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Post by danb on Nov 9, 2022 17:48:22 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.) Lol 😂 Kerry was only excellent sometimes. |
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Post by shady23 on Nov 9, 2022 18:46:10 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. I find this post very problematic. When someone of colour gets cast in a lead role some people say they must have only got this role because of their colour. But anyone who knows Wicked would know that a black lady being cast as Glinda is huge news as there has never been a Glinda in the UK who was not white to my knowledge. 16 years of casts. Say four Glinda covers in each cast and then several touring casts. That is a lot of Glindas. You are telling me that in 16 years there was never anyone available who was not white who had the talent to play that role? Nonsense. Yet finally... FINALLY... Wicked find a performer who they do think can play that role and rather than cheering this from the rooftops you say "well it's just because she is black". Nonsense. If ever there was a character where the door was closed to you if you were non white then it was Glinda. To smash that door open takes a lot. A LOT. If anyone white is cast nobody says it's because of their colour when it is more likely to be a factor in their favour than to non white people, as far as traditional casting goes. The tide is only changing now. Very slowly. Who says the new leads were not the best people who auditioned? Nobody would ever say the same about a white person who was cast unless it was stunt casting. More barriers... more bias... unconscious or otherwise. I saw Alexia play Elphaba many many times and she was pretty wonderful to be honest, and has been in everything I have seen her since. Let's not rewrite history here... she certainly has the talent for the role. |
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Post by danb on Nov 9, 2022 19:12:58 GMT
All I have is a healthy dose of cynicism that ‘all of a sudden’ Wicked have cast all three central roles with people of colour. The only thing we should be talking about is why it hasn’t happened substantially earlier. You can find it as problematic as you like, but I find it problematic that it has taken this long, and they’ve done all three at once for better copy.
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Post by theatrefan62 on Nov 9, 2022 19:14:54 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. I find this post very problematic. When someone of colour gets cast in a lead role some people say they must have only got this role because of their colour. But anyone who knows Wicked would know that a black lady being cast as Glinda is huge news as there has never been a Glinda in the UK who was not white to my knowledge. 16 years of casts. Say four Glinda covers in each cast and then several touring casts. That is a lot of Glindas. You are telling me that in 16 years there was never anyone available who was not white who had the talent to play that role? Nonsense. Yet finally... FINALLY... Wicked find a performer who they do think can play that role and rather than cheering this from the rooftops you say "well it's just because she is black". Nonsense. If ever there was a character where the door was closed to you if you were non white then it was Glinda. To smash that door open takes a lot. A LOT. If anyone white is cast nobody says it's because of their colour when it is more likely to be a factor in their favour than to non white people, as far as traditional casting goes. The tide is only changing now. Very slowly. Who says the new leads were not the best people who auditioned? Nobody would ever say the same about a white person who was cast unless it was stunt casting. More barriers... more bias... unconscious or otherwise. I saw Alexia play Elphaba many many times and she was pretty wonderful to be honest, and has been in everything I have seen her since. Let's not rewrite history here... she certainly has the talent for the role. I don't disagree but you're also being a bit nieve if you don't think PR angles don't come into play when casting decisions are made. I don't think one casting decision is 'just because she is black', but I think they made a conscious decision to cast the three (talented) leads with black actors to hit a milestone and have good PR. I agree, Alexia is wonderful, Lucy I've never thought of as funny but sure will discover that in due course. As i said earlier I still think it's a shame that when most people talk about diversity they only focus on one race. |
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Post by shady23 on Nov 9, 2022 20:07:58 GMT
PR always comes into it. Why did they bring back Rachel and Kerry, why did they make Louise the first Elphaba who had also been Glinda. Shows need publicity, more so now.
I just think it is sad that in 2022 people of colour are cast and people still think it must be for reasons other than their own talent. It shows how far we still have got to go and that depresses me.
Definitely there are still huge barriers for many people of many other races other than black and white and those with disabilities even more so. We still have not had a disabled Nessa as far as I am aware which doesn't sit well with me, and only recently Wicked Broadway had their first trans actress.
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Post by sb on Nov 9, 2022 22:05:32 GMT
Is it fair to comment on Alexia based on her last run(s)? Surely after almost 13 years away from the show we won’t get the exact same portrayal as before, there will be some differences.
Btw - This is not me saying I want many differences as I adored Alexia’s performance in the first 2 runs!
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Post by christya on Nov 10, 2022 11:53:46 GMT
I did laugh a little at some of the Twitter posts claiming 'diversity' at the casting of the three leads. It absolutely isn't diversity. Inclusive, maybe, and a good development for the Glinda role specifically, but it's no more diverse than an all-white trio. I'd be more impressed if they'd had the nerve to make Glinda or Elphaba fat.
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Post by FairyGodmother on Nov 10, 2022 12:54:38 GMT
I do think it's at least partly done for a bit of PR and cast photos. It's such a big theatre that if you don't buy a programme, would you even be able to tell what skin colour Elphaba has, other than green? Glinda and Fiyero you'd know without being told.
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Post by cezbear on Nov 10, 2022 13:02:59 GMT
Bit damned if they do and damned if they don't then really. Don't cast leads of colour? Complaints about lack of diversity. Do it? Oh it's just for PR.
Oh and then the immediate 'but wait it's not diverse ENOUGH' complaining. Can't we just.. not? There's plenty enough fun debate to be had arguing over whether or not someone's performance is any good, and frankly that's the only thing that matters.
