Wicked....cool

Not Afraid · 08-21-2006, 05:16 PM

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 · 08-21-2006, 05:21 PM

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

Not Afraid · 08-21-2006, 05:35 PM

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

Babette · 08-21-2006, 07:44 PM

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

Babette · 08-21-2006, 08:03 PM

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

innerSpaceman · 08-21-2006, 09:53 PM

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!

Not Afraid · 08-21-2006, 11:11 PM

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

CoasterMatt · 08-22-2006, 05:17 AM

All I can say is... hehehehe

NDA

Kevy Baby · 08-22-2006, 09:21 PM

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

Not Afraid · 08-22-2006, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

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.

08-21-2006, 05:16 PM	#1
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Wicked....cool 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.
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08-21-2006, 05:21 PM	#2
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	I think 'Defying Gravity' is one heck of a song. I liked the show as well. Good times.
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08-21-2006, 05:35 PM	#3
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	The song that really did it for me was "No Good Deed". It was amazing. She was amazing.
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08-21-2006, 07:44 PM	#4
Babette Snubbed Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: cupcake heaven Posts: 433	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
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08-21-2006, 08:03 PM	#5
Babette Snubbed Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: cupcake heaven Posts: 433	OK just looked up our Sunday Elphaba and she was Pocahontas in Disneyland's Animazement!
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08-21-2006, 09:53 PM	#6
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	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!
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08-21-2006, 11:11 PM	#7
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	It was such a sexy, steamy moment when Elphaba says "I feel so.....wicked" !
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08-22-2006, 05:17 AM	#8
CoasterMatt BRAAAAAAAINS! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: One Step Beyond... Posts: 8,802	All I can say is... hehehehe NDA __________________ Do you like my photography? Visit photosbymatt.tumblr.com to purchase prints!
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08-22-2006, 09:21 PM	#9
Kevy Baby Chowder Head Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Yes Posts: 18,500	While the performance in the theatre was excellent, let us not forget the famous cushions in the lobby! __________________ The thing about quotes on the internet is that you cannot verify their validity. - Abraham Lincoln
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