Wicked....cool

[Not Afraid]

We went to see Wicked at the OCPAC on Saturday night. I was expecting to enjoy it, but I generally don't like the newer version of Broadway musicals. I have the soundtrack and the songs all sound the same to me and the book was just OK. So, my expctations wern't too high. Chris saw it on Broadway during a trip to NYC and enjoyed it, so I was up for trying it.

What I didn't expect was to LOVE it! Everythings always better live. I've experienced that thousands of time, but this show increases in goodness (or Wickedness) a hundred times over when performed live. I think part of it had to do with the 2 very energetic and passionate actors in the lead roles. Julia Murney (Elphaba) has one amazing voice and so much more passion that exhibited in the cast recording. Kendra Kasssenbaum's GA-Linda was bubbly, energetic and brought this somewhat annoying character to live - and to maturity as the play progressed. Fiyero was lovely to look at (Damnit, where are those binnoculars!) or, and had a great voice and stage presence as well. ;)

I was really surprised how much I really loved the entire performance. I listened to the cast album again yesterday and, while it was a bit more familiar to me, it just didn't hold a candle to seeing a live performance - especially one that was so good. My only regret is that I won't be able to see it again this run.

[Gemini Cricket]

I think 'Defying Gravity' is one heck of a song. I liked the show as well. Good times.
:)

[Not Afraid]

The song that really did it for me was "No Good Deed". It was amazing. She was amazing.

[Babette]

Saturday's performance was amazing!! Elphaba did have such a powerful voice. The best I have heard. I saw Wicked in LA last year, then twice this weekend. I listen to the soundtrack all of the time and loved it until now. I want Julia Murney! She way, way surpasses the talent of the other three Elphies I have heard. I got goosebumps during Defying Gravity (well I guess I always do, but this was WOW!). No Good Dead was spectacular and now my favorite song. Galinda was so perky and bubbly. Adorable! Both actresses really gave their own flare to the roles and it worked.

Sunday's performance was just ok. The story is so great that I can't say it sucked, but I was not happy with the cast. The two leads were understudies which can be a good thing, but not this time. Even the same Fiyero was just OK compared to the night before (thought his hair was as gorgeous as he is). Elphaba was off key, crackly and unpowerful. I did not feel any emotion when she sang. Glinda had a great voice, but did not "do" the character right. (She does not deserve the GA-linda.) Absolutely no bubbly and perky. She was more serious, bratty and pathetic. A lot of the time both girls spoke parts of the songs. At the curtain call the two of them were so giddy and hugging each other. Obviously, a first performance. I would say give them time, but I don't think they are right for these two very strong roles.

One funny thing that happened: In the scene where Fiyero swings in on a vine to save Elphaba, he usually does it so gracefully. This time he clumsily flew in, lost his hold of the vine and stumbled a little as he landed. Then he got mixed up and pointed to the guard instead of Glinda when he is supposed to be threatening to hurt her. He realized his mistake, smirked, did a little 180° hop to point to her and repeated the line. After that he just had the giggles. When the guards were hoisting him up on the pole, he was basically smiling. He is supposed to be being tortured. It was fun to watch as he struggled to finish the scene without totally breaking into laughter.

My parents and brother were not impressed with the show. I have to say that if that was my first experience with Wicked, I would not understand the phenomenon either. I am so glad NA and the others got to see Saturday :cool:

[Babette]

OK just looked up our Sunday Elphaba and she was Pocahontas in Disneyland's Animazement!

[innerSpaceman]

I loved it. The two leads were so entertaining. Julia has quite the voice, and Kendra was a crack-up. I pretty much have a yen for anything that riffs off Wizard of Oz, and this didn't let me down in that area.

I liked it so much better than the book. The story cries out for the light touch, the fun, the music that the Broadway treatment gives it. The only area I felt a little shortchanged with was the streamlining of the second act ... where pretty much the entire story was streamlined out.

And, in what I have to assume was a take-no-risks move, the character of Elphaba was never allowed to become one tiny bit unsympathetic. Despite most of the causes being present, she never became bitter ... much less actually wicked. And so, alas, I never found that connection with the WWotW that, by the end of the story, she is supposed to become.

The play, instead, had the WW be merely a propagandistic repulation that Elphie never really inhabits. As such, the illusion that this was the "untold, behind-the-scenes" story was never achieved for me ... and it came off instead as some kind of alternate Oz universe where everything was topsy-turvy simply for the sake of being completely opposite of all that we "knew."

