Wicked Saturday night - who the heck hired Annaleigh Ashford? — Page 2

Does the Wicked website not have a cast list up? If so, I sure as hell can't find it.

And IMO, they're on Broadway - they should be the best. She shouldn't have to "grow" into the role anymore. She should have done all her research and experimenting in rehearsals, and this should be her final product. Sure, she'll grow more comfortable and things will become second nature, but she should still be on her A game as of right now.

To the original poster... I've heard from someone who went on Sat. night as well, just the opposite thoughts.

He LOVED Annaleigh, but hated Lisa because of her acting (said her singing was fine). Also said Michael was kind of tame as Fiyero.

I'm not trying to cause a problem...just putting a different thought. Like I said though, I wasn't there.

rentboy, I respectively have to disagree with you on your point.

Having not seen Ashford yet, I can't comment on her performance, but a lot of actors grow into the role because they use the audience to improve their performance. They see what lands laughs and what doesn't and use that to build on the character they created. If they were completely prepared to not stray from a set character, and weren't allowed to experiment with new ideas and line readings, each show would be the exact same and the beauty of live theatre is that it isn't.

I saw Ashford in Blonde in San Francisco and while she was good, she became GREAT in New York, using certain facial expresssions and body movements to bring that character to the level it needed to be at. Although some people say she is awful as Glinda, here's to hoping she can do that over at "Wicked" and she is just adjusting.

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Yes, but some people thinks she gets the character just fine. I will wait to express an opinion until I get a chance to see her, so until the Wicked lotto gods smile on me, I am just saying that I hope she improves to please everyone because I adore her.

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I saw her as an understudy in Boston and she blew me away. She was a riot and the audience loved her and she made For Good even more sad than it is supposed to be. Her acting was excellent, her beautiful voice was there, and her comedic timing was great. I think she has been in Blonde for a while and is still having a hard time transfering from a sorority girl to Glinda.

I was there Thursday and, although I can't compare her to anyone except the "cd version" of Kristin, I thought Annaleigh did fine. Did she go overboard in a few scenes? Yes, but I felt overall she was great. I was also pleasantly surprised with her soprano since I hadn't heard it before.
I think she's still just experimenting with the role. I know she's done the tour before, but with a break from the show, she may have discovered some things and now wants to try new things out. I hope she just continues to grow into the character.

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However, I do feel that one should grow into the part regarding the audience. She may have thought of Glinda one way that when presented totally fell flat (which sounds like it happened lol). Also, you should consider the fact that she only had like...3 weeks to leave LB and begin Wicked. That's not a lot of time at all. Just putting that out there, no disrespectation

sesboa dear, I never start thread after thread "bashing" Bundy. I can also say I am far from the only person to "bash" Bundy and have probably been kinder and more diplomatic in my "bashing" than most. I'm also not a widely known published critic, so they beat me to the punch at every turn. Are you going to slap them on the wrist as well? Brantley was particularly harsh, did you take him to task? Bundy and Ashford are apples and oranges in every way other than hair color.

BreeDaniel, I actually couldn't care less if people bash LBB. I just wanted to point out it is a little hypocritical for you to complain about other members (WithoutATrace in particular) bashing Annaleigh when you obviously have no problem bashing performers that you dislike.

I find it "typically BWW" that Walt enjoyed Lisa and Michael a lot yet chose to focus her review on what she DIDN'T like. So much so that she titled her thread "who the heck hired...". Was it OK to say that she didn't enjoy Annaleigh? Absolutely! Was it necessary to post an obnoxious title and slam her with unkind words? That's obviously debatable on this board.

edited: oops, sorry. Walt's a she, who knew!

Updated On: 10/22/07 at 03:32 PM

Walt - sorry, I changed my post to reflect your gender :)

You didn't write anything that wasn't true to YOU. Art is subjective... someone else might've seen something completely different and that would be their truth too.

I'm dealing with "it" just fine. I'm not personally offended at all. Trust me, on the scale of BWW bashing your post is pretty tame. You have a right to say what you want. I have a right to think that there may have been a nicer way to express your thoughts.

three weeks isnt that long is my opinion, especially going from one huge broadway musical to another even bigger one. also, she only covered on the tour for a few months, and even then it was her job to bassically copy kendra. i'm not starting anything, just saying, everybody takes time to grow into their character...especially in Wicked.