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Post by inthenose on Nov 8, 2022 10:26:01 GMT
Again completely underwhelming. Just so dull.
LSL keeps getting cast in these roles which are beyond her level. Why?! I know (knew I guess) Lucy and she’s lovely but why does she keep getting these challenging top soprano parts? It’s not her strength it never, ever was.
I wasn’t planning on seeing Wicked again, as I’m so jaded with the production / casting and this has confirmed another year away. Shame really.
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Post by cezbear on Nov 8, 2022 10:32:13 GMT
I'm actually quite excited by Alexia's return - she was a very fresh take (even if not to everyone's taste) back in the day, it'll be interesting to see if they manage to maske her fit in the 'absolutely don't move a muscle differently to any other London Elphaba for the past 10 years)' mold now.
Lucy I will wait and see on... I'm not thrilled by it as she's such an underwhelming Christine, but I can forgive her not being the best vocal Glinda IF she pulls the role off and injects some freshness into it. Helen, while a lovely lady, has simply been in it too long and is extremely unconvincing agewise.
The most baffling part of the casting news for me is Amy staying on as standby. She doesn't seem to be a particularly reliable one? It would have been nice to see Laura Harrison bumped up as she has seemed fairly solid going on an awful lot more than you'd expect when there's already a standby.
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Post by deej4life on Nov 8, 2022 10:41:56 GMT
Really exciting news about Alexia returning as Elphaba! Having been lucky enough to catch Rachel Tucker in her 2016 return I would relish the chance to catch Alexia also!
I noticed also that Laura Harrison is leaving the show. Perhaps she will be the standby Elphaba for the upcoming tour?
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Post by aingidh on Nov 8, 2022 10:57:00 GMT
Very very excited about Kate Leiper as cover Elphaba/Nessa. She was incredible in WWRY as cover Killer Queen/Meat and has a phenomenal voice.
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Post by hadeswasking on Nov 8, 2022 11:16:53 GMT
Loved Lucy as Christine. Maybe she'll make Glinda bareable. I'll definitely be returning to wicked for this cast!
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Post by sb on Nov 8, 2022 11:25:45 GMT
Alexia was my first Elphaba and she was the reason I fell in love with not only Wicked, but musical theatre in general … but I just don’t see her returning. But as I adore her so much, I am very happy to be proven wrong. I suppose Erin Mackey returned to Wicked after almost a decade away a few years back! I think mainly I don’t see Lucie leaving after one contact, the role clearly means a lot to her. This aged poorly 😭😭 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I am happy to be wrong … I adore Alexia and I’m so pleased she is returning! |
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Post by chels on Nov 8, 2022 11:59:51 GMT
Is it controversial to say I like this cast more than the movie cast? Alexia was my first Elphaba and I'm excited to see her again!
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Post by sempala on Nov 8, 2022 12:02:44 GMT
I’m really happy with this cast except for the fact Ryan Reid is staying on as Fiyero…
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Post by Being Alive on Nov 8, 2022 13:43:19 GMT
I’m really happy with this cast except for the fact Ryan Reid is staying on as Fiyero… McCabe loves him so we should probably get used to him being around. |
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Post by Being Alive on Nov 8, 2022 14:59:24 GMT
I still don't understand why they have bought Alexia back if I'm honest, when there are plenty of new people who fit the bill and would be great, but an all black trio is a great thing
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Post by LaLuPone on Nov 8, 2022 18:35:00 GMT
Yeah it’s as if they thought it would be a really strong statement to have an all 3 leads be black for the first time (which it is of course) so let’s just bring back the ONE non-white Elphaba we’ve had in the past 16 years instead of finding someone new. There would be so many talented young women of colour they could have found as opposed to bringing Alexia back. She does look young for her age but a 40 year old playing Elphaba is just taking the mick a bit (I know it’s been done before). I can see why they want an Elphaba who’s played the role before though because Lucie was their first “fresh” Elphaba (not a return or bumped up from standby) for years and the whole thing was a bit of a disaster, so at least Alexia’s a safe pair of hands!
Ditto with Ryan Reid, I wish they’d found another new non-white Fiyero rather than keep on somebody who’s giving a pretty “meh” performance.
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Post by strallenfan on Nov 8, 2022 18:47:19 GMT
To be honest, Alexia deserves a do over Elphie run because she faced the wrath of Kerry fan girls both time who simply disregarded her because she wasn’t Kerry. I think this was especially the case because she was with Oli/Dianne who had obviously been “Kerry’s” glinda/fiyero. While I loved her with Dianne, I think it will be nice for Alexia to have a completely fresh Glinda opposite her and hopefully she will get the fanfare she deserved in her first run which she never received!
