Wicked Tour says "bye-bye for now" to Toronto

[Tigger]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 6:34pm

I just saw the closing matinee of Wicked in Toronto today and can assure anyone who has tickets for any stop of the tour that they are in for a treat as it truly is "good to go".

I saw it in the first week of its run here and the difference in what I saw then and saw now are like night and day.

Stephanie Block as Elphaba is a revelation (I saw Kristy Cates originally because of Block being unable to go on because of an injury) and as much as I loved Idina when I saw Wicked originally on Broadway, Stephanie makes so much more of the role as a performance. Her singing is "goosebumpalicious" and she brings the house down at the end of Act One not as a pop diva showing off her pipes but as the character she is playing in a righteous rage. She IS Elphaba and as such defines the role completely. and when she sings No Good Deed...she does it with such malevolent fury that again she brought the house down. The audience just adores her.Everytime this woman opens her mouth to sing it is an absolute pleasure to hear. No cheap yowls,whoops or screeches (except where they are written in the script)...just fabulously pitched hair raising belting when it is called for and a beautifully modulated sound on the ballads and softer passages.

Kendra Kassebaum as Galinda matches her every step of the way when the limitations of her role allow her to . She has overcome any initial insecurity or "newness" to the role and the chemistry between her and Block's Elphaba is electric. She is very funny (Goldie Hawn meets Megan Mullaly) and still manages to be very touching particularly in Couldn't Be Happier which I think is the most difficult and complicated song in the show to sell because of it opening Act II and because of its schizophrenic nature. Kassebaum delivered it expertly. She and Block brought out the hankies and knocked down the house again with For Good.

Derrick Williams has improved somewhat as Fiyero however just he just doesn't seem to create any heat between he and either lady.

Carol Kane as Morrible ,David Garrison as The Wizard, Logan Lipton as Boq and Jenna Leigh Green as Nessarose are all at the top of their game and contribute mightily to the show.

Special mention must be made of Timothy Britten Parker who manages to skilfully deliver a moving Dr. Dillamond which is probably the most thankless role in the show.

The ensemble sing magnificently, move beautifully and athletically and are as good as any seen on any Broadway stage. The sets,costumes and lighting are gorgeously eyepopping. In fact there isn't one compromised production value that I could spot. Dare I say that this production arguably equals if not bests the Broadway one.

I hope you manage to catch it.

Tigger

[MissElphie]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 6:51pm

Aw...lucky you...I tried for the lottery but didn't win. Glad it was a good show.

[ShuQ]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 6:53pm

Sounds like you had an awesome time..I can't wait to see it in Chicago! 4 Weeks!

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 7:15pm

They better bring Stephanie Block back to Toronto, I'm still peeved about not getting to see her. Though I probably won't be able to get tickets to the return engagement anyway, seeing as they're selling tickets now, and who plans a year-and-a-half in advance?

[MissElphie]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 7:24pm

"Though I probably won't be able to get tickets to the return engagement anyway, seeing as they're selling tickets now, and who plans a year-and-a-half in advance?"

Hehe...I'm one of those people who plan a year and a half in advance...I already have my tickets. Now I just have to remember next October...

[sabrelady]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 7:29pm

So glad someone saw the final show here! Ab solutely agree w u about the difference between the previews & now, for the show ( see my review) Will prob try to see it again when it returns. Anything special done to say g' bye?

[Tigger]

Posted: 4/25/05 at 9:27am

"Anything special done to say g' bye?"

No, come to think of it. The audience were on their feet and screaming when the witches came out for their bow and the girls brought the rest of the company to join hands as usual,took a company bow and then began applauding the audience as the curtain came down. Now have to move and set up in Chicago ready to perform again this friday.

Tigger

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/25/05 at 10:03am

I would like to know how the show opens now. I understand that the lagre black witch's hat has been removed due to the need for a special trap door that not every theatre has. Is it just the cast onstage singing?

[Imchristine4real]

Posted: 4/25/05 at 10:09am

I would like to know too. I haven't seen it at all(being in Oklahoma) but have read the script. How does it open?

[SWTaffy]

Posted: 4/25/05 at 10:21am

David Garrison from Married with Children?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/25/05 at 10:45am

I'm really sorry there won't be a cast recording with Stephanie, because I like her voice so much better than the screecher that is Idina.

[metoog]

Posted: 4/25/05 at 12:20pm

I could not agree more! I saw the Saturday matinee and this tour is perfection, with one exception... Fiyero.

Having seem the OBC 2 times, this tour was a great surprise. Stephanie's voice seemed richer that Idina's (and do not get me wrong I thought Idina's was excellent) But, Stephanie had tone that was much more understandable and she sang through the notes, she did not overdo them. Kendra was very good although I thought Kristin gave a bit more personality to the role. David equalled Joel. Carol Kane was brilliant - much better than Carole Shelley. Jenna Leigh and Logan.. Wow! Derrick Williams left little to be desired though! I thought he was very weak with little chemistry. Some of our friends, who saw the show for the first time with us, commented about him being the worst part of the show.
They should seriously consider recasting the part!

Overall, we thought this cast is an equal to the OBC. They have a lot to be proud of and hopefully will bring delight to many parts of the country. Get your tickets today!


The beginning... yes, no hat! I starts with the cast in the center of the stage, celebrating, twirling ribbons, etc., just no hat.

