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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2022 7:45:03 GMT
but the truth is your absolute tip-top level performers don't miss shows. Not at this level. I'm sorry, but that is utter rubbish! Anyone can get ill. Your lack of compassion is astonishing. |
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Post by aingidh on Feb 27, 2022 7:49:16 GMT
I agree with poster J. Covid is no joke, and it’s after effects can be so cruel and draining. If you go back to work too soon or go too full-on too quickly it can lead you to feel worse in the long run.
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Post by greeny11 on Feb 27, 2022 7:53:13 GMT
In all fairness, if Helen has long covid symptoms - I cannot imagine how she could possibly do 8 shows a week. I think you're being a little unfair on her with that statement.
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Post by inthenose on Feb 27, 2022 7:54:29 GMT
Pros don't miss shows.
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Post by pomegranate on Feb 27, 2022 8:14:22 GMT
Ok Ethel Merman, time for bed… |
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Post by cezbear on Feb 27, 2022 8:59:05 GMT
I can absolutely sympathise with Helen having long covid, it feels a bit similar to what happened with Heathers - I hope she can recover soon, but essentially Charli is currently leading as Glinda and she's just not good enough to be lead Glinda.
On Lucie though, just what's happening there? I absolutely agree Elphaba should have a proper alternate especially when you think of some of the roles that do have one. But it doesn't and she is missing an awful lot of shows right at the beginning of her run, which doesn't seem to bode well if she's struggling so soon. I'd like to see her and I hope she settles into it more solidly soon.
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Post by stuartmcd on Feb 27, 2022 14:52:12 GMT
Yes they do. Pros know when to rest and not push themselves to make things worse. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 27, 2022 16:34:46 GMT
Please direct your comments at the show and not each other. Thanks.
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Post by deej4life on Feb 27, 2022 16:56:10 GMT
I am glad to see order has been restored by our furry overlord.
Charli Baptie was on as Glinda today (27th February, 2022).
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Post by theoracle on Feb 27, 2022 20:44:40 GMT
Very keen to see what Sophie Louise Dann has to say about her current castmates given her comments from this interview about the younger performers not completing their 8 shows. Whilst I sympathise with Helen and Lucie and any performer about the struggles of an 8 show week, I also completely see her and Kim Criswell's point that unless you push, you don't know your limits. Of course, personal wellbeing must come first though and I hope no one is excessively poorly given how much they wanted to these jobs in the first place.
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Post by shady23 on Feb 27, 2022 21:50:52 GMT
Lovely to see so many qualified doctors in this thread...
Unless you know the facts (you don't), probably best not to speculate too much why people are off.
We also need to remember we are in very strange times right now and all shows are going through lots of changes daily. Look how busy the West End Covers Twitter page is every single day.
I have seen the new cast (well, most of them were off when I went so yet to see Lucie, Helen and Ryan) but loved Sophie and Gary and thought the ensemble were really good.
Agree there are still sound problems. These were going on long before covid struck and it really is not good enough that it is still an issue.
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Post by seanmcdona on Feb 27, 2022 23:11:31 GMT
Caught the show Friday night.
Overall I was let down with the performance. It was only just alright.
This was my 5th time to see Wicked. Once on tour, twice on Broadway and three times in London.
The show is really starting to feel dated and old.
Lucie was grand as Elphaba. There’s nothing really special about her performance. She’s a better singer than actress. I really was expecting more from her. Rachel Tucker is still my favorite Elphaba and the reason is I knew who her Elphaba was. She has her little vocal moments and that brought excitement to the role. Maybe Lucie will settle in a little more with more time.
Charlie was on for Glinda and she really was the backbone of this performance. She’s a lovely Glinda and without her it would have been a very underwhelming performance.
Whoever cast Fiyero made a massive mistake. His acting and vocals were average at best.
The Wizard, Nessarose and Madame Morrible were all very good though I have to say! The ensemble were working very hard too and it was obvious.
The show just feels dated at the moment. The cast is trying their best and I understand that there’s been a lot of Covid related illness lately among them but this isn’t a patch on any other performance of Wicked I’ve seen. Wicked on Broadway is kept running so well and is always exciting to see. Even the UK tour was fresh and exciting.
I really hope the producers take a good long look at the show and make the appropriate changes. I will say the stalls were close to full, can’t comment on the circle though!
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Post by deej4life on Mar 2, 2022 13:41:08 GMT
For both shows today Charli Baptie is on as Glinda, Grace Chapman is on as Nessarose, Simeon Truby is on as the Wizard and Harry Mills makes his debut as Dr. Dillamond (2nd March, 2022).
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Post by deej4life on Mar 3, 2022 21:31:57 GMT
Charli Baptie is on as Glinda, Grace Chapman is on as Nessarose and Harry Mills is on as Dr. Dillamond tonight (3rd March, 2022).
