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Post by shady23 on Jul 13, 2022 19:37:32 GMT
Glinda’s entrance with the bubbles. Even when I was into it I didn’t really understand what that was supposed to be and it looks so clunky. Sharpen it up. And that effing hideous bit in Emerald City where those two weird “things” come out and dance about. I don’t think anyone would miss that. How very dare you! Wizomania must stay |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2022 19:53:16 GMT
Whereas I come at it as if “what if I was seeing it for the first time?”. Yes the auditorium & stage look quite magnificent on entrance, and Glinda’s bubble is a large enough set piece to give the wow factor. But after that its just frothy nothingness until ‘Defying Gravity’ punctuated by some of the dullest book scenes currently on the London stage. Only the ‘magic’ bit breaks up the flat line. “I’m Not That Girl” is a nice song, but I much prefer Glindas version in act two…which at least has a punchy opener and some book scenes with consequence. It is a slog punctuated only by ‘No Good Deed’ to get to ‘For Good’ & the reprise. ‘Don’t even’ with the Wizard. Gary Wilmott is the first person I have ever seen play that role with any sort of agency or emotional arc, I suspect because it does not exist on paper. Before my last visit, I could have very easily done without the Wizard at all, but GW gave me hope that it can be done. I find ‘Wicked Witch of the East’ always thrills me the most; I think because of its relative unfamiliarity. Nessarose would be a juicy part if given maybe one more decent book scene, and a duet with her sister but even she is thrown away. Fiyero can be an excellent supporting lead if cast well, but there have been some disasters there too. I’m not sure Mr Thompsett can be beaten tbh. It needs bringing out into the auditorium more, more ‘magic’ adding (its about witches ffs!!!) and the diabolical sound system sorting out once and for all. It is plenty long enough so doesn’t necessarily needs songs adding, but replacing perhaps. ‘A Sentimental Man’ and the first ‘I’m Not That Girl’ can both do one for me….if it were up to me. But that just shows how subjective it all is. I would class Oliver Thompsett as one of those disaster fiyeros, planks of wood had more stage presence and acting talent |
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Post by FairyGodmother on Jul 14, 2022 0:36:12 GMT
I've only seen it once, and it was years ago, but As Long As You're Mine is one of the bits I remember the most clearly! It was Rachel Tucker and Lee Mead, and I felt like I shouldn't be watching at some points, it felt that intimate and almost desperate.
I suppose it was a lot newer then, but I do wonder if I had a good cast as well. Louise Dearman was Glinda and I remember plenty of laughs and her timing felt right — not rushed which has been mentioned once or twice upthread.
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Post by LaLuPone on Jul 14, 2022 1:05:07 GMT
I've only seen it once, and it was years ago, but As Long As You're Mine is one of the bits I remember the most clearly! It was Rachel Tucker and Lee Mead, and I felt like I shouldn't be watching at some points, it felt that intimate and almost desperate. I suppose it was a lot newer then, but I do wonder if I had a good cast as well. Louise Dearman was Glinda and I remember plenty of laughs and her timing felt right — not rushed which has been mentioned once or twice upthread. I think the general opinion on here would be that Rachel is the best Elphaba the UK has ever had (although our more senior members who were lucky enough to see Idina report that no one comes close to her as well), and Louise was a fantastic Glinda by all accounts so yes I think you saw the show in one of its best “eras”. |
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Post by richey on Jul 14, 2022 7:05:12 GMT
Whereas I come at it as if “what if I was seeing it for the first time?”. Yes the auditorium & stage look quite magnificent on entrance, and Glinda’s bubble is a large enough set piece to give the wow factor. But after that its just frothy nothingness until ‘Defying Gravity’ punctuated by some of the dullest book scenes currently on the London stage. Only the ‘magic’ bit breaks up the flat line. “I’m Not That Girl” is a nice song, but I much prefer Glindas version in act two…which at least has a punchy opener and some book scenes with consequence. It is a slog punctuated only by ‘No Good Deed’ to get to ‘For Good’ & the reprise. ‘Don’t even’ with the Wizard. Gary Wilmott is the first person I have ever seen play that role with any sort of agency or emotional arc, I suspect because it does not exist on paper. Before my last visit, I could have very easily done without the Wizard at all, but GW gave me hope that it can be done. I find ‘Wicked Witch of the East’ always thrills me the most; I think because of its relative unfamiliarity. Nessarose would be a juicy part if given maybe one more decent book scene, and a duet with her sister but even she is thrown away. Fiyero can be an excellent supporting lead if cast well, but there have been some disasters there too. I’m not sure Mr Thompsett can be beaten tbh. It needs bringing out into the auditorium more, more ‘magic’ adding (its about witches ffs!!!) and the diabolical sound system sorting out once and for all. It is plenty long enough so doesn’t necessarily needs songs adding, but replacing perhaps. ‘A Sentimental Man’ and the first ‘I’m Not That Girl’ can both do one for me….if it were up to me. But that just shows how subjective it all is. I would class Oliver Thompsett as one of those disaster fiyeros, planks of wood had more stage presence and acting talent I always find Fiyero a bit of a bore and can never understand why women are supposedly fighting over him. I think they should have stuck more closely to the novel and bumped him off after act 1 |
