Wicked - New UK and Ireland Tour (2018)

I always thought a bad/arrogant Fiyero was how it should be.

He waltzes in there implying he has been kicked out of so many schools and he has a "scandalacious" reputation but there's really no indication as to why that was the case. He's pretty much an exemplary pupil from the start. Unless schools in Shiz expel pupils for throwing exercise books around?!

Back from a fab evening, the show on tour is fresh. The audience were really good and there were so many laughs, they really picked up on the comedy (thanks to Helen “Glinda” Woolf!

The ensemble deserve a mention as they were on it, tight with great choreography and lovely characterisation they all bring in their various disguises... little mannerisms and touches which added to the show, possibly more than I’ve seen the London cast do. I really miss London though in terms of scale, the theatre in Zurich is tiny in comparison and whilst it’s a cut down cast, the stage felt really small compared to other touring venues.

Of the main cast I really enjoyed Iddon’s Boq much more than I remember from Bradford, especially in Dancing Through Life he kept looking over at Glinda and you could feel his heart ache as he was singing with Nessa and hurting at Glinda’s rejection, I’ve not seen a Boq play to that emotion before.

Steven Pinder fell foul of the usual Wizard issues when you’ve played the role for so long... lazy... specifically in the choreography, in Wonderful his timing of the “comedy” moments such as the leg kick and the bended legs were off and when done right they add a great bit of humour to the role.

Aaron Sidwell plays a bad boy Fieyro which is very different to the public school boy types we’ve had so often in London - I really enjoyed his acting and Fieyro came over as slightly arrogant and cock-sure and he’s a great casting in the role. His singing wasn’t the greatest but I think I’m being unfairly critical comparing him to Bradley in London - where Bradley’s voice is massive, Aaron sounds quite meek and not very powerful but actually he plays the role fine, I’m looking forward to a Code Jodhpur and catching Ben Yates!

Kim Ismay IS Morrible. Sarcastic and devious, her acting is amazing and she sings the role as it should be - she became my firm favourite in Bradford and that hasn’t changed seeing her today, so many mannerisms in her performance she brings the evil and I love her.

Amy as Elphaba acts the hell out of the role and is definitely straight into my top 5, but being brutally honest there’s a lack of power in her singing. Amy has the ability to sock it to you and her NGD was the best of the “big three” but when you want a belt it feels like she holds back. Amy has a lovely clear voice and is very similar to NDJ, the acting draws you in and you feel the vulnerability crossed with the evil/menace in act 2. When there’s a build up such as pre-flight in DG “it’s meeeee” you get it, but then she holds back and notes are cut short. I don’t know if it’s a conscious choice to build stamina slowly but for Joe Public they’ll know no difference, there were riffs such as “things I’ve never felt” so Amy is thinking about making it her own, it just lacks a bit of oomph!! This isn’t like with me comparing Aaron to Bradley, Amy just didn’t show any real power tonight which is fine for the average going public, but I fear she won’t become a firm fan favourite in the league of the Tuckers/Hughes/Verkaik fans (me included) who love a power belter! The storytelling alone though sticks her in my top 5, she was great, very different (and really fresh!) to what we’ve had in London lately.

The standout of the night though undoubtedly is Helen Woolf. WOW! I didn’t want to expect too much after hearing such great things and end up disappointed but boy was her Glinda outstanding! Beautiful soprano, perfect comedy that has the audience lapping it up and acting like I’ve not seen from a Glinda. Every line was considered and delivered for maximum effect. If Helen doesn’t transfer to London after this I don’t know what the casting people want - hands down the best Glinda I’ve seen, she wasn’t posh school girl, she had a ditsy side and just in Dancing Through Life Helen took you from bitchy with the hat to caring at the end. Amazing!

I chatted with Amy, Helen and Kim at stage door when the rain stopped and they’re so lovely, Amy joked I needed to see tomorrow’s show as Nikki is amazing, but said that Nikki will get scheduled shows in the UK too which is good I think for Amy - although that then doesn’t explain if/why she was holding back as she won’t be doing 8 shows a week. Helen joked she doesn’t get a show off as there’s no Standby!

The show is in great hands with this cast and I’m looking forward to getting to Bristol to see them again in January.

That review from welsh_tenor makes me so excited to see the cast when they reach Bristol. Glad to see Helen didn't disappoint after being hyped up as this is what I was also fearing. Also I'm pleased that it looks like Nikki will be getting scheduled shows throughout the tour, I'll be sure to catch of of her shows before they leave Bristol.

This will be my first Wicked cast, I was so worried up until now 😂

Nikki Bentley was on as Elphaba for both shows yesterday (2nd December, 2017). The matinee performance was also a no fly show!

Oh my

Nikki Bentley was on as Elphaba for both shows yesterday (9th December, 2017)

I hope you find it truly wonderful! Do let us know what you get in terms of riffs, jazz hands, and optional high notes.

Thought I'd point this out... Nessa is usually one of four in the show without a wig. Cover run in Zurich and they've got Grace Chapman wearing a long, brunette wig. (See tweet)




I'd think she'd be well fine without it. 

Understandable. Only brought this up because the wig seems to not fit her. Not in a technical way, but more of a character way. Loose comparison, but from what I can gather from photos, it seems that Jillian Butler (former US Tour) and Grace share similar hair lengths. From this photo, it appears that Jillian got extensions put in when she went on for Nessa rather than an entire wig. Maybe I'm being a bit over critical, but I think extensions look far better than a wig whenever the option is available. 

It's crazy to think that it's already the tours final week in Zurich, the cast will be performing in the UK before long!