Not to say that Ashford did, because I don't think her acting was that clever.

BreeDaniel, have you seen her in the role??? I have seen every Glinda who has played Broadway (not including understudies/standbys) and I am still puzzled as to why Annaleigh was hired. The five Glindas before her were all in another league. It was painful to sit through her performance and while I will not start my own thread, I will certainly comment about it on other threads all I want.

If it's OK to interject the unneccesary bashing for a minute, I'd like to hear more about Lisa and Michael.

Lisa was brilliant when I saw her...good to hear she is improving. I love her.

I did not care for Annaleigh Ashford's interpretation of Glinda either. But I thought she was delightful in LB.

Just because you don't care for someone in a particular role, it doesn't mean you are "bashing" them.

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Bree, while she might have started on Broadway a few weeks ago, she's done the part on tour before, as people have mentioned here. It's not like she's coming at the role for the first time.