[beecharmer]

Posted: 4/25/05 at 1:24pm

I agree, the tour has really gained a solid foundation over it's time here in Toronto. I saw the second performance, and the second last performance and it really is like night and day. Most notably Kendra Kassebaum as Galinda has really come into the role. I enjoyed Kristy Cates thoroughly as Elphaba, but one can't deny the chemisty between Stephanie Block and the rest of the cast, acheived no doubt through the rehearsal period. Stephanie is an amazing Elphaba. I wish they would do a cast recording with her. If you haven't already bought your tickets, then do so right away, because this tour is definitely not to be missed!!!

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 4/25/05 at 6:59pm

why is it that they sell tickets sooner than to other places? for instance-Wicked is on sale for Toronto next year and San Francisco gets WICKED in august and tickets don't go on sale until May....I just find that strange...
ric

[taperina]

Posted: 4/26/05 at 12:10am

I saw the last show as well and it was outstanding. Kendra really has come a long way...and she seemed to be putting so much into her performance that day. Stephanine is absolutely amazing. In terms of saying goodbye, as the curtain went down, Stephanie yelled "goodbye Toronto" but that was it. I love how she gives the sign language sign for "thank you" at every curtain call...I have noticed it every time I have seen her.

[DAME]

Posted: 4/26/05 at 12:34am

I have two sets of great seats in LA. At the begining of the run and for closing night of the run.( Now watch them add two weeks)..It is for all intends and purposes a sold out run. However since it is part of a subscription packaged house tickets pop up due to cancelations My friends couldn't get tickets one day and then could another. If you are having trouble getting tickets ; just keep trying with ticketmaster. They will pop up.

Updated On: 4/26/05 at 12:34 AM

[dwirth]

Posted: 4/26/05 at 1:40am

I, too, saw WICKED during its last weekend in Toronto. I'm new enough to the show (had the CD - but haven't followed the boards) --- and a good bit older than the core tween/teen/young theatergoers who were cheering and screaming from the balcony... Took my eight year old daughter --- and she loved it and, though the show (face it) is hardly a masterpiece, the lead performances are knock-outs, there are some great musical moments -- and it's well worth the price of admission.

Making it all worthwhile was Stephanie J. Block -- who gives one of the most thrilling performances I've ever seen in a musical in 30 years of theatergoing. She beautifully sings a role that could easily be oversung - and acts with assuredness. Wow. A star.

Based on that performance, she was deserving of the original role on Broadway, which I've read was apparently was snatched from her grasp for need of a more experienced Broadway lead (Idina). Can't imagine anyone being better in this role.

Most of the other leads range from good (Garrison/Kane) to quite good (Kassebaum - who does her best not to mimic Chenoweth) - and suit the material nicely.

On the other hand, I can safely say that Derrick Williams, as Fiyero, gives pretty much the worst lead performance I have EVER seen in musical... He might be the most talented guy in the world - I want to make that clear --- but cannot sing or act this role in any way, shape or form. He was embarassing himself so much I could hardly watch. He almost stopped the whole rhytmn of the show --- from rigid acting to off-key singing. Ouch!

I'd love to give a guy a break for a possible "off" night - but I doubt that was the case. My wife (separately) came to the same conclusion during the first act and we couldn't wait to share train wreck stories at intermission. At a local dinner theater, you'd accept this... For $100 a ticket, you want someone with talent and chemistry w/the leads. He appears to have neither in this role.

He should be replaced before subjecting Chicago audiences to his performance. It's that bad. (And - unlike some of the young WICKED fans - who might be seeing their first musical --- I've seen hundreds of Broadway/London/Toronto/tour performances in the last 30 years --- so have many awful performances to compare him to... Were the ladies not so good, perhaps he'd be relatively "better" in comparison.)

[metoog]

Posted: 4/26/05 at 10:50am

dwirth:

I totally agree with you about Fiyero as I posted earlier.
They seriously need to consider recasting the role before sending this show around the country. His chemistry is absent, acting is terrible and vocally left very little to be desired. He does bring down the rest of the ensemble and is an obvious "void" in the show.

And I myself am... " a good bit older than the core tween/teen/young theatergoers who were cheering and screaming from the balcony."

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 4/26/05 at 10:54am

I am kind of hoping that Steph moves to Broadway by the time it comes back here, so that Jenna can play Eplhaba ALL the time. She was really astounding in the role. Then again I am a little biased due to my tiny crush on her.

Akiva

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 4/26/05 at 10:58am

Yes, David Garrison from Married with Children...who was also on Bway in Titanic, Hollywood/Ukraine, and some others as well.

[Tigger]

Posted: 4/26/05 at 1:00pm

"I would like to know how the show opens now. I understand that the lagre black witch's hat has been removed due to the need for a special trap door that not every theatre has. Is it just the cast onstage singing?"

The show in Toronto began with the overture and then the monkeys prancing about and then the cast singing...
No hat or trap door at the beginning.

Tigger

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 4/26/05 at 4:01pm

Akiva,

TINY is NOt a word I would be applying there... don't GET me started boy!

~BG2

~PS - Get your Canadian behind to NYC ASAP!

[sabrelady]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 8:23am

I guess they do not want to invest anything in the part of Fiyero- might distract from the 2 gals. I can not think of any other reason he has the part. ( WELL I CAN but it is very rude & involves kneepads...)

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 2:34pm

Hah,

Ok...maybe a little more than tiny, but still...and i DO plan on heading to NY next year.

Akiva