warning-Wicked....Why doesn't she FLY??!!! — Page 2

just to clarify something that was said earlier...when flying in a harness, the actor's weight is on the inner thighs, not the hips or waist. It really isn't any different singing standing up, or in a harness. I've done both.

And for what it's worth, I would have preffered a better flying effect for Wicked.

I agree that the flying should be diffent for the end of "Defying Gravity." Elphaba should be ON her broom, not holding it. I never knew why they did it this way. It's still a cool moment, but it would be even cooler.

God, I can't believe I just posted about "Wicked".

Well, any reason to call out WICKED as a stupid show I'm allll for, but...

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Now when I first saw it it looked like she was "Growing", with the dress and the cherry picker, Not "Flying". And, Elphaba needs the broom to fly, the book states the spells are mysterious and cannot be reversed. Glinda says "So, Where are your wings?" when Elphaba missed. The power hit the broom, a mode that WOULD allow her to "Defy Gravity". Also, she asks Glinda to "Hop On" so, we know she knos that is how she can fly.
The act one final of "Witches of Eatwisck" was a Hoot, and They were flying right up to the balcony and in different patterns. It was FUN!

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There were many different ways to get her to fly. Instead Joe Mantello decided to have her stand on a rising platform (that you can see depending on where your seat is).

She could have flown during the entire song (as suggested before).
or even easier
Have her finish her song on the platform (to not ruin the effect) and then fly directly up. This would not ruin the effect that Joe was going for (not one I particullarly like but his choice) and would have still managed to make her fly adding to the scene.

Flying on broadway happens all the time. It is not a "cheesy" effect if done properly, and it is not difficult effect to do properly.

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i didn't think the flying in Dracula was cheesy..it was the ONLY good thing in the show! i was blown away by that and ONLY that!!! don't get me started! LOL!
anyway..my biggest problem with the cherry picker is i can SEE the bottom her of dress and she is just sort of dangling there and it looks cheap. it is beautiful and the lights are amazing..i have enough of a hard time singing the last note in defying gravity and i know i couldn't do it flying! but i don't need to see a 30 foot witch..i am just spoiled and would like to see something really SPECTACULAR there...with all the money and the magic of theater...there had to have been a more elegant effect..she didn't even need to fly into the audience, cool as it would have been...she could have just flown from one side of the stage to the other...like she sings "ah ahahahah....and she FLIES while the chorus hits the last note..vrrrroooooom! someone get Joe Mantella on the phone for me! hahahahahah!!!
i would also like to see ALL of the Elphaba's have more of a reaction to the fact that they are being lifted...more surprise..no one seems to get that...and i love all of the Elphie's..thats a small thing though!

I dont like pre-reocrded DG. So much of the beauty of that song is how it can be improvised. If it were pre-recorded, we wouldn't get Sho's amazing riffs.

BTW - not every christine pre-records their POTO cadenza. Also, the pre-recording they do in Phantom is purely for technical reasons, not for actor comfort. The first 1/2 of the Title Song is recorded because the Phantom and Christine doubles on-stage need to have a regular track they can act to. The Phantom's notes are recorded so that they dont have any backstage noise creeping thru the mic.

i am not necessarily saying that POTO does the pre rec for actor comfort...but i was just saying it IS DONE..so they can doit for Wicked..i agree that i like the ending sung live although i am SICK of the gratuitus riffing in Wicked..stay on a note already..jeez! but i digress.....every christine i know has gone into studio and recorded the ending and the last time i had dinner with one of the conductors for the bway show told me that thats how they do it...it isn't for comfort necessarily but i can't hurt to not have to hit that note 6 times a week!

joe is brilliant,for sure! i LOVE Wicked..i was just curious about others' thoughts about the flying thing. i don't think people who want to see flying have bad taste!! hahaha..everyone is different!

not only that, i love how people have to pepper these kinds of threads with their own "experience" of flying, singing, acting, pooping, cooking, writing, dancing, EVERYTHING...

-vincent

Im suprised this hasnt been brought up yet. There is really limited time for the acrtress whos playing Elphaba to either safely put on a harness or strapped into one, changing scenes into DG or in that brief momenet before she flies. It just wouldnt be safe enough.

Tap...THATS it...she needs to be leaning forward a little bit..and when i saw Stephanie she sort of came from a crouching position and lifted her arms and the broom slowly while she was singing "its MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE". it was a great illusion.
i still think getting her out in from of the proscenium would be cool...have the cherry picker thingy roll out to the front of the stage while she is singing its meeeee......
i think we've got a solution..someone get joe on the phone for me!