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Post by singularsensation10 on Jan 4, 2017 23:13:15 GMT
Wicked is also in great shape at the moment - it received the shake up it needed so I love going back to see this more regularly than I did in 2015. What have they done to shake it up? The cast change was substantial enough to breathe a new lease of life into it - much needed as certain members of the previous cast were getting a bit lacklustre and, IMO, shouldn't have stayed as long as they did.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jan 4, 2017 18:07:19 GMT
Funny...I detested Groundhog Day but you all seem to adore it!
For me, In The Heights was my favourite. I thought it was a stunning production.
I loved Funny Girl and L5Y @ St James - although there were elements of both that bothered me, such as the (IMO!!!) (mis)casting for Funny Girl and the direction of L5Y. JRB is a fantastic writer but maybe let's leave it there.
Side Show at Southwark was a delight - but I'm a big Dearman fan and believe she can do no wrong. The direction for this also left something to be desired with lots of pivotal lines being played to the back wall.
Wicked is also in great shape at the moment - it received the shake up it needed so I love going back to see this more regularly than I did in 2015.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jan 4, 2017 18:00:57 GMT
I had tickets that day mid December when both shows were cancelled...re-booked for March but that's far too long to wait so I've booked to take my boyfriend as a surprise for his birthday (it's a weds night so I've made sure it's after the alternate changeover date as ideally want to see Amber, although let's be honest it's not looking likely!) I've got centre row A of the grand circle - how are these seats for Dreamgirls? We saw Legally Blonde and Gypsy from these seats and they were fine.. obviously I'd rather sit centre row F but don't want to pay thT sort of money so beggars and choosers and that.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jan 4, 2017 17:58:02 GMT
Lovely to see such a responsive audience too! All levels open, I'd say about 80/85% full? But Matt got entrance applause, that made me happy. This is awesome to hear - I went in the summer and sat right at the back of the half empty stalls, they offered to move me forward but I quite fancied having the space (I have long legs...). Then half way through act 1 this coach load turns up, loudly cracking open drinks and crisps and chatting away to each other, I kept asking them to be quiet. They got very upset that they had to sit at the back rather than in the seats they paid for - we got very upset they were loud, and they were kicked out in the interval. Some people!! Anyway - so glad to hear that mid week matinees are picking up and that the audiences are a bit more responsive! I can imagine this show is super hard to do when the crowd aren't feeling it.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jan 4, 2017 17:53:50 GMT
Just booked my ticket to Willemijn's second week back - cannot wait to see her Elphaba again. Been going to this show since the previews and this is the first lead Elphaba I'm excited about seeing since Idina.
24 shows left must be a crazy realisation moment for Rachel...having done 1500+ of them, to know she only has a handful left must really be hitting home to her now. The next couple of weeks will be really special for her I think. Not to mention the fact the rate from this contract probably means she won't need to work again for a while.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jan 4, 2017 1:32:50 GMT
Love to see this show sold out after the last 3 times I saw it being half empty...although if anyone has a spare ticket for Sunday come forward!
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jan 3, 2017 20:17:29 GMT
Wow. So soon! Hope to catch it this weekend then...
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jan 3, 2017 16:39:18 GMT
She's been out 2 weeks...jeeeez - I wouldn't be surprised at an announcement from the producers that she won't be coming back. Would be a shame! But I'm starting to get the vibes that this show is cursed....
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jan 3, 2017 16:34:36 GMT
^that really gets my goat. If you want to talk....don't go to the theatre... most expensive conversation EVER.
Does anyone know who's replacing Jenny Dinoia on Broadway? Pretty sure she signed a 9 month contract so would be leaving around April time..? I'm going to NY in June and won't go to see Wicked unless there is some exciting casting ie Jessica Vosk gets transferred from 2NT to Broadway or if Mamie Parris comes back.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jan 3, 2017 16:30:44 GMT
Sorry if this has been discussed recently - when is the show closing?? I have to see it again before it goes!
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Post by singularsensation10 on Dec 28, 2016 12:42:38 GMT
Give me a well sung to score Elphaba any day of the week over a riffed up performance, and I'm including Rachel in this who I have made no secret is my ultimate Elphaba but has been pulling riffs out all over the shop in her latest West End run. Don't get me wrong, they give me a thrill and they're executed very well but still, this score! It's amazing as it is! There's another opinion that is not right or wrong... This. I don't go to last/first shows anymore because I'm done with riffing and screaming. The score was written a certain way for a reason. I enjoy a riff when it affirms the emotion in a certain word - so for this reason I don't enjoy Rachel's performance this run as much as I did in her first run because, whilst her vocals and riffs are flawless this run, she doesn't (IMO) convey as much emotion as it feels like she's lost touch with the meaning/emotion in some of the score. People used to say that 'Willemijn is capable of riffing way more than she does on the west end because I saw her do a crazy riff in a concert version so she must be under instruction not to riff' - yes maybe but also it's worth considering that the riff might not feel part of her characters emotion. Give me a score-sung performance over a riff any day. Unless, of course, it's Shoshana Bean. Then I'll welcome a riff. [Also don't think she could sing it to score if she tried LOL]
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Post by singularsensation10 on Dec 10, 2016 18:14:30 GMT
Sorry if this has been mentioned but.... is it just me or were all of J-Huds songs put up a few semi tones??