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Post by cezbear on Jul 14, 2022 7:07:09 GMT
I've only seen it once, and it was years ago, but As Long As You're Mine is one of the bits I remember the most clearly! It was Rachel Tucker and Lee Mead, and I felt like I shouldn't be watching at some points, it felt that intimate and almost desperate. I suppose it was a lot newer then, but I do wonder if I had a good cast as well. Louise Dearman was Glinda and I remember plenty of laughs and her timing felt right — not rushed which has been mentioned once or twice upthread. I think the general opinion on here would be that Rachel is the best Elphaba the UK has ever had (although our more senior members who were lucky enough to see Idina report that no one comes close to her as well), and Louise was a fantastic Glinda by all accounts so yes I think you saw the show in one of its best “eras”. I'd argue Willemijn was the best Elphaba we've had by a mile, but of course it's all subjective. I think casting has been very uneven in general though - some great casts and a lot of very poor ones. IMO they need to throw out whatever their current casting guidelines are and really put some effort into giving us something fresh. I do think Lucie, and probably Gary too, have breathed some new life into it. For me, we haven't had a great Glinda in a long time and they need to be casting this much younger. I'm looking over at the Broadway production and it still looks fresh and exciting to me - a lot of that is casting.
The direction also - it's flat, there's little that changes from cast to cast, someone needs to shake this up. I can remember when it wasn't paint by numbers and it's disappointing for it to feel so stale now.
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Jul 14, 2022 7:19:11 GMT
I imagine HQ would have to approve any changes suggested and they would probably be hesitant but changes have been made i.e. certain bits that came in for the tour. I am surprised they haven't removed the pre "Wonderful" scene with the ballgowns, they did for the tour, as the ensemble are only wearing them for that brief minute and they're not cheap, although it would be a very sad day if that happened.
The scene with the lion cub when Elphaba "gets mad" could do with something to make it more magical. It is meant to be a spell after all.
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Post by inthenose on Jul 14, 2022 7:25:55 GMT
Idina, Cassidy Janson and Jennifer DiNoia have been my favourites I’ve seen live in London. The latter especially impressive because the performance and cast around her were particularly lifeless and bored. Least favourites Kerry Ellis (second run), Alexia Khadime and Emma Hatton.
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Post by danb on Jul 14, 2022 7:49:02 GMT
Whereas I come at it as if “what if I was seeing it for the first time?”. Yes the auditorium & stage look quite magnificent on entrance, and Glinda’s bubble is a large enough set piece to give the wow factor. But after that its just frothy nothingness until ‘Defying Gravity’ punctuated by some of the dullest book scenes currently on the London stage. Only the ‘magic’ bit breaks up the flat line. “I’m Not That Girl” is a nice song, but I much prefer Glindas version in act two…which at least has a punchy opener and some book scenes with consequence. It is a slog punctuated only by ‘No Good Deed’ to get to ‘For Good’ & the reprise. ‘Don’t even’ with the Wizard. Gary Wilmott is the first person I have ever seen play that role with any sort of agency or emotional arc, I suspect because it does not exist on paper. Before my last visit, I could have very easily done without the Wizard at all, but GW gave me hope that it can be done. I find ‘Wicked Witch of the East’ always thrills me the most; I think because of its relative unfamiliarity. Nessarose would be a juicy part if given maybe one more decent book scene, and a duet with her sister but even she is thrown away. Fiyero can be an excellent supporting lead if cast well, but there have been some disasters there too. I’m not sure Mr Thompsett can be beaten tbh. It needs bringing out into the auditorium more, more ‘magic’ adding (its about witches ffs!!!) and the diabolical sound system sorting out once and for all. It is plenty long enough so doesn’t necessarily needs songs adding, but replacing perhaps. ‘A Sentimental Man’ and the first ‘I’m Not That Girl’ can both do one for me….if it were up to me. But that just shows how subjective it all is. I would class Oliver Thompsett as one of those disaster fiyeros, planks of wood had more stage presence and acting talent I think I enjoyed Thompsett because he was our first Fiyero who optioned up in ALAYM, after Adam Garcia’s charming but to the score version. |
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 14, 2022 8:50:24 GMT
Gosh, calling Tompsett a plank of wood is quite a stretch...he's easily one of the best (if not the best!) We've had!
