Wicked Tony Performance

Posted: 10/12/06 at 11:02pm

I saw a clip on Google an I noticed some odd things:

1. They had a little Time Dragon-pointless.

2. Idina's cape has a safety belt click.

3. It looked like the ensemble came from out of her dress

4. Idina didn't sound so good on some notes.

5. Those lights were blinding.

P.S. What was that year's opening number for the Tony's?
This year's was bad, but I got to see Patti LuPone get her groove on as she rose up with 59 other people.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 11:05pm

1. Yes, but they tried to represent their overall set.

2. The only reason you noticed that was because it was filmed up close. It's the easiest way to ensure that the cape doesn't fall off.

3. Isn't that kind of the point?

4. Does she ever?

5. Supposed to be.

PS: It was not the opening number, but merely the WICKED performance.

[tasha1313]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 11:06pm

i cant awnswer for all of dem but i kno dat idina was struggling with a cold dat evening... but i still think she sounded beautiful...

Posted: 10/12/06 at 11:06pm

I know, but what was that Tony Awards opening that year?

[Tag]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 11:08pm

That year's opening number with Hugh Jackman with the 3 girl groups from Hairspray, Caroline, or Change, and Little Shop of Horrors. There were also the Rockettes and the ensembles from all the nominated shows.
Updated On: 10/12/06 at 11:08 PM

[actor]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 11:08pm

1. They wanted to represent the set. (just as munkustrap178 said)

2. It always has that.

3. That is what is choreographed into the number...have you ever seen Wicked before?

4. She was incredibly nervous.

5. How?

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 11:08pm

edit: nevermind Updated On: 10/12/06 at 11:08 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 11:09pm

That "One Night Only" opening was wonderful.

[Tag]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 11:11pm

5. The lights are blinding for 2 reasons, to camoflauge/distract what is actually happening on stage, and to end the number with a bang.

Posted: 10/12/06 at 11:15pm

One Night only was amazing!

Any clips?

[Tag]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 11:17pm

On the nameless site.

[ErikInTheCity]

Posted: 10/13/06 at 12:18am

I think the reason the clip was so noticeable was a sound issue. I'm sure that at the Gershwin and elsewhere, their mics are killed for the few seconds it takes to clip it. At the Tony's, I'm sure it was someone who was not directly associated with the show or the show's sound design.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/13/06 at 12:21am

Are people really complaining because you could hear the click? Wow.

"OMG! You could totally hear the click! I mean...sure Idina Menzel was totally flat...but...she...was....stressed...and, uh..nervous. OH, and I hear she had a cold. That's fine. But a small click!? I want my money back."

[ICEcreamAssassin]

Posted: 10/13/06 at 1:21am

Wicked Performance at the tonys was awful!! sorry to say.. however I saw Idina 4mths after in the show and she did an amazing job.. I'm glad that saw her on the shows 1yr anniversary, it was a great experience. I would'nt base my judgment on that performance. Its a crowd of your peers, legends and new-comers. It must be tough!

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

Posted: 10/13/06 at 6:18am

Just to clarify...and for the record. My friends and I were at that show, and we got to meet idina before hand.

She was horribly sick. It was laringitis and the beginnings of strep throat. Even when she accepts her award she sounds a little hoarse. Plus her nerves didn't make it any better. So being in the condition she was in, she was awesome. But yes, its not the best...but you have to take all this into consideration!

[Producer2]

Posted: 10/13/06 at 7:14am

if i rose into the air on a cherry picker on the stage at radio city music hall, i'd be nervous too!

[Claire2141]

Posted: 10/13/06 at 8:42am

I think it's genrally accepted that that's not Idina's finest performance. I will say though that the times I've seen her she's been fanstastic, she may not be the best vocally to have performed the role but she's plays the part well.