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Post by singularsensation10 on Dec 9, 2016 16:56:08 GMT
Any word if Alice is on tonight? If I ring the box office do you think they'll tell me?
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Post by singularsensation10 on Dec 8, 2016 21:55:56 GMT
I love J-HUD and Ariana but I think they're toooooooooootally miscast.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Dec 8, 2016 21:54:40 GMT
Whoever wrote the article evidently doesn't have much experience of attending shows. Saying "it is virtually unheard of for four cast members to be struck down by illness at the same time" is ridiculous. I've seen a number of shows over the years where at least 4 members of the cast have been off sick out of a 30-odd person company so they have had to cut ensemble tracks because so many ensemble members have either been off themselves or covering for sick principals. Don't forget it's only, what, 3 weeks into previews. Why on EARTH would they have more than 3 Effies stage ready before the show has even been finalised? It's perfectly heard of for them all to be ill. Let's be honest- no Effie, no show.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Dec 8, 2016 21:48:26 GMT
Chances of Alice being on tomorrow (Friday)? I'm feeling a Wicked trip coming on but only if Alice is on....
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Post by singularsensation10 on Nov 26, 2016 18:01:54 GMT
I feel so rookie asking this question....but have they changed the lyrics in Wizard and I? I'm listening to the OBCR for the first time (literally - first time ever. Bootlegs....what?) and Idina sings "when we are hand in hand" but I could've sworn the lyric is "when we work hand in hand". I've seen the show 53 times and sung this song countless times in concerts....so the fact I don't know the answer to this question is freaking me out...
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Post by singularsensation10 on Nov 22, 2016 8:22:44 GMT
Helen Woolf will be on as Glinda tonight. I wonder if they have one of their other Nesa's back. Otherwise Lauren James Ray might have to go on. Love hearing about all this go on. I'm such an understudy geek. What a week for her though, after being in her ensemble track for ages, does a few shows as Nessa then on as Glinda!
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Post by singularsensation10 on Nov 10, 2016 10:03:15 GMT
I actually enjoyed the show tonight, more than I ever have. Loved Suzie - best Glinda I have ever seen live. Rachel was fine - I've seen her give better performances. I loved Katie as Nessa but the guy playing Boq was all wrong. It didn't seem like he was attracted to Glinda, it was more like he wanted to be Glinda. this is the most accurate description of the current cast. Especially the Boq comment.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Oct 29, 2016 20:14:13 GMT
Would love to hear the conversations James has with Rach with regard to riffing...
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Post by singularsensation10 on Oct 28, 2016 15:36:14 GMT
Seeing the announcement of Kara did surprise me especially after them bringing her back with Jennie as Elphaba. Seems to be a worldwide thing I suppose. A friend interviewed Stephen Schwartz at the 10th Anniversary and he said he 'hand picked' (in those words) Susie and Rachel for the 10th anniversary cast - they are certainly not a 'boring' casting choice. There is a big push at the minute so they need a really strong cast in for the 10th anniversary.
Did anyone get to see Alice last night??
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Post by singularsensation10 on Oct 22, 2016 20:59:52 GMT
Does the show itself get discussed anywhere, or is this "who's playing who" thread the only forum for it? If you want to discuss just tell us what you want to discuss and we'll discuss Personally, I think the midwife needs a bigger part. I just LOLed. Recused - what would you like to see us chat about? A few pages ago there was a chat about the melting scene and why when Elphaba melts does Dorothy not see her go down a trapdoor - and if her magic was real why would she need a trapdoor etc.... is it this kind of chat you would like to see? I'm sure we could all go for a few pages about the legtitimacy of the magic in the story. Not gonna lie, one of the main reasons I come here is to see if there's any cast news, i.e. When Alice is on etc. Personally, I don't think the midwife comment got enough air time. Seems to be a running theme for her....
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Post by singularsensation10 on Oct 19, 2016 15:08:23 GMT
At the show this afternoon - interval thoughts are that Rachel sounds like she's having a rough time this afternoon. A strong Defying Gravity as always (no riffs - just the way I like it) but I've found with Rach when she's sick it's usually her lower register that goes first and that seems to be the case today.
