Wicked: Sunday, March 19th, 2006

[boxers7]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 3:54pm

So I saw Wicked for the 7th time on Sunday. Mind you, twice have I paid full price, the others have been gifts/groups sales. Having never seen the show from the mezzanine (sp?) I was pleasently surprised to find my seat in the last row of the mezz, Row M, dead center. This is the ideal seat for someone looking to take in the entire picture (which LOOKED beautiful.) On to the performances:
This was my second time seeing Megan Hilty and am ecstatic to say that she is in top shape, better than when I first saw her in August. She is a true revelation as Glinda. I feel that if Glinda was considered a supporting role (as it truly is) and Ms. Hilty originated it, she would be a Tony winner. She hit all the right notes, made you laugh when you should and broke your heart in the second act. I cannot say enough about this amazing performer! Eden Espinosa. Eden, Eden, Eden. I went in REALLY wanting to love her. I truly did. But, alas. I only found her pleasing when she was belting her little head off. She seemed to miss the humor and her consonants were so harsh it was like a 13-year-old Valley Girl was onstage. Hopefully she'll soon find a role that suits her talents and can prove me wrong. It truly made me realize how much credit Idina deserves. Before all the Tony hype, and the riffing, and the fangirls: Idina WAS Elphaba. She really knew what she was doing and how to play it so that the audience cared.
I enjoyed Carol Kane, Derrick Williams, Jenna Leigh Green and Robb Sapp very much. Ben Vereen continues to be my favorite Wizard, especially now that he has done away with playing EVERY SINGLE line to the audience in an "I'm Ben Vereen" way.
Eugene Lee's brilliant set looks even better when seen as a whole from the mezz and Susan Hilty's costumes are just fabulous. Someone who truly deserves a Tony and doesn't have one yet however is: Kenneth Posner. Every show I've seen with his designs have blown me away. SOMEONE give him a Tony!

Funny Stage Door Story: I brought my Mom and original Pippin LP and wanted to get signed by Mr. Vereen for her birthday. I was waiting at the Stage Door and finally the Youth Group I came with's bus arrived. I was strolling towards the bus when I stopped to chat with someone infront of AZELA (right next to Wicked) while we waited to get on the bus. I see a man in a black trench coat and fedora turn the corner and catch his eye. It's Ben Vereen. He must've seen that I recognized him because he stopped and chatted with me for a few minutes. He couldn't have been more kind and caring. Unfourtunately I forgot to have him sign the record but, oh well!


EDIT: There was a BCEFA Speech. The auctioned off the cookbook, apron, posters, pictures, playbills and a backstage tour. When Megan and Eden were giving the speech everyone started taking pictures so Megan goes: I just want to remind everyone that taking pictures is still not allowed" and Eden screams "ITS ILLEGAL" which recieved laughter and a smattering.

Updated On: 3/21/06 at 03:54 PM

Posted: 3/21/06 at 4:00pm

awww..i love the Ben Vareen story. i LOOVE him.
do you live near or in the city..i betcha if you dropped the LP off he would sign it or if you mailed it to him..whatver.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 4:15pm

I cannot say enough about this amazing performer! Eden Espinosa. Eden, Eden, Eden. I went in REALLY wanting to love her. I truly did. But, alas. I only found her pleasing when she was belting her little head off.

I cannot agree more. She bored me quite a bit. Any humor that was written was gone.

I met Ben about 3 times and he was very kind a gracious all three times. If you go back, he'll be sure to sign your record.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 4:17pm

I liked Eden a lot when I saw her. I'm looking forward to seeing Julia Murney this weekend.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 4:18pm

"She hit all the right notes, made you laugh when you should and broke your heart in the second act."

I'm not saying anything about the performer or the show, but isn't this something that should be a given for a Broadway performer? She hit all the right notes...congratulations, she's on Broadway - of COURSE! Were you surprised that she wasn't off-key, or something?

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 4:23pm

I'm not sure he was referring to the actual musical notes. I interpreted "hit all the right notes" as in did everything correctly/perfectly.

[Horton]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 4:29pm

I'm not saying anything about the performer or the show, but isn't this something that should be a given for a Broadway performer? She hit all the right notes...congratulations, she's on Broadway - of COURSE! Were you surprised that she wasn't off-key, or something?

After Shoshana and Idina, yes I think that in the role of Elplaba, you deserve props for just hitting the notes

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 4:41pm

She was talking about the role of Glinda, though.

[Horton]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 6:36pm

Mea culpa--sorry I didnt know why i did that, wow I need sleep

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 6:47pm

so Eden over enunciated her consonants?

[My Strongest Suit]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 7:03pm

i saw the show for the first time in san francisco on tour with eden and i really enjoyed her performance. she hit the humor just right i thought.

[Phantomgal109]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 7:47pm

I saw Wicked on Wed the 15th for the matinee. I thought Megan Hilty was excellent casue I first saw her in June of '05 when she first started and I thought she has really improved. Eden was ok I like Sho better when I saw her but Eden did crack at the very end of The Wizard and I. But she nailed Defying Gravity and No Good Deed!!

After the show my friend and I stagedoored it and we weren't expecting people to really come out cause it was a matinee but we were able to meet Derrick Williams and Robb Sapp. They were so sweet!!

When they were talking about BC/EFA stuff Megan was talking about breast cancer and ovarian cancer and she was pointing to herself and then stated that. It was so funny Megan was like I didn't mean to do that while Eden was laughing so hard as was the rest of the cast!!

[Kev]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 8:50pm

Eden's an angrier Elphie yes, but each performance I've seen, the audience has laughed at all the Elphie "jokes." I think she just adds a darker layer to the character.

[let the greengirl go]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 11:10pm

I saw Wicked last month with Saycon and I would have preferred an "over-enunciator", she practically whispered her lines and cut off the beginnings and endings of some of the words, making it very difficult to understand her lines and some words in the songs. I saw Eden as an understudy in '04 and she was great. I was very disappointed that she was not in. I agree that she plays Elphie more angry than Sho did, but I liked her interpretation, I think Elphie needs to get a little angry, Sho played her more vulnerable.