Wicked in Atlanta review 5-24 JULIA MURNEY- now updated with pictures

[ashley0139]

Posted: 5/24/06 at 11:51pm

Just thought I would share my thoughts about this leg of the tour. Overall, an excellent production. There are no weak links in the cast, and they are all very funny. Ok, first and foremost, Julia. I can't say enough wonderful things about her in this production. I loved her on the Wild Party cast recording so I went in with high expectations. She did not disappoint. She sounded absolutely amazing. Didn't miss one note. The only thing that seemed wrong was that she was a little sick. But not enough for Julia to miss. On her first song, she got a little raspy. Then, throughout the rest of the show, she was coughing a lot. And not just a clear-your-throat kind of cough, a very phlegmy thing. But she held together very nicely and no one else could tell she was sick. She was also an amazing actress. She was so sarcastic, I loved it. I saw Shoshana on Broadway, and Julia played it stronger. Really great. Kendra was HILARIOUS to say the least. She had the entire audience in the palm of her hand (on a side not, the Fox theatre in Atlanta is HUMONGOUS, and was completely sold out- which almost never happens). Duing popular, she was completely spastic. She was very bouncy. Kept bouncing up and down and everything. Then she said, "I'm good at that." And the audience cracked up. One thing was weird to me- during the Popular scene, right before the song, she did this thing where she waved her arms over Elphaba's head and went "Poof. Look, it's tomorroooooooow." Does that happen in the Broadway show? I didn't remember it. Anyway, her voice sounded great as well. Other honorable mentions include Fiyero, who we had the understudy for (I can't remember his name), Madame Morrible, and Jennifer Waldman as Nessarose. Beautiful voice. If you have the chance to see this production- GO! If for nothing else than to see Julia singing her heart out. The rest of the show was really great. No real goofs or anything- I am always hoping for one. Ensemble numbers sounded great. The only complaint I had was that it seemed like the mics on everyone were turned down. Sometimes they were very soft. As Long As You're Mine was HOT! Julia and u/s Fiyero had amazing chemistry. It looked as if they were going to rip off each other's clothes right there on stage. Really, all the numbers were great. The only person that didn't really stand out was the Wizard. The role doesn't really lend itself to memorability, but he really didn't do anything with it. Yeah, so go see the amazing Julia Murney in this production. I left a fan for life.

Updated On: 5/29/06 at 11:51 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/24/06 at 11:57pm

aw, I'm sorry to hear Julia's sick. I hope she gets better soon! I'm really glad you liked her, though.

[BroomstickBoy]

Posted: 5/25/06 at 1:10am

I see it Sunday!! I'm quite excited. Orch Left, row R, seat 25!

I hope she gets better soon , too. Not just to see her, but I hear she's been getting sick and I hope she gets back to full health.

[gustof777]

Posted: 5/25/06 at 8:18am

Ahh Ashley0139 I'm so glad you liked the show...I saw in Philly and minus the Julia being sick...i had very similar thoughts...she's just so incredible and her Elphaba is so complicated and layered.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/25/06 at 9:18am

"Then, throughout the rest of the show, she was coughing a lot. And not just a clear-your-throat kind of cough, a very phlegmy thing. But she held together very nicely and no one else could tell she was sick. "

I think the phlegmy cough might give a few people in the audience a clue.

[jaybrrd]

Posted: 5/25/06 at 9:35am

I was there last night too. I've got a ticket for Friday night but hearing that Murney's been in and out in ATL I snagged a standing room ticket when I heard she'd be in.

The Fox is a cavern, almost 4700 seats. I've never been there before, but its kind of frightening. The tour set is scaled down, but this stage is actually larger than the Gershwin, so amazingly, this show is dwarfed by its surroundings.

Kendra Kasselbaum approached Glinda the same way Mary-Katherine Gallagher would. She had funny moments, sure, but after a while her take just got irritating -- nothing remotely real about it and lots of teethmarks on the scenery.

