5,189 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Sept 6, 2023 22:49:24 GMT
Sarah O’Connor as Glinda and Casey Al-Shaqsy as a standby or Morrible it seems Standby but otherwise yup |
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Post by danb on Sept 7, 2023 5:34:55 GMT
Is Mel Lebarrie still in ‘& Juliet’ on Bway? She would have a similar ‘shape’ to Mel B? I haven’t seen the clue silhouettes, but know that she has similar shaped hair.
Edit: she is. Not her then.
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Post by jacob on Sept 7, 2023 9:02:58 GMT
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1,933 posts
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Post by LaLuPone on Sept 7, 2023 9:18:48 GMT
I’ve been a fan of Sarah O’Connor ever since she stole the show as the Mistress in the 2017 go-around of the Evita tour, and she was neck and neck with Sara Bareilles for me as the best Jenna of the UK productions, but I’ve never seen her as being a Glinda. Interested to see what she brings to it!
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Sept 7, 2023 9:52:28 GMT
I have no interest in the tour but what I will say; Megan Gardiner was stunning in Allegiance!
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487 posts
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Post by deej4life on Sept 7, 2023 10:17:37 GMT
Elphaba: Laura Pick
Glinda: Sarah O' Connor
Fiyero: Carl Man
Wizard/Dillamond: Simeon Truby
Madame Morrible: Donna Berlin
Nessarose: Megan Gardiner
Boq: Jed Berry
Elphaba standby: Casey Al-Shaqsy
***
Elphaba understudies: Maddison Firth, Jade Davies
Glinda understudies: Megan Gardiner, Lydia Gerrard
Fiyero understudies: Russel Dickson, Frazer Woolcott
Wizard/Dillamond understudies: Adam Stickler, James Gower-Smith
Madame Morrible understudies: Julie Cloke, Georgia McElwee
Nessarose understudies: Maddison Firth, Stephanie Lindo
Boq understudies: Conor O' Hara, Nick Len
***
There is no confirmation so far of who is first and second understudy for each role.
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Post by backtothetheatre on Sept 7, 2023 11:37:55 GMT
Is there not normally a standby for Glinda on tour?
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1,933 posts
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Post by LaLuPone on Sept 7, 2023 11:40:36 GMT
Is there not normally a standby for Glinda on tour? No there doesn’t tend to be, and usually whoever plays Nessarose is also a Glinda cover, which is the case again here. |
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Post by musicalfan on Sept 7, 2023 12:26:47 GMT
Elphaba: Laura Pick Glinda: Sarah O' Connor Fiyero: Carl Man Wizard/Dillamond: Simeon Truby Madame Morrible: Donna Berlin Nessarose: Megan Gardiner Boq: Jed Berry Elphaba standby: Casey Al-Shaqsy *** Elphaba understudies: Maddison Firth, Jade Davies Glinda understudies: Megan Gardiner, Lydia Gerrard Fiyero understudies: Russel Dickson, Frazer Woolcott Wizard/Dillamond understudies: Adam Stickler, James Gower-Smith Madame Morrible understudies: Julie Cloke, Georgia McElwee Nessarose understudies: Maddison Firth, Stephanie Lindo Boq understudies: Conor O' Hara, Nick Len *** There is no confirmation so far of who is first and second understudy for each role. Maddison Firth 1st Cover Elphaba / 2nd Cover Nessa Jade Davies - 2nd Cover Elphaba Stephanie Lindo - 1st Cover Nessa Megan Gardiner - 1st Cover Glinda Lydia Gerrard - 2nd Cover Glinda Russel Dickson - 1st Cover Fiyero Frazer Woolcott 2nd Cover Fiyero |
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487 posts
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Post by deej4life on Nov 2, 2023 3:18:57 GMT
The cast began their rehearsals on Monday, with press shots taken on Tuesday. Excited to see what promo shots are released in the coming weeks!
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Post by aingidh on Nov 7, 2023 15:06:43 GMT
Due to injury, Jed Berry will be joining the tour slightly later on. Boq is being played by Daniel Hope in his absence.