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Post by daisy24601 on Mar 4, 2022 9:51:16 GMT
Willemijn Verkaik went to see the new version in Hamburg recently, it would be interesting to hear her thoughts!
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Post by deej4life on Mar 10, 2022 18:17:34 GMT
Joe Thompson-Oubari is making his debut as Boq tonight (10th March, 2022).
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Post by Ade on Mar 12, 2022 22:33:24 GMT
Saw this this afternoon. Loved Lucie’s vocals - she was sounding really strong! Having not had the most amazing line up of Elphabas on previous visits she knocked the songs out of the park in comparison. I agree that performance-wise she is weaker but still did good. Loved Sophie Louise Dann as I knew I would. The big surprise for me was Gary Wilmott - I actually appreciated the wizard’s singing for the first time.
But as others have said what on earth is going on with the sound. Granted I was way off to stage left and near the front so I wouldn’t expect particularly balanced sound but SO many of the vocals were massively under-amplified. It was only really Lucie’s solos that felt like they’d found the volume dial. It really did let down what could have been a strong performance. I do disagree with those who have said it’s looking really tired - it actually looked great from my spot - but some of those lines really need some breathing room. None of the ‘drama’ or comedy is allowed to land because everyone flies through their lines and leaves the audience two steps behind.
All in all, last time I saw this back in 2016 I came out thinking I was done with Wicked. This time I actually came out thinking there’s life in there yet.
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Post by sb on Mar 12, 2022 23:37:13 GMT
None of the ‘drama’ or comedy is allowed to land because everyone flies through their lines and leaves the audience two steps behind. This is such a perfect way to describe the delivery of the show at present and how I have felt the last couple of times I have seen Wicked. It must be a direction from the powers above, a real shame as it means a lot of the show is lost! |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2022 8:18:03 GMT
None of the ‘drama’ or comedy is allowed to land because everyone flies through their lines and leaves the audience two steps behind. This is such a perfect way to describe the delivery of the show at present and how I have felt the last couple of times I have seen Wicked. It must be a direction from the powers above, a real shame as it means a lot of the show is lost! It's been like that for years. |
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Post by jacob on Mar 13, 2022 11:05:03 GMT
This is such a perfect way to describe the delivery of the show at present and how I have felt the last couple of times I have seen Wicked. It must be a direction from the powers above, a real shame as it means a lot of the show is lost! It's been like that for years. watching Broadway complications of the show .. they certainly can do it over there- achieving laughs and moments of awe even in the obscurer moments of the show— ultimately I think it’s down to the portrayal coming from the performers, as Wicked is purely built on friendship and then romance (even if Fiyero is shoehorned in and Glinda should really be with Elphaba ..) Surface level acting .. |
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Post by deej4life on Mar 13, 2022 11:32:43 GMT
Having seen the show on Broadway I can confirm that the show is allowed to "breathe" a lot more in the US. I'm not entirely sure if it's a decision by management, the actors, or both, but the comedy elements in the West End never seem to be live up to their potential.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2022 13:36:48 GMT
It's been like that for years. watching Broadway complications of the show .. they certainly can do it over there- achieving laughs and moments of awe even in the obscurer moments of the show— ultimately I think it’s down to the portrayal coming from the performers, as Wicked is purely built on friendship and then romance (even if Fiyero is shoehorned in and Glinda should really be with Elphaba ..) Surface level acting .. No, it's as much pacing as anything else. No point in having good actors if you don't give them time to do anything but spit their lines out! Last time I went Popular was done in such a rush that I couldn't make out half of what Sophie Evans actually said (despite knowing all the lyrics) and she was behind the music! Most of the usually funny lines barely got a chuckle. If it's still being played that fast then I'm not sure I want to spend any money on it at all, even though I am keen to see Lucie. |
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Post by inthenose on Mar 13, 2022 17:20:20 GMT
It's been like that for years. (even if Fiyero is shoehorned in and Glinda should really be with Elphaba ..) On what basis do you say this? There is nothing in the show, or anywhere in the books that suggest either party is gay, bi or anything other than straight. In fact, it's made quite explicit throughout. Do you mean you would prefer that they were a couple? This is all getting a little bit fanfiction-y. |
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Post by jacob on Mar 13, 2022 18:52:14 GMT
(even if Fiyero is shoehorned in and Glinda should really be with Elphaba ..) On what basis do you say this? There is nothing in the show, or anywhere in the books that suggest either party is gay, bi or anything other than straight. In fact, it's made quite explicit throughout. Do you mean you would prefer that they were a couple? This is all getting a little bit fanfiction-y. One can dream |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 13, 2022 19:38:17 GMT
On what basis do you say this? There is nothing in the show, or anywhere in the books that suggest either party is gay, bi or anything other than straight. In fact, it's made quite explicit throughout. Do you mean you would prefer that they were a couple? This is all getting a little bit fanfiction-y. One can dream For those of us who don’t want to watch an 80 minute video could you summarise it for us please? |
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