rOcKS checks up on 'Wicked'

I'm going to try to keep this short.

The current ensemble is very good (except for the fact that during the big ensemble numbers, they're singing a little too quietly for my taste...or maybe that's just the microphones' faults)

Kerry Ellis is trying really hard and it shows. She has this weird nasaly accent that is not the way she talks and it was obvious that she didn't need to speak like that to hide her accent because at certain points, she dropped the nasaly-ness and it sounded much better. It's really distracting and kinda frustrating. She sings the role fine, even if she's a bit underwhelming, and is obviously playing Idina's Elphaba. She's not terrible but not great either. Also, she completely slipped into her British accent for a whole four or five lines straight.

Kendra Kassebaum is strong as Glinda...she has a very good singing voice (her soprano is a bit forced but her belt is phenomenal...especially during THANK GOODNESS). She is really bubbly and funny (even if she could probably ham it up a bit more) and her POPULAR was a highlight.

Aaron Tveit sings the role of Fiyero well, but when he dances, he is really breathy and has trouble hitting the notes which isn't good considering his big number is called DANCING THROUGH LIFE. He is pretty good, though. P.J. Benjamin is reliably strong as the Wizard (although something about his WONDERFUL felt anti-climactic and weird to me.) and Jayne Houdyshell is almost as good as Carole Shelley (which is the highest compliment I can pay her).

The show is in pretty good shape, even if I felt at times, it was obvious that what once used to be exciting for both tourists and avid theatergoers (at least to me...I'm probably gonna get killed for saying that but whatever) now feels clearly aimed at tourists because the avid theatergoer can now pinpoint the weakness of performances and things of that nature while the tourists just go to see the green girl fly and go back to their hotel.

Afterwards, I stopped by the LEGALLY BLONDE stage door because Bailey was coming out right at that moment and the people I spoke to seemed positive about Bailey if a bit unenthused. I'm going on August 8th to see her, so I'll report back about that. And also, I'm hopefully stopping by XANADU on Saturday to catch Whoopi and Andre.

Updated On: 7/31/08 at 06:53 PM

On some levels, I agree.

The frustrating thing about her playing the role is that she definitely and completely has the potential to be one of the best Elphabas. But she doesn't utilize what she can to play the role. Sadly.

From what I hear, in London she was one of the best Elphabas people have seen and things are just different on Broadway.

I'm guessing that someone (either producers or assistant directors) are forcing the accent on her. It clearly isn't working out, one would assume if she had control over it, she would change it.

How was it a blooper filled show? What happened?

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Thank goodness they have you to check on them. Ehh..

Wow, there be some catty bitches up in here!

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Here lies another potentially relevant thread smothered by the bitches of BWW.

Well, truth be told, every message board out there seems to have the resident "I can say and treat strangers without faces as nasty as I want!". This board seems to have several jockeying for that coveted position. We should have a contest.

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Well, if anything, you're dedicated.

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yeah i have to bring up Ana Gasteyer.. I love this show.. and I love her.. But her first act Elphaba had no internal hope for something more.. If you frown throughout the Wizard and I, which she did.. (she made it seem like she already was aware of the wizards nefarious plots) then you just don't get the role.

just my two cents.

as far as who should be playing the role now.. i have no clue. but from most reports it shouldn't be Kerry Ellis.

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I agree with you, rOcKS.

Kerry has the voice that could make her one of the best seen. She doesn't strain to belt soaring pitch perfect notes, which I fear maybe is her downfall...BECAUSE she doesn't need to push it, she doesn't look like she's putting in any effort.

Her growls (as well as her belts) are her trademark, when ever I saw her in London she would give spine tingling growls then end Defying Gravity with (on average) about a 10 second 'ah', though there might be a video somewhere where she belts 14+.

But...it seems on Broadway she growls 'look to the western sky' (which seems forced for some reason) and she doesn't hold on her notes for as long as she can.

Not saying she's bad by any means, but she doesn't seem to shine anymore.

OH, and I know what you mean by 'blooper filled show', Kerry and Dianne (London Glinda) always appear to be having such a laugh, so I imagine Kerry brought that into the dynamics with Kendra.

GREAT review and thank you for the details

I sure hope this doesn't go the way of Harry Goodman/Max in THE PRODUCERS...

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So, Ellis continues to fail?

After seeing Ellis in the London company, I was psyched to see her take on Broadway. She did have that pitch-perfect voice, an ease about her belt and a quirky take on the role of Elphie.

Unfortunately, something was lost in translation. She's not comfortable in New York. She was constantly bumping into set pieces throughout the show. Her singing (and speaking voice) sounded strained. Overall, it was sad.

Not for lack of talent (see her MANY YouTube vids for proof), there's something missing from her performance. I dislike the choice of accent, especially since she can't keep it under control when she's playing angry. Just stick to Brit.

I'm shocked that this FLOOD of negative press about Ellis hasn't reached the powers that be at Wicked. She's perfect for the role, but needs some direction. If they're just telling her to copy Idina, they're severely wasting her talent, training and ability. She's actually much, much better than Menzel.


Come on Wicked: Let Kerry shine.





BN