I love the lottery. It was fun to talk to people before it, and then two other people who had won ( who I ended up sitting next to) and I had a wonderful conversation pre and post show. Great experience.
Now onto the review...
Elphaba --> Eden Espinosa:
Wonderful. Simply amazing. She hit some of the notes in an odd way, but only a few and I am pretty sure it was a technique to save her voice from the horrible dangers of that role. But when she opened her mouth for Defying Gravity and the those gut busting songs, OH. MY. GOD. I was covered in goosebumps and was couldn't stop grinning! Of all three Elphaba's I've now seen (Idina, Shosh, and now Eden) she was my favorite. I think Idina sang it better on the CD, but a) when I saw her live she was in her gasping phase and I was too far back to see her clearly and b) performing it in a studio without having to move or act is a lot easier than performing on a stage. I would LOVE to have a copy of an Eden-as-Elphaba CD, but I am sure I would end up loving both equally for different reasons. :)
Her acting was far superior to what I've seen before. I absolutely loved being front row, because I could see the actors make those small facial changes that mean so much. I LOVED Eden's face, she has the most gorgeous smile (and her pearly whites are really accented against the green, which she looked good in. Though she had some wig troubles, and I just didn't like the wig in general.). Being close up may have been part of it, but honestly Eden did the best acting job. I really saw her transformations, and I understood why they happened. She completely commanded the stage and was quite magical. :)
G(a)linda --> Kendra Kassebaum:
Hilarious. I prefer Kristin's singing to hers, mainly because Kristin has phenominal range and made good use of it, but Kendra was a great actress for the part. Again, I saw Kristin when she wasn't at her best (she had a neck-brace on, but was so amazing even with it that it didn't take away and just made me love the performance more for it), but Kendra just got the physical part better. Kristin was the popular cheerleader, Jennifer (who is a compelete DOLL and whom I loved to watch) was more of the popular jocky girl, and Kendra was just popular. She didn't need the cheerleading or the jockyness, it was just the way she physicalized it. I don't think I am explaining it well, but she didn't lean on either stereotype of the 'popular girl' regarding sports or cheerleading, she was just popular for her own sake. Her personality, looks, etc.
And like the other two before her, she had great comic timing and ad-libbing (sparkles!poof!etc.). She was more of a ditz than the other two, but did grow in the end. I would have to say (though) that I prefer Kristin's singing and Jennifer's acting. Not that Kendra was bad! Far from it, it's just I prefered what the other two did. Definitly worth seeing her, though!
Madame Morrible --> Carol Kane:
I didn't like her. She wasn't bad, she just didn't have the underlying sense of evil and danger and manipulation and selfishness that Carole Shelley did. She was more there and just saying the lines without the underyling purpose driving her.
The Wizard --> David Garrison:
My favorite wizard. Joel didn't really do much with it, the next guy I really didn't like, but David got it spot on. I could see how he could charm the entire land of OZ under his thumb. I got his loneliness. He still didn't quite give off the desperation I think the wizard needs to surround his dealing with Animals (the desperation of the powerful who think they are about to lose their power / who think they are defending their power). But he was wonderful (:) ), nonetheless!
Nessarose --> Jenna Leigh Green:
Holy sh*t, this girl can sing. She was phenominal, and I really want to see her stand in for Elphaba now! I think she would do a great job. I can't wait to hear where she goes next (and if I have the budget, to go see her!). And she was really sweet at the stage door. Made me wish not only that they kept Nessarose's song on the CD, but that she had a bigger role so I could see / hear her more often! Bravo to Jenna!
Boq --> Logan Lipton:
My favorite Boq. He did this cute thing with his voice, and you could just see the honesty and goodness exude off of him. He was perfect and could sing beautifully!
Fiyero --> Derrick Williams:
Such a sweet guy. He was so nice at the stage door (I got a pict with him and then a crowd of girls descended on him to do the same, lol). I prefer Norbert Leo Butz's version of Fiyero, mainly because Derrick's voice (while beautiful) didn't quite fit the part for me. He acted it wonderfully, though!
The ensemble was GREAT (as always!) and I got chills every time they started blasting it.
Funny notes -->
During Popular, while Kendra's dress didn't unzip (I don't think) I definitly caught her tugging the zipper / making sure it didn't fall a few times. She was hilarious.
Madame Morrible almost forgot a line, but then the Wizard reminded her (it was the "you do something for him he'll do something for you" line). wouldn't have noticed it except I saw the wizard facially and with a small hand thing remind her.
Eden's wig. Oy. During the like 7 second change after Popular, the ends on her temple flapped up. Annoyed the heck out of me. About 3 different actors (Morrible, Derrick, and Dillemond) tried to fix it in character, but it didnt really work. Eden finally got it kinda down (all in character, mind you) and they fixed it once she got offstage for heading to Oz.
Eden's costumes. I think that they are Steph's costumes that Eden just uses, 'cause they look a little big (and Steph. is taller than Eden, I think). The green body suit for dancing through life was WAY too big. I could see it wrinkle and stuff, and it annoyed me soooo much. Was not skin tight. But from farther away, I'm sure you wouldn't notice anything.
During Thank Goodness (beginning of Act 2) the ensemble couple right in front of me had some troubles. The girl accidentally knocked the guy's glasses off and onto the stage. They both started giggling, but managed to keep it low and only when they were facing upstage. The girl made a good recovery and got the glasses when they moved in. Gotta love the front row.
Overall a GREAT show. As wonderful as I remembered it! And they were all so sweet at the stagedoor! I would post some pictures, but I have NO clue how to, lol.
Hope you enjoyed the review!
"If you can talk, you can sing...if you can walk, you can dance."
- T.K. Greene