Still trying to forget the memory of Matt Willis and David Witts (?)...
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Post by cezbear on Jul 14, 2022 9:11:20 GMT
Sorry, I'm in the Tompsett plank of wood camp too. Very capable and I think he's excellent in &Juliet, but beyond dull as Fiyero. I didn't have the 'pleasure' of Matt Willis, sadly...
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Post by inthenose on Jul 14, 2022 9:32:26 GMT
I quite liked Tompsett. He didn’t have the same easy charm as Adam Garcia (but who does?!) but he could certainly belt out his songs! He did maybe look a touch gangly in Dancing Through Life, but he’s a very tall man and those tights certainly don’t leave a lot to the imagination. I liked him!
I subsequently saw him as Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls and thought he was even better, again, his Luck Be a Lady was a highlight.
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Post by danb on Jul 14, 2022 9:33:45 GMT
I suspect it is more to do with the character if so many have failed to make their mark with it. Honourable mention to Liam Doyle who gave good Fiyero on tour. Likably charming is deffo the way to go. No smarminess, no endearing clunkiness, just confident & likeable with a killer voice. Willis though…jaysus, what were they thinking?
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Post by james1969 on Jul 14, 2022 12:03:05 GMT
Please can anyone help with a phone number for customer services. I booked direct - not through ATG - but the number for Ingresso is disconnecting Kudos to Ingesso Customer Services who responded to an email within 24 hours and offered an exchange of tickets at no charge when the second show I was attending the same day changed their starting time so we wouldn’t have had time for travel between venues |
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Post by inthenose on Jul 15, 2022 16:17:56 GMT
Does anyone know what The Shows Must Go On’s YouTube post just now was all about? ibb.co/MDbVDzG |
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Post by inthenose on Jul 15, 2022 16:20:04 GMT
I’m guessing she is playing Morrible in the movies!
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Post by evilmat360 on Jul 15, 2022 16:43:59 GMT
Does anyone know what The Shows Must Go On’s YouTube post just now was all about? ibb.co/MDbVDzGA reference to being the Wicked Witch in Wizard of Oz at the Palladium? |
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Post by inthenose on Jul 15, 2022 16:48:44 GMT
Does anyone know what The Shows Must Go On’s YouTube post just now was all about? ibb.co/MDbVDzGA reference to being the Wicked Witch in Wizard of Oz at the Palladium? Nah, I just asked someone I know - it is embargoed til Monday he thinks, but she is Morrible according to him. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2022 19:55:53 GMT
I've only seen it once, and it was years ago, but As Long As You're Mine is one of the bits I remember the most clearly! It was Rachel Tucker and Lee Mead, and I felt like I shouldn't be watching at some points, it felt that intimate and almost desperate. I suppose it was a lot newer then, but I do wonder if I had a good cast as well. Louise Dearman was Glinda and I remember plenty of laughs and her timing felt right — not rushed which has been mentioned once or twice upthread. I think the general opinion on here would be that Rachel is the best Elphaba the UK has ever had (although our more senior members who were lucky enough to see Idina report that no one comes close to her as well), and Louise was a fantastic Glinda by all accounts so yes I think you saw the show in one of its best “eras”. Again subjective, I found Rachel fine but for me alexia khadime was by far the best elphaba. Acting wise and exciting vocals. Idina was good, kerry Ellis not so much (again like Oliver Thompsett she couldn't act). Glinda probably Gina Beck as my favourite, certainly the one that springs to mind straight away I actually didn't mind Matt Willis as Fiyero, his natural rock/rebellious edge added to the character. Lee mead, talented as he is vocally, i just find a bit bland overall. Adam Garcia probably the best overall from what I can recall. But I could be missing someone. It seems strange that show must go on is jumping ahead of major movie studios announcing hannah Waddingham casting (it's not close to subtle, especially using show branding in the thumbnail) |
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Post by inthenose on Jul 15, 2022 20:19:14 GMT
Perfect cast wise, based solely on those I’ve seen live, for me it’d be Idina Menzel, Gina Beck, Adam Garcia, Nigel Planer. Interesting that three of those were in the original cast - and I’ve seen most casts since!
