The Ongoing Wicked Discussion Thread

[sb]

I know in this post-Covid world theatre is facing many challenges, I wonder if this is plying a part in events at Wicked.

Last contract certainly had many interesting events and they seem to be continuing. The fact Lucie and Alexia’s situations seem to be similar now and the fact Amy Webb seems to do a handful of shows then also goes off. Could this be pre-planned? As mentioned above, Amy was very reliable on the tour to the point that Amy Goodwin never went on. She did at least 3/4 shows at a time as the 1st understudy.

Kate posted on Instagram that she was on tonight and I took that as her been excited. For her to come off mid-show seems a bit odd. I know you can’t ever expect these things, but could it have been something that was out of her control? She came off due to a Covid protocol they have in place or something?

With how similar these events are to the last contact, I wonder if it’s something that’s in place at Wicked that is causing these events. Just throwing my thoughts out there.

Whilst the focus seems to be on the Elphaba’s I seem to think the Glinda’s have also had similar events in both contracts.

[jay987]

That is an interesting question. I wonder what their company procedures are generally in situations like this?

Funnily enough, when I saw earlier that Amy was scheduled to be on for both shows today, I immediately thought, "Well, have a good show tonight, Kate." Amy's absences are like clockwork at this point. That Nicola then had to take over mid-show... what a day for this cast!

I kind of feel bad for Amy at this point. By now, it must be a bit embarrassing each time you call out when you only show up to work your shift 50% of the time, yeah?

Re: Glinda, I do recall that Helen was off quite a lot in the last cast, but I think the saving grace there was that, while Samantha and Carina got a fair few shows, Lisa-Anne and Charli were pretty reliable, so it wasn't as noticeable. I think the other mitigating factor was that it's pretty widely known among the fans that Helen and Lisa-Anne have very young children, so you sort of expect that any new-ish parent will need to call off more to take care of their children. Unfortunately, the Elphaba situation had neither of those factors AND a much more high-profile figure in Lucie.

I certainly do hope that this is just a case of Alexia working through whatever illness hit early in her contract and that the rest of this contract is smooth for her. It would be a pity if her triumphant return to the role went the same way the last cast's contract did.

[deej4life]

Yes, in the last contract Helen Woolf was out quite frequently, as was her standby Lisa-Anne Wood.

However, both had just returned from maternity leave, so there is a good chance that many absences for both ladies were related to this.

[shady23]

Apr 12, 2023 21:01:08 GMT jay987 said:

I kind of feel bad for Amy at this point. By now, it must be a bit embarrassing each time you call out when you only show up to work your shift 50% of the time, yeah?

You have to remember that Amy has just gone into her second London contract.

If the powers that be weren't happy enough with how last year went then she wouldn't be.

Theatre is a demanderating mistress, after all.

[theatrejai]

Considering whether I should risk it now to catch Nic - I reckon she’ll do Thursday and Friday with Amy back on Saturday if Alexia is still out

[theatrejai]

Apr 12, 2023 20:24:25 GMT Jane Parfitt said:

Bring back Laura Harrison

Definitely think either her or Laura P will be on emergency standby for the rest of the week now.

[jaybird89]

Was at wicked tonight and although wanted to see Alexia was excited to see amy as haven't seen her then got excited to see Kate who for the time she was in thought her acting of the role was great I'm not sure what was wrong but she did sound a little croaky and struggling at the end of wizard and I so I and during what is this feeling so I did think maybe we'd get a witch switch.
Her dress strap undid during popular too which Lucy sorted out really well. Anyway post popular we had Nicola who I have to say I was blown away by her belt is very powerful can only imagine how great she'd be if she was doing the role more often.

I also really enjoyed Lucy o thought her soprano was lovely and her belt moments were great and I liked her take on the role very different and almost more innocent but it really worked for me.

I had a great evening but It does seem illness is doing the rounds again.

[musicalfan]

Nicola Espallarado is on for Elphaba tonight (13/04/23)

[longinthetooth]

Just seen on Twitter that Laura Pick is back as Elphaba tonight!

[jj9692]

Literally said a couple of days ago to someone that Laura Pick was going to come back to cover within the next couple of weeks. I think I have actual magical powers.

[aingidh]

Laura Pick really has been singlehandedly saving this show's arse over the last year and a bit. I can easily see why they gave her the lead on tour.

[BurlyBeaR]

Apr 14, 2023 17:13:26 GMT jj9692 said:

Literally said a couple of days ago to someone that Laura Pick was going to come back to cover within the next couple of weeks. I think I have actual magical powers.

Eleka.. ELEKA! 

[BurlyBeaR]

The whole thing is ridiculous frankly.