Susie is still a joy and settling into the company really well - every time she is on stage there is an electric presence and she is the best recieved by the audience. I think this has something to do with her steady delivery. The rest of the cast seem to deliver far too quickly but she has a great pace.
One question- what has happened to Anita? LOVED her in her first week but today she looks bored, and has thrown all her lines away. Sad face.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Oct 17, 2016 20:24:39 GMT
Although they're not hugely demanding roles, and they could even have one person play both roles. This happened loads in the Stoller days. DillaWiz shows used to bring me with such joy, nobody rocked it quite like David Stoller. Think they did it permanently on the UK tour, too. Always thought it could be a really great way to show the two prominent male figures in Elphabas grown up life, both played by the same guy. But that may be too GCSE Drama of me!!
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Post by singularsensation10 on Oct 16, 2016 21:22:56 GMT
There is a new audio of Rachel from yesterdays matinee on YouTube. Now, call me boring, but she sings Defying Gravity with minimal riffs and my god it sounds fantastic. Elphaba's riff so much these days that when they go back to basics it just sounds so refreshing. I know riffs are loved by fans of Wicked but really, the score just doesn't need them, it's so powerful as it is. THIS. 1000000%. Of course this person recorded Rachel's first show back after Alice being in for 3 shows...and not any of the 3 previous. I wanna hear Alice!!!
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Post by singularsensation10 on Oct 12, 2016 15:19:59 GMT
Alice Fearn is on for both shows today This excites me but also upsets me as I have booked a ticket for next Wednesday matinee on the off chance Alice would be on... looks like I'm one week late! Hopefully she'll be on again next week?
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Post by singularsensation10 on Oct 11, 2016 9:27:41 GMT
Tone of their voices. Roles they played before - Rachel John, Rachael Wooding, Sabrina Aloueche, Lauren Varnham, Amanda Coutts and Lauren Samuels have all played and/or understudied Scaramouche and/or Meat in WWRY and remember, both Kerry Ellis and Rachel Tucker were former Meats -, Age. re Rebecca Trehearn: I'm not 100% sure myself either, which is why I've put a '?' behind her name. I don't think she's ever publicly sung a song from Wicked so I'm sure if her voice suits Elphaba, but, as you, she's one of my all-time favourite West End performers and I'd love to see her give it a go. Purely out of interest: Who would you cast? Totally get the justification now. Personally I'd love to see Lauren Samuels give it a go, and think both Jenna Lee James and Jodie Jacobs could sing the nuts off the score, although they're probably just outside the casting bracket now (in the nicest possible way)....
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Post by singularsensation10 on Oct 10, 2016 19:11:17 GMT
I mean, even I can easily come up with ten ladies who are more than qualified. After thinking about it for a bit: Rachel John, Rachael Wooding, Sabrina Aloueche, Lauren Varnham, Cynthia Erivo, Sam Barks, Danielle Hope, Lauren Samuels, Rebecca Trehearn (?), Natalie Dew (maybe as s/b?), Faye Brookes (?), Amanda Coutts The producer's and/or casting director's list must be even longer... On what grounds for these names? Not saying I disagree, just genuinely interested in what has made you come up with these names. I love most of these ladies and they are all extremely talented but I personally think all of these (except Lauren Samuels) are not right for Elphaba. Elphaba needs to be naive yet mature, spunky yet timid.. Rebecca Trehearn is one of my all time favourite west end actresses but is, IMO, not right for Elphaba.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Oct 3, 2016 19:22:18 GMT
^exactly. It's really not helping anyone. If people are booking JUST to see Rach or Suzie, and they book during their holiday week because there was no announcement then that's pretty unfortunate (I know they take shows off here and there but that can't be helped). Equally, a lot of us want to see Alice and we'd book based on when she's on - so really they're just stopping us from booking a ticket. Makes it so much harder to get exited about the new understudies. Who is it helping? What is the purpose?
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Post by singularsensation10 on Oct 1, 2016 19:23:35 GMT
Likely to be an unpopular opinion but I would LOVE to see Cassidy Janson come back as full time Elphaba. She's been smashing reviews in Beautiful, and I think now more so than her original run she could bring that maturity that the UK producers seem to favour at the moment. Her, or Caissie Levy! She's a London favourite and hasn't played it here yet.
The reason they're so reluctant to get someone fresh in could well be because it's such a demanding role it could go terribly wrong, as it has done for so many actresses. They'd have to have a solid standby in place if they did bring someone brand new in. Thinking about how it panned out for Caissie in the LA production, for Nikki on tour, even for Willemijn during her first run - this role seems to either make you or break you and the producers are quite right to stay with someone who has proven to possess the ability to be consistent.
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