Fiyero U/S was quite good -- but from my standing perch in the back, is he really that *tiny?*

Julia Murney, frankly, was the only reason I'm seeing this show. I'd seen it before and can live without seeing it again -- but I'd see Julia biting her toenails on stage, and go back. She didn't disappoint -- even when a little ill she knocked it out of the park. Those of you who haven't picked it up yet, get her CD in the lobby -- $15! I love her... one of the best live performers I've ever seen.

And I'll say this: Wicked does not stand up to repeat viewings. Even with fabulous cast members saving it after a while that lousy score (with admittedly one or two good numbers) really begins to hurt your head. Winnie Holzman's book is still an impressive tangent on the original book but paired with banality like 'One Short Day' and 'No One Mourns The Wicked...Wicked...Wicked...Wicked...Wicked...' Depressing, we all know Steve Schwartz is capable of much more.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 5/25/06 at 9:59am

I talked to several other people about it and none of them noticed. She tried to do it discreetly, and it sometimes worked.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 5/25/06 at 9:10pm

aaww I'm uber jealous! I miss Julia!!!! She's easily my favorite Elphie, even over Idina. Too bad you didn't see Sebastian. He is soooo great. And hott. And I want to have his babies. The end. Hahahaha.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 12:22am

I won the lottery tonight for the final show of Wicked. We had the understudies for Elphaba and Glinda- a warning to those of you in Detroit who especially want to see Julia: she is pretty sick with bronchitis and is not feeling well. Victoria Matlock and Annaleigh Ashford (is that her name?) went on tonight. Loved Victoria, and was not as big a fan of Annaleigh. But I loved Kendra on Wednesday so there ya go. We also had the regular Fiyero tonight who I did not like as much as the understudy we had on Wednesday. So as my friend and I are walking back from the stage door, having been EXTREMELY disappointed that we didn't get to see Julia, who did we run into? JULIA MURNEY. She was sitting at an outdoor cafe thing at her hotel with some of the other cast members. She is my favorite, so I had to go talk to her. She was so nice. I don't think anyone I've met has been that nice. I think she was REALLY surprised that someone recognized her, because she hadn't performed. So that was exciting. Ok, here are the pictures:


Me and Julia. That was the best experience I have had talking to a performer. Couldn't be sweeter.


Me and Victoria Matlock, who was also very nice

Me and Anneleigh. Apparently the first time she saw the show she won the lottery as well (although this wasn't my first time seeing it)


Me and Sebastian. So cute.


Me and the Wizard (his name escapes me at the moment)


Me and Jennifer- Nessarose

Updated On: 5/29/06 at 12:22 AM

[zoran912]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 12:31am

None of your pictures worked for me.

I was going to see the show for Julia, but she was sick. I saw Maria Eberline. She was more than incredible. She was probably the best understudy I've ever seen.

I hope Julia feels better! Her CD is incredible! I bought it in the lobby.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 12:34am

Do they work now? I changed it. They work for me... Is her cd great? I can't wait to get it. When I was talking to her, she was like, "This is so cheesy, but I'm coming out with a solo cd." Then she told us all the places you can get it.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 12:36am

JULIA!!! So pretty! Great pictures.

I'm sorry to hear she's so sick. I hope she gets well very soon.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 12:38am

I'm sure she will make herself be better soon. It's obvious it's killing her to not be performing.

[JustChillin8908]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 12:44am

I'm seeing it towards the end of the Detroit run (June 15th to be exact) do you think she'll be better by then? She's pretty much the only reason I bought a ticket

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 12:45am

Aww, Jennifer Waldman is so pretty.

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 12:49am

I was there last night and today for the mat. In case anyone cares, the cherry picker didnt work but Victoria just kept going. I talked to her afterwords and she said that she thinks her book in her bag was in the way of the belt thing and it wouldnt close. She was very good.