[hitmewithurbethshot]

Anyone finding it suspicious that situations keep arising that make them need to call Laura back? Almost as if she has been taking out the other Elphabas Showgirls style?

(I am obviously joking)

[sillystring]

This one disappointed me massively. We had excellent seats so no complaints there and there was little to annoying people with rustling packets or those that think they want me to listen to the sing. No, it was just the essentially 2-hander show, save for a stunning hydro.lift section before the interval sadly it all seems a bit lacklustre really and very silly indeed. The huge curtain that is drawn across is a dreadful idea imho anyway. Each to their own, it clearly has it's fans, and the audience was appreciative of it.

Wicked, to me, is just one of those shows I don't 'get'. But so long as makes others happy let it play on and on.

[BurlyBeaR]

Are they deliberately hiring performers who cannot sing this role?

This cannot be sickness.

[asps2017]

What’s Ross like as Fiyero?

[Jane Parfitt]

Although Laura Pick did come back a few times I think Laura Harrison can be credited with "saving the show's arse" last year! jay987 put this on this thread in December:

As best as I can tell, these are the totals for Elphaba:
Amy Webb: 73 (but maybe some missed by WestEndCovers?)
Laura Harrison: 51 (confirmed by her social media when she hit 50 on Wednesday, plus Thursday's show)
Nicola Espallardo: 9 (confirmed by her social media)
Laura Pick: 5
Rebecca Botterill: 2
Total: 140 performances

Apr 14, 2023 17:13:45 GMT aingidh said:

Laura Pick really has been singlehandedly saving this show's arse over the last year and a bit. I can easily see why they gave her the lead on tour.

[jay987]

Apr 14, 2023 17:48:22 GMT Jane Parfitt said:

Although Laura Pick did come back a few times I think Laura Harrison can be credited with "saving the show's arse" last year! jay987 put this on this thread in December:

As best as I can tell, these are the totals for Elphaba.

I’ve got the final update and I’ll post when I have a chance to get to it again. 🤣

Also, Alexia has made a story on Instagram that leads me to believe this is an understandable personal situation and not an inability or struggling thing. Amy, on the other hand, still baffles me. Poor Kate taking ill right after her debut. And good on Nicola generally being such a rock-solid second cover. Finally, major points to Laura for basically being on eternal Elphaba standby until she opens the tour.

[strallenfan]

I’m assuming from Alexia’s most recent instagram story that there has been a death in her personal circle so that explains her absence.

[hadeswasking]

Yet so many posts on here treating her like she's not a human-being and "can't handle the role"

Can we put to rest the constant judgemental comments? It's gotten really ridiculous at this point. I bet she's not thrilled about it either.

[shady23]

Apr 14, 2023 17:13:26 GMT jj9692 said:

Literally said a couple of days ago to someone that Laura Pick was going to come back to cover within the next couple of weeks. I think I have actual magical powers.

Not really. Wicked were down to their last Elphaba cover. It was pretty obvious a previous cast member was on standby backstage.

Although if you want to give us the winning lottery numbers feel free

Also everyone feel free to judge Alexia at the end of her contract, but also give the girl a break. Life gets in the way sometimes, as it does for us all. If Wicked thought her anyway an unreliable performer they would not have asked her back for her third run.

[BurlyBeaR]

Apr 14, 2023 18:22:56 GMT hadeswasking said:

Yet so many posts on here treating her like she's not a human-being and "can't handle the role"

Can we put to rest the constant judgemental comments? It's gotten really ridiculous at this point. I bet she's not thrilled about it either.

Nobody has ever asked for the reason performers are off to be divulged, whether that’s specific medical conditions or otherwise. What has been asked for us acknowledgement of the fact that someone is off so that customers who are wanting to see them can make informed decisions. 

[hadeswasking]

Apr 15, 2023 7:19:09 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

Apr 14, 2023 18:22:56 GMT hadeswasking said:

Yet so many posts on here treating her like she's not a human-being and "can't handle the role"

Can we put to rest the constant judgemental comments? It's gotten really ridiculous at this point. I bet she's not thrilled about it either.

Nobody has ever asked for the reason performers are off to be divulged, whether that’s specific medical conditions or otherwise. What has been asked for us acknowledgement of the fact that someone is off so that customers who are wanting to see them can make informed decisions. 

Sorry, I thought the endless speculation suggested otherwise. I understand wanting to see certain performers, but I believe they don't owe audiences any explanation. Can understand the frustration though.

I actually think Wicked go above and beyond with actually making holidays public and at least they still let West End Covers post 😉

[StageyBrum]

But the question is who is going to be playing Elphaba today.

Laura has posted she’s off to Cardiff.