#1
Posted: 8/4/05 at 6:05pm
Dear God, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES. ANOTHER "WICKED" THREAD. Anyway, this is not my first time seeing "Wicked" on Broadway, but this was my first time without Idina Menzel and with a new cast almost all the way around. This is, basically, what I think of the show in it's current state.
The ensemble is still, in my opinion, top shelf. Their harmonies sounded so great, at least last night, and I just love when I can hear people sing in groups and the chords they hit gives me chills. When they would get that perfect harmony going, either in "What is this Feeling?" or "No One Mourns the Wicked," it made me very happy. The acting by some of them was a little over the top, but I suppose that's what they've been asked to do. A talent bunch of people, I wouldn't mind having their job, at all.
Megan Hilty as Glinda. I had seen some photos of her in the role, and I went in saying, "There's something about her face I don't like." I'm slightly jealous at how young she is and what a great debut she has on Broadway. A lead, in a mega hit. It's just not fair to performers such as myself, at least I like to think so. So, I went in saying, "I don't think I'll like this girl." I had seen JLT and loved her greatly. Well, by the end of the opening number, when she hits an optional note that I've only heard Kristin Chenoweth hit, I was won over. Her acting was never over the top or obnoxious, her vocals were dead on and I was loving it. Her belt, in addition to her soprano, were both great. She deserves to be where she is, and may she have a great and long career ahead of her.
I'm less than impressed with the men of this show. David Ayers, I believe, and Jeffrey Kuhn. I'm sorry if I mispelled their names. David, although a lovely face, has nothing to offer as a singer and/or actor. This is his third Broadway production, not to mention regional and touring shows. How does someone with such little skill get so lucky? It's obvious that it's his "look," which just really makes me mad. I wanted to jump out of my seat, leap on stage and just tell him, "You know what pal, I'll take it from here." I may not look that great, but I sure as hell can do a better job with such a nothing role? How do you f**k up such an underwritten part? Well, he manages to do it. Jeffrey was okay, as far as his acting went. He's much too old for the part, and those stupid hats he wears to conceal his balding just annoy me. His singing left much to be desired as well, but he acted the role fine.
Michele Ferderer, again, if I'm spelling these names incorrectly, I do apologize. I know we have some grammer/spelling Nazi's on this board, and as I don't have the program right in front of me, I'll have to make do. But, I digress. Again, she surprised me with how great she does with so little. That scene in Act 2, where she sings "The Wicked Witch of the East," gives me chills every time. I don't know, there's something about her voice, the tone, the quality, the way she belts then brings it in so beautifully, gets me every time.
Rue was so cute as Madame Morrible. Her singing, or lack their of, didn't really bother me because it's not much of a "singing" role. She really got herself into it, relished her scenes, hamed it up a bit, but I thought she was adorable. I miss Carole Shelley, but I think the role is being handle well by Blanche...well, I mean Rue.
Ben Vereen annoyed me from the moment he got on stage. He's an actor that breaks all the rules about "the fourth wall," which at times is okay, but he seems to forget that he's in a play, and that there isn't supposed to be an audience there. Well, there is, but I hope some of you know what I'm saying. He constantly played out to the crowd, rather than to whom he was in a scene with, and it got on my nerves. Just over the top, all the way around, and I was ready to tell him to pack it up. "Wonderful" wasn't too terrible, it was cute, but again, just TOO DAMN MUCH.
Shoshana Bean. Well, I had heard many things about how she's not as good as Idina...better than Idina...her acting is better, her singing is better...her acting sucks and her voice is annoying. Well, kids, the only way to make up your mind is to go see for yourself. I'm an Idina fan. Have been long before "Wicked," and I'll always favor her performance because I saw it and loved it and was so glad for her when she won that Tony award. I'm also an Eden Espinosa fan, and enjoyed her take on the role. However, that doesn't mean that no one else can play the role well. I thought Shoshana was wonderful. Her acting wasn't as natural as Idina's, at least in my opinion, but her singing was spot on. She made some changes, but was never over the top with riffs and all that sort of thing. I loved her "Defying Gravity" and "No Good Deed." She played them much angrier than I remember Idina playing them, but it worked and there was true passion and fire there.
