5,149 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Sept 24, 2022 14:18:35 GMT
Alexia Khadime returning makes absolutely no sense though - it will have been 13 years since she last played Elphaba, and she'll be 40 when she rejoins (although she doesn't look it)
I know Willemijn were still playing it at 42, but she had been continually playing it for ten years so it was a bit of a different thing. I just can't imagine Alexia coming back after all this time...
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234 posts
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Post by Jane Parfitt on Sept 24, 2022 14:31:15 GMT
I know one of the names that has been mentioned in the last few posts. There have been no offers made as yet, and therefore nobody has turned it down!
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660 posts
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Post by Oleanna on Sept 24, 2022 14:38:43 GMT
We shall see!
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101 posts
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Post by filendile on Sept 24, 2022 15:45:35 GMT
I wouldn't be surprised if this is all fake and Lucie stays longer. She is very popular with the fans and consistently great when she's on. They need a new standby though for sure.
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190 posts
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Post by tsxmitw on Sept 24, 2022 15:45:54 GMT
Urgh. I saw the show last week and thought it was in pretty bad shape. Rushed, phoned in, money notes cut short, generally underpowered. Helen delivered so few laughs that it was almost uncomfortable to watch. To be fair, it’s been like this since it re-opened but the other night felt particularly bad.
I had hoped Lucie would inject some new life but she plays exactly the same Elphaba as Laura - the direction is just so rigid.
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130 posts
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Post by sb on Sept 24, 2022 16:51:28 GMT
I can’t see Lucie leaving this soon, unless it’s not her choice!
Lucie / Amy / Laura / Nicola have certainly had an interesting run since cast change, I don’t think I remember the 2 U/S being used so much in the past.
But I wonder if this is actually planned with management, they are allowing the time off for Lucie and Amy, just a suspicion of mine. Could be something with reducing people in the building for Covid regulations or something like that.
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Post by inthenose on Sept 24, 2022 16:57:44 GMT
Imagine if they closed for a month to install a new sound system, recast it truly top drawer, freshened the direction a little then had a grand reopening. I’d be all over it in a flash.
I do like Wicked but it is getting run down to the quick, in my opinion.
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487 posts
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Post by deej4life on Sept 24, 2022 18:14:27 GMT
For anyone that is confused about this week's Elphaba situation at Wicked UK...
Tuesday: Amy Webb
Wednesday (Matinee): Amy Webb
Wednesday (Evening): Laura Pick
Thursday: Nicola Espallardo
Friday: Lucie Jones
Saturday (Matinee): Amy Webb
Saturday (Evening): Nicola Espallardo
Sunday: TBC
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19,676 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 24, 2022 18:22:51 GMT
Has Lucie got something else lined up?
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Post by starlight92 on Sept 24, 2022 19:23:38 GMT
How many shows a week is Lucie doing usually? On average I would say 4-5 shows per week. I believe she has only completed two full eight show weeks since joining. Another great time for Wicked UK to consider an official alternate system for Elphaba! I know there could be all sorts of reasons why an actor doesn't perform and we're not entitled to know anything about their personal lives, but it is strange to me that Lucie is off so much, and especially that she's not performing today when she's just got back from holiday. I hope everything's okay with her. She was fantastic when I saw her. |
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Post by FairyGodmother on Sept 24, 2022 22:37:33 GMT
Oh for the days when Rachel Tucker & Co did all eight shows without batting an eyelid! I think she might just have vocal cords of steel to be honest.  |
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Post by westendrebecca on Sept 25, 2022 8:17:04 GMT
When is cast change?
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Post by keekio2 on Sept 25, 2022 8:55:47 GMT
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19,676 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 25, 2022 8:59:51 GMT
Prediction: Lucie will have left before then.
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Post by inthenose on Sept 25, 2022 11:40:55 GMT
I’m going to YouTube to listen if she’s even that good!