I talked to Jonathan Ritter(enseble/Boq u/s) after the show last night, and today, and he said that Julia had laringitus(sp?).

Ashley, I HATE you for getting to meet her!lol! URG! I wanted to meet her SOOO freeken badly!!!!

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 4:30am

Uch. I hated being in Atlanta and not getting to see this. Especially because everyone I knew was seeing it. My friend went and Julia was sick. I hated that for her. Julia is why I wanted to see it. She is stunning. And Sebastian...such a sweetie. Your pictures are beautiful! Glad you had a great time.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 9:11am

Fosseboi, you're right, it was laryngitis. The Wizard told me it was bronchitis, but Julia told me it was laryngitis. The cherry picker did work for the evening show, though. It was as impressive as ever. It was really just a fluke that I saw her sitting there, but I was way way excited that she was. It was so cute because she did like a double take. We were standing there waiting for her to finish talking to someone. She looked at me and I was like, "Julia." She looked away then looked right back at me. It was a, "Wait a minute- you recognize me and want to talk to me?" look. So cute. And she felt so bad that she wasn't getting to do the shows. I told her I had come that night to see her and she was really upset. But then I told her I had seen her on Wednesday, so it was ok. I have never seen someone more distressed about missing shows.

Updated On: 5/29/06 at 09:11 AM

[alliez92092]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 11:16am

Poor Julia. She's been so sick. I actually met her doctor, which was pretty funny. Isn't Sebastian such a sweetheart? He said he was going to bring me backstage, but it never worked out. If he's still in the show when it comes to Providence, then I'll make him take me back. Not really. Gaaaahhhhh I miss the Wicked tour cast!

[Renthead#1]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 11:21am

My oarent said I could not go to see Wicked in ATL because they had already seen it on Broadway and once was enough they said.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 12:44pm

Ha. My friends thought I was nuts. It's not even nearly my favorite show. It's just, when there's good theatre here, I feel that I have to see it as many times as possible. Plus, it's Julia.

[BroomstickBoy]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 1:28pm

I saw the show at the 5/28 Matinee (all the way over in ORCH L) and I loved how Victoria kept going when the cherry picker didn't work. She just ran up center stage and flawlessly finished the song. I think it looked better that way, with the guards on the ground and it was like she was standing in a crowd saying "I'M GOING PLACES DAMMIT!". It was funny because the crowd ate it up nonetheless but all my friends I talked to during intermission were like "Wasn't she supposed to fly?". But they loved Victoria and Annaleigh, because you wouldn't have thought they were understudies because they seemed so comfortable in the roles. The whole cast was superb. The "thankless" roles didn't even seem that way. The crowd in that HUUUUUUGE theatre, sold out I think, loved every minute of it. They got all the jokes, loved the chemistry between everyone and ate up the performances. Victoria won them over the minute she ran onstage. It was a great show.

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 1:37pm

BroomstickBoy, I was there two! I wish I had known that, we could have met up.

I totally agree with your little review. I was sitting in the lotto seats(very left side of the theatre in the second row). One thing that was great about the whole Elphie not flying thing is that some ppl thought that was supposed to happen. The whole cast is SO great and talented.

[cturtle]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 3:30pm

ash, thanks so much for posting those pix. i saw the show twice last week and thought it was every bit as good as the original b'way production.

the show DEFINITELY holds up to repeated viewings for ME.

[gustof777]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 4:11pm

oh trust me i'm seriously considering making the five hour trek up to Minnnesota...not for the show...for Julia! Seriously, she is incredible and you all should run, walk, fly to get to see her. And as everyone has said...she really is one of the nicest actors to her fans. When I stagedoored in Philly I waited until all the teen girls had fawned over her and then walked up and told her how much i loved her performances on the Wild Party and Class Act recordings and she seemed impressed and really touched and come on...she's gorgeous and gave me a hug that i won't long soon forget...she is a class act (no pun intended) all the way!