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Post by strallenfan on Nov 10, 2022 20:09:42 GMT
Like I said in my previous post: the only reason Alexia didn’t set the Wicked world alight is because she replaced Kerry both times. And also at the time - I’m not sure if this is still the same because I haven’t gone to Wicked since 2015 - people had crazy obsessions with the standby (who in my opinion was actually very average but that’s neither here nor there). Whoever replaced Kerry was going to a hard time.
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Post by cezbear on Nov 10, 2022 20:30:32 GMT
Like I said in my previous post: the only reason Alexia didn’t set the Wicked world alight is because she replaced Kerry both times. And also at the time - I’m not sure if this is still the same because I haven’t gone to Wicked since 2015 - people had crazy obsessions with the standby (who in my opinion was actually very average but that’s neither here nor there). Whoever replaced Kerry was going to a hard time. It's all a blur and I've forgotton, who was the standby then? |
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Post by LaLuPone on Nov 10, 2022 20:36:36 GMT
Like I said in my previous post: the only reason Alexia didn’t set the Wicked world alight is because she replaced Kerry both times. And also at the time - I’m not sure if this is still the same because I haven’t gone to Wicked since 2015 - people had crazy obsessions with the standby (who in my opinion was actually very average but that’s neither here nor there). Whoever replaced Kerry was going to a hard time. It's all a blur and I've forgotton, who was the standby then? Ashleigh Gray, who went on to lead the company of the original UK Tour in its second year. |
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Post by cezbear on Nov 10, 2022 21:13:21 GMT
Oh yes, I remember now. I think I saw her once and was very underwhelmed.
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Post by danb on Nov 10, 2022 22:26:06 GMT
She was the dictionary definition of ‘functional’. She didn’t do much to compete with the overused rain stick that the percussionist loved in the early days of the tour.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Nov 11, 2022 12:26:19 GMT
I somehow managed to book a ticket for the wrong day when the Wicked Front Row seats went on sale this week. Wanted Wednesday evening but now have two shows on Thursday 17 November and the other one can't be changed.
Fortunately as an ATG Theatre Card holder I can exchange it but as the centre block of the front row stalls sells out quickly and is low-priced thought I'd mention it here first. I'll request an exchange on Monday if no takers.
So it's one seat, almost dead centre front row stalls, for Wicked on Thursday 17 November price £29.50. Message me if interested. E-ticket so easily forwarded.
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Post by vickyg on Nov 12, 2022 16:13:29 GMT
My recollection of Alexia's run is that she was hardly ever on and I saw Ashleigh Gray more than Alexia. Am I remembering incorrectly because I haven't seen anyone mention that...
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Post by filendile on Nov 12, 2022 18:36:30 GMT
She was reliable most of her two runs. I think towards the end of her second contract she started to miss some due to illness.
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Post by sb on Nov 12, 2022 22:30:25 GMT
I remember Alexia did have quite a few missed shows at some point in her second run. There was a week where Alexia only performed once (at a Wednesday matinee) and Ashleigh Gray did the rest.
And the random rumour that Ashleigh Gray had withdrawn from a personal performance to take new production photos on a Sunday night in preparation for taking over as lead, due to Alexia withdrawing mid contact. This was in the days when the place to be was the Wicked Facebook page.
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Post by strallenfan on Nov 12, 2022 23:21:54 GMT
I remember Alexia did have quite a few missed shows at some point in her second run. There was a week where Alexia only performed once (at a Wednesday matinee) and Ashleigh Gray did the rest. And the random rumour that Ashleigh Gray had withdrawn from a personal performance to take new production photos on a Sunday night in preparation for taking over as lead, due to Alexia withdrawing mid contact. This was in the days when the place to be was the Wicked Facebook page. LOL oh yes. That was Scott Alan weekend and the fan girls got really carried away with that rumour. Then it tuned out that all three (Alexia, Ashleigh and Sabrina) were really ill so we almost had Stephanie Block as standby but instead ended up with Shona White. What a weekend. I’d blocked that all out. They’d really convinced themselves that Alexia had been fired then she rocked up on the Monday evening and everyone looked stupid. Alexia hardly missed any shows in her first run. The second run was unfortunate and she did miss a lot of shows in August-October but if I remember rightly from November-March she was pretty consistent. |
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Post by shady23 on Nov 13, 2022 18:36:08 GMT
Nicola is on again today as Elphaba. She has done a lot of shows.
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Post by deej4life on Nov 13, 2022 23:19:48 GMT
It's quite unusual for the first and second understudy Elphabas to get this many shows! Laura Harrison just completed 8 shows over the last two weeks, and Nicola was on today.
The only time a similar situation occurred (as far as I'm aware?) was when Natalie Andreou withdrew as standby and we had Natalie McQueen and Laura Emmitt job-sharing the standby role during Emma Hatton's time as Elphaba.
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Post by longinthetooth on Nov 14, 2022 13:31:28 GMT
I have tickets for Wednesday matinee (first visit in years). Tempted to open a book on who I'll actually get to see!
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Post by Being Alive on Nov 15, 2022 11:45:36 GMT
Am going tonight - I thought I might be safe given it's first show of the week so Lucie might be on...I am not holding out much hope
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Post by danb on Nov 15, 2022 12:04:41 GMT
She was on socials getting her B12 jab the other day do there should still be some of that in her system to help her power through!
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Post by LaLuPone on Nov 15, 2022 15:23:15 GMT
Laura Harrison again tonight from the looks of things. Also Michael Colbourne as Fiyero.
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