Wow I Just got back from spring break...I was in Philly looking at my future school (UArts) and my first night there...i knew that I would try every night to do the lottery but i live in Wisconsin so not that much big theater...all adding up to my first lotto experience...there were quite a few people 120-155...and so I thought that I had a snowballs chance in hell.
I was the first name picked!!!
I was soo excited that I almost died...am not a huge WICKED freak and definitley was not looking forward to sitting through kendra's performance again but I LOVE Julia Murney and would go hear that woman read my math homework.
... I could not believe how amazing she is, in the role...i pity broadway because this is one of the greatest elphaba's broadway will ever see. Julia rocked the house from the second she made her entrance, cue for me to go into hysterics. Her Elphaba more than any I have seen (3) was the most believable...she brought such a humanity to the role that in a show that i wasn't too impressed with and looked at as more just entertainment than theater...she really just touched me. Her WAI was just a force to be reckoned with and you could really get a sense of what an outsider she was. INTG had me and many others around me in tears. She keeps it very subtle but yet just at that last moment lets vulnerability show. It probably was because I was so close but to watch her eyes. Not to mention she is stunning in green. Holy crap she looks gorgeous on stage. Her DG was definitley a high point and you could just see the heart break and the determination in her face. I loved how she played the character almost bitchy, but with this sarcastic independence (I don't give a sh*t what you think about me) esque. She puts in lots of little changes that are quirky and if you are familiar with the show they make for great treats. oh yeah and i felt soo bad because during her Defying Gravity the big ass black cape thing was only on one side and the other side didn't stay down...i felt so bad. But like the pro she is she just kept on going nad my mom didn't even notice. Her act two was even more amazing and I don't think that I will ever forget that woman's NGD. I seriously just wanted to stand and you could tell the crowd did too. There was soo much desperation in her voice and yet she really just wailed that pain and anger out of her and it was scary....she just was perfect...theres no other way to put it. oh and in case no one mentioned it...her "i feel wicked" part after ALAYM was F*cking HOT!!! She is just oozing sex appeal and definitley cover the kiddies eyes then cuz that song was HOT! She is also is an ANGEL at the stagedoor and I waited for her to get through with the teensters and everyone and walked up and told her i'd been a fan since wild party and class act and she was soo kind and very down to earth. We talked for a little bit but honest to god i was soo starstruck that I had no idea what to say...but she kept looking at me like she was interested and that was soo sweet. The whole cast seemed nice and though I only really wanted to talk to julia they seemed more than happy to sign anything and pictures.
The rest of the show is pretty good as well. I really liked all the new cast members and think that they are doing great jobs this early on...the morrible is wonderful (she sings) and has a great EVIL voice. I thought that the boq acting wise fit the role perfectly but his voice sounded very strained and tired.
As for Kendra...I wanted to like her. I saw her back in Chicago and thought she was awful and I will say that her acting has improved. I had lots of hope at the begining. But honestly...come on...she's just not very good. I don't understand why out of all the girls that probably auditioned for the tour that this was the BEST they could find. She never held any note as long as it should. She spoke sang quite a bit of the songs making me cringe...but I really just get annoyed at how she plays the entire first act for laughs. I still feel like i'm watching a cartoon character up there rather than a person. Particularly when your in the front row...it seems way too over the top. Act Two I was at least happy to see that she was trying to be serious and show character change but for some reason she came off way too serious. I dont' maybe she was expirimenting...who's to say? BUt again who am i to think this way cuz the audience was eating out of the palm of her hand...just my thoughts.
My only big complaint has nothing to with the show but with the people...we had by far one of THE rudest audiences ever. I was swarmed in a mass of four year olds who talked and chatted the entire first act. They were nothing though compared to the AWFUL two 13 year old girls sitting in the box to the side. They had a real obstructed view and so one, who clearly knew the show, was explaining the ENTIRE show to the unfamiliar one. They sang along they repeated lines....soo ANNOYING!! Where were the F*CKING Parents???!? Even if they were there it wouldn't have mattered...this little five year old was there with his grandparents and honestly never stopped talking and finally the man next to me barked something to the grandpa because the kid was quiet for the rest of the act. The thing that pissed me off was that the grandpa did nothing to hush the kid and even talked with him. They weren't at the lottery so it leads me to wonder why someone would drop a 80 + bucks to listen to their grandson babble....GRRRR!! I think some people went to the Ushers at intermission because their was a lot of commotion going but i wouldn't kno because i switched sides at intermission...no way in hell i was gonna sit through that again. But otherwise a great night and a great trip in Philly which has amazing theater. Saw the PTC'S production of Intimate Apparel and it was AMAZING!! Go see it if you get the chance...you will not regret it.
RIP Natasha Richardson. ~You were a light on this earth ~