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Post by filendile on Nov 8, 2022 19:53:51 GMT
Wow this is surprising. I didn’t really believe the Alexia rumors. But I’m excited to see her. Coming back 15 years after first playing the role is a bit crazy.
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Post by shady23 on Nov 8, 2022 19:58:02 GMT
Just popped back to say I am so happy Alexia is back and looking forward to seeing the new Glinda too.
While Lucie is obviously amazing, this role is really brutal! Why Wicked will not have an alternate show once a week I do not know. PROTECT YOUR PERFORMERS. It makes no sense to me.
Great that the other Elphie's get their chance to shine too but it does make me even more sad that Jennifer Tierney and Amy Goodwin did not get to go green even once.
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Post by tom on Nov 8, 2022 20:25:10 GMT
Alexia wasn’t great first time around, far too nasal and little girly sounding for me. Didn’t enjoy lucy and her boring and underwhelming portrayal of Christine and although I’ve not seen Ryan, reviews on here have been awful! I could go and see this and perhaps I’d be pleasantly surprised but it doesn’t look good to me. Not impressed with this casting.
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Post by danb on Nov 8, 2022 21:37:09 GMT
I totally get that it is an important precedent to set. They are just roles, and actors play roles irrelevant of race, but man, he sucked so bad. The wettest most sexless Fiyero since, well since ever.
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Post by theatrefan62 on Nov 8, 2022 21:54:20 GMT
I'm sure the powers that be are very pleased with themselves with this cast, but talented as they may be (alexia is my favourite ever elphaba) I think it would have been a far better precedent to set if at least one of the leads was of Asian heritage. Especially considering this is the UK and it would represent a large sector of society.
I have several friends from Asian backgrounds and I can say that they certainly don't feel like the pursuit for equality is actually equal.
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Post by danb on Nov 8, 2022 22:08:26 GMT
Oh God no. For such a massive percentage of our worlds population they are woefully under represented in MT. First person to glibly throw Miss Saigon & Bombay Dreams into the convo gets a smack in the chops.
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Post by christya on Nov 8, 2022 22:28:10 GMT
I've been wanting to pay this another visit, but can't say any of the new leads appeals to me. I'm not a big fan of either Alexia or Lucy, and I definitely need a different Fiyero. Might try a visit beforehand to at least catch Lucie before she goes.
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Post by isabel on Nov 8, 2022 23:23:26 GMT
Feel odd Alexia returning after so many years. Makes me feel old hahahah.
She must look really young !! Anyway good for her I hope she does well
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Post by hitmewithurbethshot on Nov 9, 2022 11:03:26 GMT
I'm sure the powers that be are very pleased with themselves with this cast, but talented as they may be (alexia is my favourite ever elphaba) I think it would have been a far better precedent to set if at least one of the leads was of Asian heritage. Especially considering this is the UK and it would represent a large sector of society. I have several friends from Asian backgrounds and I can say that they certainly don't feel like the pursuit for equality is actually equal. I believe Joe Thompson-Oubari (new Boq) is part Malaysian |
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Post by danb on Nov 9, 2022 11:37:44 GMT
As with the majority of fairer/‘representative of our actual world’ casting post ‘me too’ & BLM, it feels like they have done it for the column inches rather than giving it to ‘the best person that auditioned’. We know that RR doesn’t ‘do it’ for the majority of board members, and it seems baffling that Khadime would be brought back despite also not setting the ‘Wickedverse’ alight with her Elphaba all those years ago. I’d rather they refreshed the show than try and exploit new cast members for free PR.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 9, 2022 13:05:37 GMT
I don’t understand why producers are happy to just bring old people back all the time. Inject life into these shows- give new people a chance.
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Post by danb on Nov 9, 2022 16:01:01 GMT
I’m not sure how following someone that was excellent in a role translates as not having a fair crack at it? Its like saying that Leo Sayer isn’t as good as Elvis because he isn’t Elvis. Each performer has a chance to demonstrate their take on a character within the boundaries set by the production. Some fly, some do not. For instance Helen Dallimore is still my second favourite Glinda. I bet not many share that opinion. 🤷♂️
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Post by cezbear on Nov 9, 2022 17:21:40 GMT
That's not at all what I meant, I meant more that the fairly rabid Kerry fans (and at the time they were quite something to behold) weren't particularly of a mind to give her replacement much love.
Anyway, I'd far rather have a polarising elphaba than one who's just fine.
(I'd also dispute Kerry being excellent, beyond a strong vocal, and I'm not touching that Helen D comment with a bargepole! But it'd be very boring if everyone had the same favourites.)
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