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487 posts
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Post by deej4life on Nov 17, 2023 14:27:15 GMT
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Post by aingidh on Dec 7, 2023 13:58:46 GMT
Opening tonight in Edinburgh and is more or less sold out apart from 2 tickets in the stalls and 4 in the balcony. Should be a great atmosphere and am very excited!
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Post by jacob on Dec 7, 2023 20:18:07 GMT
Opening tonight in Edinburgh and is more or less sold out apart from 2 tickets in the stalls and 4 in the balcony. Should be a great atmosphere and am very excited! Enjoy and please report back!! sorry in advance for the person I’m about to become when this opens in Bristol too  |
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Post by danb on Dec 7, 2023 20:20:29 GMT
Opening tonight in Edinburgh and is more or less sold out apart from 2 tickets in the stalls and 4 in the balcony. Should be a great atmosphere and am very excited! Enjoy and please report back!! sorry in advance for the person I’m about to become when this opens in Bristol too I haven’t booked yet for Bristol but have some renewed faith that the new tour cast might be the breath of fresh air this needs. |
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19,793 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 7, 2023 20:42:18 GMT
I’m booked for Manc. I expect it to be on its absolute arse by then to be honest.
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487 posts
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Post by deej4life on Dec 7, 2023 23:43:28 GMT
Just back from seeing the opening night of the tour, having last seen the show in 2018!
The energy in the audience was amazing, with entrance applause for Elphaba and large applause after all the main songs of the show.
Laura Pick (Elphaba): Acting wise, Laura is a really strong and well-rounded Elphaba. She had many unique choices throughout the show, and her facial expressions were always on point. You could tell there was a certain level of nerves there, but really well acted. In particular, her acting in No Good Deed was a highlight. Where I did feel a bit underwhelmed was her vocals. Having listened to bootlegs of Laura in London, I expected a similar showing with some flashy riffs and sustained notes. Unfortunately she was cutting some of the money notes short, and her belting wasn't particularly strong. Perhaps it was just nerves, but I'm hoping as time goes by she will show more power in her vocals.
Sarah O'Connor (Glinda): Very excited to see our first Irish Glinda. She is probably the most beautiful Glinda I have ever seen, she looked absolutely perfect in the role. Sarah had a lovely, clear soprano, and had decent power vocally on some of the beltier parts in Popular and Thank Goodness. Acting wise, I feel Sarah has a long way to go. Her performance throughout often felt quite "awkward" for lack of a better term. I imagine this was due to nerves, but several comedic moments were completely missed by her. Hopefully as the tour continues, she will find her footing more and tap into the comedy that the role requires.
Carl Man (Fiyero). A new favourite of mine. Carl has the perfect look for Fiyero, the attitude and the swagger. He absolutely smashed his lead debut, and gave a very well layered performance. Vocally he was fabulous, with clean belting and a few nice riffs to liven up the score.
Simeon Truby (Wizard/Dillamond): Simeon gave a really strong performance as Dillamond. It's a very "eh" role to play, but Simeon did a lot with it and I really enjoyed his take. His Wizard was also quite enjoyable, and he made Wonderful a nice experience to watch.
Donna Berlin (Madame Morrible): Donna had some nice acting choices throughout, but I didn't find anything particularly standout about the performance. Solid and enjoyable to watch for sure, but there is a lot of room for growth.
Daniel Hope (e/c Boq): Daniel was brilliant as Boq. It's another role where you don't really expect much, but Daniel gave a really unique take that made him stand out. Props to him for using his Geordie accent also, it was very charming for Boq.
Megan Gardiner (Nessarose): Megan gave a solid debut performance as Nessa. Quite a different take on Nessa, with her Act 1 performance in particular being a lot kinder than others who play the role. I'm excited to see how she develops as the tour goes on.
I'll be back seeing the show again on Friday and Saturday, so I'll be sure to add some updates if anyone is interested!
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Post by aingidh on Dec 7, 2023 23:50:57 GMT
Some thoughts from me on the first preview. Keep in mind that this is their first performance as a cast, so they will absolutely grow into the show. And based on what I saw tonight that'll take no time at all.
