"Wicked" in London- Page 2

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 2:32pm

I'm not sure what the whole fuss about OZ not being popular in Britian is all about. It may not be as big as in the US but the RSC stage production of WIZARD OF OZ was an enormous hit a few years back - so much in fact, that it was the basis for the Madison Square Garden production/tour.

Lindsay couldn't sing Elphaba anymore, and I wouldn't discredit Laura Michelle Kelly because she seems to still be the most in demand musical theatre actress in London these days.

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 3:01pm

Adjie - Ruthie as Elphaba...bec. I don't think she has the vocal style for Glinda. I vote for Kristin (as Glinda) or the current Broadway Glinda to open in London.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 3:03pm

No way they are sending over Americans to open the show, unless Menzel and Chenoweth decide to do some very limited engagement (highly unlikely). British Equity ain't going to allow it.

[Vampbear]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 3:09pm

The 'Wizard of Oz' is very well known in the UK!!! Its been re-released on DVD very recently.

OK, we don't know the book the film is based on, but how many in the US knew it before the film came along???

A small proportion of the theatre-going audience admittedly, but it was one of the fasted selling CDs in Dresscircle!! And anything 'Wicked' goes down well in there.

I'm sure with decent advertising and marketing the show will do well over here. There is enough knowledge of the film to get the 'in' jokes from the film, and we would get the reference to Mr Bush too!!! I think the humour and also the characters are universal rather than strictly american.

Personally I would not want to see Ruthie Henshall in the show, she's not my favourite female performer. I have seen many others who can sing and act much better in my opinion. I'd rather see them cast the right performer for the role. But I guess we could have some celebrity casting first-off for publicity reasons. Maybe for the Wizard himself?!

I'm still not holding my breath though about the show opening up in the West End. Quite a lot of shows have never reached these shores or flown over to Germany first. And a while ago going to Germany first did seem like a genuine possibility. Will wait and see . . .

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 5:24pm

Do the equity rules get more leanient once the shows open? cause isn't an actress from the London company of Chicago coming over here? just wondering if they're more open to swapping after the shows open.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 6:32pm

I don't think this is the kind of material Ruthie Henshall would perform, this is after all the actress famous for playing Fantine, Roxie Hart, Velma Kelly, Ellen in Miss Saigon, and Marian, if you look at the theater history of actresses playing Elphaba they are more associated with other roles. I think Ruthie Henshall is one of the best performers on the West End but I also believe she's a little too old to play Elphaba.
I think Frances Ruffelle would be great as Elphaba though, she was the original Eponine in Les Miserables and she sure can belt, and she's the right age for the role.
Idina Menzel said she wasn't willing to move to London apart from her family when she was asked to audition for Evita so I don't see why she would do it for Wicked.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 6:34pm

Frances Ruffelle was the worst Roxie EVER and should never work again.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 6:38pm

Was she that bad? I don't get it, she's a Tony award winning actress, you would think...oh well.

[Popular]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 6:39pm

What about the west end boys?

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 6:40pm

Ray - yes, I thought she was that bad, and I was not alone in thinking that. I only saw her as I wanted to see Pia Douwes as Velma. And Frances' performance as Roxie defies adequate description.

[Adjie]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 6:47pm

hey - musicaltheatre1 - I TOTALLY think Ruthie would be BRILL! And she's NOT too old Humpf!
Stephanie J. Block is very classically trained and she IS PERFECT as Elphaba - but then - I AM a little biased!!!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 6:48pm

I have heard bad things of her Roxie and always refuse to believe it just because I developed a deep attachment growing up listening to her performance on Les Miserables Cast Recording. Oh well, time to be a big boy and deal with it. I guess she won't be playing Elphaba after all.

[Plum]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 7:05pm

Phew. Looks like I'm leaving London just in time. :P Updated On: 12/13/05 at 07:05 PM

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 8:11pm

And girl, I am RIGHT behind you

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 6:12am

It's confirmed this morning over on whatsonstage.com, Wicked's run at the Apollo Victoria commences September 27th 2006.

[gabybon]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 6:26am

Good News! I hope so!
Wicked songs are popular also in Europe, the cd is a Best Seller at Dress Circle and Sound of Music (two major musical shops in Europe) and the story is universal...I think it will be a big hit also in the West End

[algy]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 7:16am

Gossip (and fan campaigns) are going for Jenna Lee James (currently Meat and first cover Scaramouche in WWRY) as a likely auditionee for Elphaba (although as the current Scara is due to leave in January this may not come off). As for guys, we have quite a few strong males in London, but I'm not 100% on what Fiyero requires.

Apparently Ben Vereen (the current wizard if thats not the right name) is hoping to come over from Broadway as the Wizard.

Jane Krakowski (sp) has been mentioned for Glinda after her well received turn in Guys and Dolls, but whether this is wishful thinking or not i don't know.

I'm not sure I could see Mazz Murray doing Elphie tho....

btw, jennas website = www.jennaleejames.com (how do i make this into a link?)

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 1:05pm

I am VERY excited about the show opening to Apollo Victoria after Movin out (yeah too!!!).
First of all, I have always had the idea of Ruthie as Elphie when she was younger, but now she's just too old. And after seeing her in WiW, she's totaly changed into a more mature woman and I don't think she is suitable for the role (she can definitely sing it! probably sound different, but it'll still be gd!) And I don't think Linzi could sing the role, her voice's too sweet!
I think that they will probably have names for Morrible and the Wizard. But wasn't Ana Gasteyer a name too? She turned out to be fab too! We might have something surprising.. as long as they dont have Caprice/Amanda Holden in the show!
The music's goin REALLY well here in UK, all of friends have it! surprise surprise i know! But I don't know whether they know much about Judy Garland and WoO!
And popcultureboy, thanks for agreeing with me... Frances is the WORST Roxie EVER!!!!!!!!!! Wanted to kill myself when I saw her with Ruthie in Chicago! **random** but she TOTALLY ruined my night... it was Ruthie and Kevin Richardson's last nite as Velma an Billy, and the cast also got Anita Dobson as Mama and Paul Baker as Amos and the guy from Riverdance as Mary Sunshine who are all EXCELLENT (in fact one of the best casts!).... but she totally ruined the performance. She's totally sweet backstage... but she should never be allowed to go onstage and squeel and pretend to have facial expressions again!

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 2:47pm

How can Frances Ruffelle be the appropriate age for the role? She was in Les Miz in 1985, which was 20 years ago. That puts her in her 40s (according to IMDB she turned 40 in August. IMO Glinda and Elphie should both be cast with actresses no older than early 30s). I know both Kristen and Idina were older than that, but for most of the show they are playing highschool girls.

With Jane Krakowski, she doesn't begin to have the range to play Glinda. She has developed her voice A LOT over the past few years, but she ain't no soprano!!!!!

Updated On: 12/16/05 at 02:47 PM