Still, on its own terms, the show was completely entertaining, and I enjoyed it thoroughly enough to want to see it again when it returns to the Pantages next year. This was actually the first of the big hit musicals that I haven't been realy disappointed with.

Heheh, that's high iSm praise! :iSm:

[Not Afraid]

It was such a sexy, steamy moment when Elphaba says "I feel so.....wicked" !

[CoasterMatt]

All I can say is... hehehehe

NDA

[Kevy Baby]

While the performance in the theatre was excellent, let us not forget the famous cushions in the lobby!

[Not Afraid]

While the performance in the theatre was excellent, let us not forget the famous cushions in the lobby!

OMG! I haven't laughed that much over something that silly is a long time! God, it's nice to be able to be 10 years old on occasion.

[Kevy Baby]

It was a wonderfully stupid moment.

And next time I am having a dinner party for fifty, I will order two dinners to go from Mi Casa (http://www.micasa1.com/). I enjoyed, but damn that was a lot of food!

[Not Afraid]

Be sure to order an extra side of cheese, will ya?

[Gemini Cricket]

You know what bugged me about 'Wicked'?
Nessarose being evil and in a wheelchair AND she dies. I just think that's such a weird message.
All in all, I loved the story from Elphaba's point of view. Some of the songs are good, some aren't. It's much more upbeat than the book...
I'm glad she didn't die in the theatre version.

[flippyshark]

While the performance in the theatre was excellent, let us not forget the famous cushions in the lobby!

For those of us not able to attend, what famous cushions are these you speak of?

[Not Afraid]

The Orange County Performaning Arts Center has sets of leather ottomans that are against the walls in the lobby. We were waiting for eveyone to gather in the 2nd tier lobby and I decided to sit down. When I did, there was a fairly loud whoopie cusion noce that came from the seat. The people at the next set laughed and said "I did that too". I responded that I wasn't sure if I should just ignore it or if I sould do it again.

Well, like the mature adult I am, I did it again. Then, as our friends arrived, I precedded to invite them to sit down and literally pushed them down so they sat hard - making a wonderfully loud noise. We were all laughing so hard - like a bunch off 10 year olds.

After the show, Chris we were all standing in the lobby when Chris decided to sit down hard on a seat. The noise it made was INCREDIBLY loud and got the attention of everyone standing in the lobby. The looks of the faces of those around us were priceless.

It's certainly not something you regularly do in such a formal setting, but that didn't stop us one iota. God, it was funny.

[Gemini Cricket]

I dunno. If Chris' was louder than the rest, I'd wager it was a real barking spider from the Euromonkey.
:D

[Not Afraid]

Oh no. I live with the guy, remember. This wasn't his own bark.

[Gemini Cricket]

Oh no. I live with the guy, remember. This wasn't his own bark.
Ralphie thinks my barks are worse than my bites.
:D

[flippyshark]

I'm glad I asked. That was a good story. :D

[Morrigoon]

Wicked is one of those shows I really didn't relate to AT ALL from the CD. It wasn't till I saw it in the theatre that I even connected with it. Loved it in the theatre though. So now I appreciate the CD better (no longer trying to match songs with plot points from the book.)

[Kevy Baby]

I'm glad I asked. That was a good story. :DI'm glad you asked too. It was fun reliving the moment. So juvenile, yet so freakin hilarious.

When Chris did it during intermission, not only were there stares, but all conversation ceased for a moment. Truly a priceless moment.

[Not Afraid]

I've been so freaking stressed lately and both those moments and reliving those moments have been a great release. It makes me laugh every time I think about it.

[€uroMeinke]

Wicked is one of those shows I really didn't relate to AT ALL from the CD. It wasn't till I saw it in the theatre that I even connected with it. Loved it in the theatre though. So now I appreciate the CD better (no longer trying to match songs with plot points from the book.)

Yeah, I still don't care to much for the soundtrack, live it moves the play, but I never left humming any of the songs - still enjoyed the show though

[innerSpaceman]

I can't remember the tune of a single song. I liked the show, and enjoyed some of the musical numbers. But, to me, that's not the sign of a good musical.


And the thing about the musical's Elphaba never getting one tiny bit wicked by the end of the show is bugging me more and more.



(Though her sexified wicked moment almost makes up for it)