the current wicked cast..when did it get so bad and young?

saw Wicked on the sat matinee'. i have seen the show 5 times now. Not because I want to, but because people keep getting tix, and ask me to go last minute.
I think I have seen every possible combination of leading female, and male performers.
I have to say I am wonderfully dissapointed in the current cast.
Shoshana is up on stage like its an american idol contest, meghan hilty tries to make the role her own but will live in Chenowith's shadow from the comparisons (that she cannot live up to).
And last but not least, please find a fyero that can sing. Is this an impossibility, cause David Ayers can't accomplish the menial task of staying on pitch for an entire show.
The producers were so smart not to bill the show around the performances and instead around the "Wicked Experience" itself. You can throw anyone into these roles (and aparrently have) and the show will sell.
It also amazes me that on of broadway's most brilliant performers (George Hearn) gets barely an entrance applause, while Shoshana (ensemble hairspray and off bway godspell) gets a thunderous one because she wears green paint. And while Carole Shelley is a true diva on that stage in every positive sense of the word, she is barely applauded for.
If this is the state of musical theater, I would rather gamble with my 100.00 in vegas than go see this again.
Looking foward to havning Eden back when shoshana's contract runs out. While age has nothing to do with this next comment, I am sure I will get some backlash. I hope we can start getting adults on the stage again and leave the college kids at home.
-Paul Miller

Hear, hear! No one applauded for George Hearn when I saw the show, nor were they adamant for an autograph at the stage door when I returned with a large (and rather geeky) poster for George Hearn.

Touchez (is that how you spell it?) !! Haven't seen Megan yet, but I can't agree more about the other stuff!

I agree a bit. I saw Saycon not Sho, but the first time I saw the show was in NYC and I was extremely disappointed. i loved the cd and the music and the story, but the show left me underwhelmed with the talent.

Then I saw it in Chicago (cuz I knew I should like the show, and I wanted to see Steph and Jenna!) the show in Chicago and realized that the show was pretty damn good..and it was the people on Bway that ruined it for me the first time.
In my opinion the touring cast is leagues better than the bway cast...I'm sure some would disagree though :)

to each his own!

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you think EDEN will make it less American Idol-ish?

Updated On: 5/21/05 at 07:35 PM

everyone is entitled the his/her opinion (although i think your's could have been stated a little nicer...)
so i'll add my thoughts.
first of all i thought shoshana was brilliant in the role. her voice is pure, controlled, and beautiful. and i truly felt for elphaba.
i saw stacie morgain lewis on for glinda and she did a really nice job. acting and singing was good. george hearn was fine, under-utilized, and carole shelley was great too. michelle and david ayers were great, no complaints. music, scenery, costumes, all stellar.
i thought the chemistry between the characters was right-on and the acting was superb.
as far as certain actors getting more applause i think that has to do with the audience at a particular performance, and the amount of an actors' fan base present. not to mention the characters they play in the show. shoshana has created a name for herself based on both talent and commitment to her fans, show, etc. and i am in disagreement about the actors being "college kids" and american idol-ish. these actors worked their butts of in school and afterwards to get where they are. give them some credit!

Updated On: 5/21/05 at 07:48 PM

"Nice is different than good." -- Stephen Sondheim

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I wish I could hit a high q.

Updated On: 5/21/05 at 08:19 PM

I totally agree with you on the cast being just awful, but I don't think the problem is age is necessarily...to be fair, both Glinda and Elphaeba are supposed to be in HIGH SCHOOL :0)

They just need to find performers who aren't ridiculous, like both Shoshana AND Eden.

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Has Eden been confirmed?

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They didn't want shoshana, they wanted Eden, but she was taken. Eden truely is an amazing singer- one of the few to really touch my heart while singing.

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I was gonna say that Ashley...

SHIZ UNIVERSITY..sounds like college to me..I don't think age is the problem w/ the cast..:)

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when i went to Wicked with me school, it was a wednesday matinee and i was the only one in the audience that clapped for George hearn AND JLT's entrance (my enthusiasm didnt exactly catch on...i was just stared at like i was weird or something) it was kinda sad. couldnt disagree more about shoshana though, i think she is incredibly talented.