Unfortunetly that doesn't come across in a small performance of DG.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 10/13/06 at 9:32am

First of all, again, I am humbled. People are actually defending Idina and WICKED?! *sniffs happy tears once more*

1. They had a little Time Dragon-pointless.

They wanted to represent the set and the Time Dragon is VERY important. Have you actually read the book or seen the show?

2. Idina's cape has a safety belt click.

Live theatre. Filmed up close. Idina's mic was RIGHT THERE. You will here a click.

3. It looked like the ensemble came from out of her dress.

That is how the number always is. Again, have you actually SEEN the show?

4. Idina didn't sound so good on some notes.

She sounded great. Nervous and a bit crackly at the end, but still the one and only Elphie

5. Those lights were blinding.

For the third time, have you seen the show? That IS the lighting design.

Updated On: 10/13/06 at 09:32 AM

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 10/13/06 at 9:32am

Thank you to those who defended and answered truthfully and without sarcasm.

I do not think this was their/Idina's best performance, but it was Tony night and things are always stressful and everyone always is a bit different.

Updated On: 10/13/06 at 09:32 AM

[The Stars R Aligned]

Posted: 10/13/06 at 9:41am

ya know i notice little things when i watch Tony performances
and i drives me crazy that im noticing little things that dont matter!!!!!

Posted: 10/13/06 at 10:29am

Her singing on the Tonys was pretty typical of her performances during the run (I have seen her several times). Unfortunately, she has a bad technique which when she pushes causes her to go flat. Its a totally solvable problem which has to do with her lack of support and proper breathing and misuse of the cricothyroid. Its the same problem that is evident in Charlotte D'Amboise's singing, but totally fixable.

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 10/13/06 at 11:23am

It wasn't a very good performance.

And as for the click on Idina's cape, it always bothered me for some reason that you could see it quite clearly in all the publicity shots of her outside the theatre. I remember noticing it one day while my friends and I were waiting for them to draw the lottery.

I would think that's what Photoshop is for.

[timote316]

Posted: 10/13/06 at 12:08pm

"They wanted to represent the set and the Time Dragon is VERY important. Have you actually read ther book or seen the show? "

Have YOU seen the show? They mention the time dragon once, and its in passing. Its just a big waste of lots of money that noisily flaps its wings and "breathes" steam a few times. Hardly VERY important. You are right about the book, but not the musical.

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 10/13/06 at 12:20pm

I was just about to post about the Time Dragon and timote beat me to it. Drat!

As far as the performance itself, my biggest problem was not the quality of her voice; I understand that she was sick. My problem lies in her complete lack of breathing technique. I have NEVER heard someone gasp for air like that in a theatre.

[snl89]

Posted: 10/13/06 at 1:11pm

^see thats the thing, I REALLY do not think her "gasping" is lack of breathing technique. Sure, in that particular performance she did sound much more strained than she ever has in anything else I've heard her in, and the was mostly likely because she was sick. And being sick could make your breath support worse too I would imagine.

But, I feel the need to say this in response to how many people HAVE commented on her "gasping" in general. First of all, the gasping that is there is mostly only in DG, and secondly, BECAUSE its mostly only in DG, I feel like not only does it NOT distract, but in a way it even contributes to her stellar performance of the song. Because, if/when she is gasping, its not because she cant sing or doesn't have the right technique, but because its an extremely high-energy and high-emotion moment. And she's so IN that moment, and it comes so naturally to her that... well why SHOULDNT elphie be nervous and out of breath at that time? To me it just... TOTALLY fits... because it all comes from the intensity she puts into the song. Now if she did it in every single song, THEN you might have a point. However, thinking about it, I've never noticed it in Wizard and I (in fact, she's stellar at NOT breathing at ALL in between "me" and "and I'll still live with the wizard"), No Good Deed, or any other of her other songs. Its ONLY in defying gravity, and it makes the performance MUCH more real for me. She's being so open and shaky and vulnerable at that time that it makes you feel SO much for her.

Sorry, I'm totally rambling, but yeah.. thats how I feel about it :)