I didn’t like Khadime at all, but loved her in The Book of Mormon. When I saw Wicked a cast or two ago, I thought it was in really bad shape and looked very tired.
Speaking of tired, the actress playing Galinda appeared to be suffering quite badly with asthma or something, she was absolutely gasping for air during “Popular” in particular. Blown notes all over the place, stiff acting. I was thinking to myself “they need to cast a pretty soprano aged 20’s to 40’s. It’s not exactly the toughest remit in the world, is it? There were four girls who could play the part waiting tables in the restaurant before the show! Is this really the best they could find in the whole world?”.
Gina Beck on the other hand is outstandingly wonderful in absolutely everything I’ve ever seen her do. My favourite Cosette, my favourite Galinda, my favourite Christine. I would genuinely say she is this country’s very best. Gina is one of the only performers I would go and see in literally anything.
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Post by danb on Jul 15, 2022 20:48:42 GMT
Agreed. The gold standard Glinda. Pathos, beautiful & with a beautiful voice.
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Post by LaLuPone on Jul 15, 2022 20:53:02 GMT
Suzie Mathers was also brilliant. The issue with a lot of British Glindas seems to be that they don’t go for the comedy enough, and Suzie did. I don’t know if the fact that she’d one the role in Australia where they used the American accents helped at all.
In fact the trio of Rachel-Suzie-Oli Savile are probably the best I’ve seen since 2015, and they made the 10th Anniversary Cast so special.
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Post by tr252 on Jul 15, 2022 21:20:15 GMT
Agreed on Gina Beck being a wonderful Glinda. I saw her a few times in Wicked but there’s one that really stands out where I believe there were quite a few cast members off sick if I remember correctly but Gina felt like the glue holding it together. Gorgeous performance, gorgeous soprano.
Elphaba for me is Rachel Tucker, incredible every time I saw her, but it’s all very subjective, each to their own. I do remember being incredibly disappointed with Kerry’s second run though, money notes cut short, racing through lines with no real delivery, it was quite frustrating.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2022 21:33:35 GMT
Perfect cast wise, based solely on those I’ve seen live, for me it’d be Idina Menzel, Gina Beck, Adam Garcia, Nigel Planer. Interesting that three of those were in the original cast - and I’ve seen most casts since! I didn’t like Khadime at all, but loved her in The Book of Mormon. When I saw Wicked a cast or two ago, I thought it was in really bad shape and looked very tired. Speaking of tired, the actress playing Galinda appeared to be suffering quite badly with asthma or something, she was absolutely gasping for air during “Popular” in particular. Blown notes all over the place, stiff acting. I was thinking to myself “they need to cast a pretty soprano aged 20’s to 40’s. It’s not exactly the toughest remit in the world, is it? There were four girls who could play the part waiting tables in the restaurant before the show! Is this really the best they could find in the whole world?”. Gina Beck on the other hand is outstandingly wonderful in absolutely everything I’ve ever seen her do. My favourite Cosette, my favourite Galinda, my favourite Christine. I would genuinely say she is this country’s very best. Gina is one of the only performers I would go and see in literally anything. Agreed, Gina is also my favourite Christine (her, Ramin and Simon Bailey havent been beaten in my eyes) as well as Glinda. She was great as Cosette but the character is so weak overall I never think of it as a role I have a favourite in. She also seems criminally under appreciated and never seems to have gained the profile she deserves. |
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Post by shady23 on Jul 15, 2022 22:38:17 GMT
I do remember being incredibly disappointed with Kerry’s second run though, money notes cut short, racing through lines with no real delivery, it was quite frustrating. I think the problem there was that she was so busy with other commitments. She was doing a UK Tour at the same time as doing Wicked. It was asking an awful lot of her. |
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