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Post by StageyBrum on Sept 25, 2022 11:58:23 GMT
Has anyone ever gone straight from understudy to lead before? Obviously plenty of standbys have been promoted to lead but I don’t think anyone has gone from being 2nd cover and with an ensemble track straight to principal Elphaba before. Off the top of my head Caissie Levy went from Broadway U/S to leading the LA production. This was only after 3 performances of going on for Elphaba she then had to leave 5 months later because of vocal damage although we all know now she’d easily smash 8 performances a week no problem. Anyway sorry for going off London topic.. |
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130 posts
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Post by sb on Sept 25, 2022 12:03:54 GMT
Caroline Bowman went from Broadway u/s to Broadway lead, but she did have a gap between each run.
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Post by StageyBrum on Sept 25, 2022 12:04:02 GMT
In terms of previous Elphabas I do think it’s likely that Nikki Bentley will return at some point. She seems a lot better now and has started performing again. She’s also alluded several times she wants to come back to the role.
I know this might be a bit of a reach but I really think they could bring Alexia into the Broadway production. She’s clearly proven she can do 2 contracts plus it’s time we had a lead Broadway POC Elphaba. I do think for the 20th anniversary next year they will bring someone back for it.
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Post by StageyBrum on Sept 25, 2022 12:04:57 GMT
Caroline Bowman went from Broadway u/s to Broadway lead, but she did have a gap between each run. Yes she did. Totally forgot about that |
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Post by inthenose on Sept 25, 2022 12:20:55 GMT
Has anyone ever gone straight from understudy to lead before? Obviously plenty of standbys have been promoted to lead but I don’t think anyone has gone from being 2nd cover and with an ensemble track straight to principal Elphaba before. Off the top of my head Caissie Levy went from Broadway U/S to leading the LA production. This was only after 3 performances of going on for Elphaba she then had to leave 5 months later because of vocal damage although we all know now she’d easily smash 8 performances a week no problem. Anyway sorry for going off London topic.. Good vocal technique? Looking after your voice, through good training and professionalism outside of work? Lots of MT singers in vocally challenging roles - including Elphaba - do it. In fact they have done it forever. |
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Post by danb on Sept 25, 2022 14:17:24 GMT
I’m going to YouTube to listen if she’s even that good! The problem I had when I saw her was that I was just bored by the show, so whatever she did was just meh. She sang it well, characterisation was fine. All just fine, by the book, no messing around. Leaps & bounds ahead of some, nowhere near others. I think its tricky to shine in such a regimented, identikit role. Allows for very little creativity I would have thought. |
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Post by StageyBrum on Sept 25, 2022 14:58:50 GMT
Rebecca Gilliland is playing Nessarose today
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4,177 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Sept 28, 2022 19:46:20 GMT
According to my feed on Twitter, last night was the 16th Anniversar.
I caught the matinees and it's still a great show.
We had a 'technical issued' in the middle of Act 11, just after Boq ha been turned into the Tin Man and before the song Wonderful.
The Wizard's large mechanical head froze, leaving both Lucie Jones and Gary Willmott standing around.
The safety curtain came down and an announcement made.
This 'issue' remained for at least 15 minutes.
For me personally, Nicholas McLean gave the stand out performance as Boq.
I actually found Ryan Reid as Fiyero the weakest link.
I can't say for the balconies as I was in the stalls but the theatre was about three quarters full. There was a school groups, many female, who were all relatively well-behave throughout, despite the interruption.
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488 posts
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Post by AliceFearnFan2212 on Sept 29, 2022 18:14:44 GMT
Lucie’s off again tonight, Amy Elphaba!
Helen’s also off, she’s been away for a while, Helen has scheduled holiday for the rest of the week from tomorrow too so she won’t be back till Tuesday
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116 posts
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Post by tcodd1 on Oct 1, 2022 21:34:13 GMT
How many shows a week is Lucie doing usually? On average I would say 4-5 shows per week. I believe she has only completed two full eight show weeks since joining. Another great time for Wicked UK to consider an official alternate system for Elphaba! Lucie was guessed by Jonathan Ross as a potential celebrity dressed as Odd Socks on The Masked Dancer tonight…maybe THAT’S why she’s missed so many shows at Wicked?! 😅 |
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