The Ongoing Wicked Discussion Thread

I thought Alexia was SENSATIONAL tonight - the most I've enjoyed an Elphaba since the Wicked 10th anniversary years of Tucker and Verkaik - it's such a brilliant portrayal.

Lucy doesn't quite work for me, for the simple reason she isn't funny.
Her act 2 was lovely and she's definitely a Thank Goodness Glinda, but Alexia got more laughs in Popular than Lucy did and that's an issue.

Ryan is hopeless as per.
Sophie Louise Dann is an icon.

Ha yes.

The British way of doing Glinda just so rarely works (Dianne Pilkington really being the only one who completely nailed it) - the US version of Glinda is just so much better

The act 1 characterisation is pretty different, Popular being a definite change .. the US Glindas take the campy, American, excitable cheer valley girl vibe and run with it which imo hugely helps the comedic bits throughout the show. The energy is all the way up there compared to some UK Glinda’s who are excitable but arguably just too prim and proper as they dance about haha

Nothing more awkward than a Glinda who isn’t funny

I can see that but I’ve seen some American actresses playing Glinda over the years, who were on par with Lucy’s characterization, so I didn’t really notice. But now it’s something I’ll always be on the lookout for

I was shocked when I saw the show on Broadway and realised how funny Glinda can actually be throughout the show? Amanda Jane Cooper had me in hysterics throughout. It's a pity UK Glindas aren't allowed to reach those same heights.

Ross Harmon and Fergus Dale

Long time lurker, first time poster 
Funny how opinions diverge!

Personally, from the videos I've seen online, I've always found US Glindas to be a bit just... too much.
"Popular" in particular is too over the top, too ditzy.

While the few (only four) times I've seen it in London, I definitely appreaciated a more "grounded" approach to Glinda... while still thinking the jokes landed.

It had two excellent Glindas in Louise Dearman & Gina Beck but the slide seems to have started after them. I can’t even remember who I saw opposite Lucie Jones, other than Ryan Reid’s plodding Fiyero, but it was very dull.

I saw this again for Lucie's final show and thought Ryan was okay, he did seem to struggle a little with the big notes though. Anyone who's seen either of Ryan's understudies, how were they?

Also I don't know if it's just me, but even though Lucie and Ryan were both decent actors, I just didn't believe them that they were in love - I'm a sucker for romance but it felt a bit tacked on, like the writer thought that Elphaba needed a love interest, when the story would probably still work just as well with them just being close friends. So more of a criticism of the musical itself than the performances!

I think the Elphaba/Fiyero romance is also there to set up Elphaba and Glinda falling out, more so than just Glinda not being brave enough to rebel with Elphaba.

I went tonight to see the new cast, and I have to say I was VERY impressed. Best visit I’ve had in the past few years. Alexia and Lucy are both absolutely sublime vocally, I think they’re still settling in a bit maybe and both had the odd moment where something wasn’t quite perfect but overall - wowza. And I found their chemistry and relationship fine, even had a tiny tear in my eye in the last verse of For Good. And Lucy was definitely up there in Glindas for me. I thought she’d be too straight laced after seeing her Christine Daae, but no, she bought the fun too.

Ryan Reid, yeah, I liked him better today than before, but still, I think he just plays it too simple, there’s no twinkle in his eye, he’s a great dancer but his vocals are just ok. I also felt he looked about twice the age of every other student at Shiz from my closer up view from the second row today!

But I definitely rated the new leads and would recommend people to see the show again now, whereas last year I hesitated to do so after seeing lacklustre performances.