All in all, I think the show is in GREAT hands. The lottery crowd was still huge, it was still a sold out crowd who were on their feet, cheering the whole way through. I still love this show. May not be the best thing on Broadway, but I love it and think the current company should be VERY proud of themselves. Lord knows I'd be.
-Vincent
The ensemble is still, in my opinion, top shelf. Their harmonies sounded so great, at least last night, and I just love when I can hear people sing in groups and the chords they hit gives me chills. When they would get that perfect harmony going, either in "What is this Feeling?" or "No One Mourns the Wicked," it made me very happy. The acting by some of them was a little over the top, but I suppose that's what they've been asked to do. A talent bunch of people, I wouldn't mind having their job, at all.
Megan Hilty as Glinda. I had seen some photos of her in the role, and I went in saying, "There's something about her face I don't like." I'm slightly jealous at how young she is and what a great debut she has on Broadway. A lead, in a mega hit. It's just not fair to performers such as myself, at least I like to think so. So, I went in saying, "I don't think I'll like this girl." I had seen JLT and loved her greatly. Well, by the end of the opening number, when she hits an optional note that I've only heard Kristin Chenoweth hit, I was won over. Her acting was never over the top or obnoxious, her vocals were dead on and I was loving it. Her belt, in addition to her soprano, were both great. She deserves to be where she is, and may she have a great and long career ahead of her.
I'm less than impressed with the men of this show. David Ayers, I believe, and Jeffrey Kuhn. I'm sorry if I mispelled their names. David, although a lovely face, has nothing to offer as a singer and/or actor. This is his third Broadway production, not to mention regional and touring shows. How does someone with such little skill get so lucky? It's obvious that it's his "look," which just really makes me mad. I wanted to jump out of my seat, leap on stage and just tell him, "You know what pal, I'll take it from here." I may not look that great, but I sure as hell can do a better job with such a nothing role? How do you f**k up such an underwritten part? Well, he manages to do it. Jeffrey was okay, as far as his acting went. He's much too old for the part, and those stupid hats he wears to conceal his balding just annoy me. His singing left much to be desired as well, but he acted the role fine.
Michele Ferderer, again, if I'm spelling these names incorrectly, I do apologize. I know we have some grammer/spelling Nazi's on this board, and as I don't have the program right in front of me, I'll have to make do. But, I digress. Again, she surprised me with how great she does with so little. That scene in Act 2, where she sings "The Wicked Witch of the East," gives me chills every time. I don't know, there's something about her voice, the tone, the quality, the way she belts then brings it in so beautifully, gets me every time.
Rue was so cute as Madame Morrible. Her singing, or lack their of, didn't really bother me because it's not much of a "singing" role. She really got herself into it, relished her scenes, hamed it up a bit, but I thought she was adorable. I miss Carole Shelley, but I think the role is being handle well by Blanche...well, I mean Rue.
Ben Vereen annoyed me from the moment he got on stage. He's an actor that breaks all the rules about "the fourth wall," which at times is okay, but he seems to forget that he's in a play, and that there isn't supposed to be an audience there. Well, there is, but I hope some of you know what I'm saying. He constantly played out to the crowd, rather than to whom he was in a scene with, and it got on my nerves. Just over the top, all the way around, and I was ready to tell him to pack it up. "Wonderful" wasn't too terrible, it was cute, but again, just TOO DAMN MUCH.
Shoshana Bean. Well, I had heard many things about how she's not as good as Idina...better than Idina...her acting is better, her singing is better...her acting sucks and her voice is annoying. Well, kids, the only way to make up your mind is to go see for yourself. I'm an Idina fan. Have been long before "Wicked," and I'll always favor her performance because I saw it and loved it and was so glad for her when she won that Tony award. I'm also an Eden Espinosa fan, and enjoyed her take on the role. However, that doesn't mean that no one else can play the role well. I thought Shoshana was wonderful. Her acting wasn't as natural as Idina's, at least in my opinion, but her singing was spot on. She made some changes, but was never over the top with riffs and all that sort of thing. I loved her "Defying Gravity" and "No Good Deed." She played them much angrier than I remember Idina playing them, but it worked and there was true passion and fire there.
All in all, I think the show is in GREAT hands. The lottery crowd was still huge, it was still a sold out crowd who were on their feet, cheering the whole way through. I still love this show. May not be the best thing on Broadway, but I love it and think the current company should be VERY proud of themselves. Lord knows I'd be.
-Vincent