Starting with Laura, she was always incredible as Elphaba. Powerful vocals, gets the laughs, and is very reliable. A quick rehearsal period has allowed her to develop even more with some lovely acting choices that I hadn't seen from her. Vocally she was spot on. The big three songs were sung to score and very powerfully might I add. The audience loved her from start to finish.
As Sarah is brand new to the show I think she just needs time to develop in the role. Act 1 I was a little unsure on her but she really came into her own in act 2 with Thank Goodness being her strongest number. If I could say which Glinda she reminds me of I'd probably say Lisa-Anne Wood or Sophie Evans. But still - a very solid debut and lovely to have some new blood in the role.
Carl has always been an excellent Fiyero, very charismatic, cheeky and has a lovely voice. I don't really have too much to add having seen him previously. An excellent and deserved return.
Donna Berlin as Madame Morrible was probably my overall highlight of the show, she stole every single scene she was in and is an absolutely wonderful actress. Whether that was through her sassy and menacing line delivery, or little subtle scowls/smirks/huffs in the background of scenes, she was always on the ball. Of the two baddies I definitelu got the vibe that she was the one in control. She truly terrified some kids (and adults!) around me in her speech pre-DG!!
Simeon Truby as Wizardmond is probably as perfect as you can get in both roles, he's been doing the show for years so it's clear he knows his stuff and really has fun with it.. Again, not much to add having seen him so much in London but it's always lovely seeing him onstage.
Daniel Hope as Boq was so endearing and naive, and I absolutely love how he's kept his Geordie accent. A welcome return to the show, but obviously I wish Jed Berry a speedy recovery from his injury. He worked well with Megan Gardiner as Nessa, she is quite a timid/quiet Nessa in act 1 but really lifts the lid on her rage and lets it all boil over in act 2, WWOTE was a highlight for me. I'd be very intrigued to see her Glinda as I know she is 1st cover, and she has a lovely soprano voice which really shone through.
Visually it's the same (I think) set as the previous tours, nothing has been scaled back. A few differences from London include: no trapdoor for No Good Deed/the melting; no bridge for I'm Not That Girl; no staircases at the side. Staircases are replaced with either entering/exiting via the wings, or the Thank Goodness platform which is used for Glinda and Morrible's bit in Witch Hunters and Morrible's bit in DG. The reveal of Elphaba after her "melting" takes place through a well set piece which is slid onstage before For Good. Sound was spot on, really filled the cavernous Edinburgh Playhouse auditorium. Noticed a few subtle differences with lighting but nothing too drastic.
I think that's all! Overall a very strong first preview imo!
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Post by lilgirlbigcity on Dec 8, 2023 18:40:11 GMT
. Daniel Hope as Boq was so endearing and naive, and I absolutely love how he's kept his Geordie accent. A welcome return to the show, but obviously I wish Jed Berry a speedy recovery from his injury. Me too as Daniel is my massage therapist and I'm missing his lovely Geordie tones as he shoves his elbow in my back!! |
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5,189 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Dec 8, 2023 20:32:59 GMT
Sort of remarkable just how differently Laura is singing the score to her time in London actually.
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Post by danb on Dec 8, 2023 21:27:13 GMT
Perhaps she doesn’t want to knacker her voice by over-singing it like so many others have?
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487 posts
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Post by deej4life on Dec 9, 2023 16:03:43 GMT
Casey Al-Shaqsy is making her Elphaba debut at the matinee performance today (9th December, 2023).
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Post by aingidh on Dec 9, 2023 16:32:09 GMT
I work across the road from the Playhouse, gutted that I couldn't make it to see Casey.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2023 17:57:48 GMT
Chuffed Carl is headlining as Fiyero. Saw him in multiple roles in &Juliet, has the chops and charm to go far.
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130 posts
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Post by sb on Dec 9, 2023 20:01:42 GMT
Megan Gardiner will debut as Glinda tonight. Due to this, Stephanie Lindo will also debut as Nessarose.
They certainly seem to be getting the cast to perform in their understudy and standby roles early on!
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