101 posts
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Post by filendile on Nov 7, 2021 15:13:10 GMT
I saw the matinee yesterday. Got a great stalls seat for £29 on todaytix. The orchestra/band has never sounded better, I was really impressed. I have mixed opinions on the cast. Great vocals but didn't love the acting, especially Morrible.
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Post by jacob on Nov 8, 2021 21:10:12 GMT
I saw the matinee yesterday. Got a great stalls seat for £29 on todaytix. The orchestra/band has never sounded better, I was really impressed. I have mixed opinions on the cast. Great vocals but didn't love the acting, especially Morrible. a slight shame, I’ve always enjoyed Kim’s Morrible (on the tour she was great)..can only assume she’s getting tired of it all now Back again this weekend after having seen the show on Bway before lockdown, will be nice to see Sophie performing as I missed her first run:) Scott is scheduled on for Boq, also Mikey as Fiyero .. v excited |
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4,024 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 9, 2021 20:22:50 GMT
Edward Seckerson has interviewed Stephen Schawartz www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/sights-sounds/ (second section down). While of course the interview is intersting, I also found the snippets of the OCR that are included interesting. I don't think I've listened to the OCR since I first saw the show live at the end of 2006. I'd forgotten how many lines in Defying Gravity Idina Menzel actually sings that so many subsequent Elphabas I've heard either shout or growl. I'd forgotten that "To those who'd ground me" actually has proper notes! |
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4,798 posts
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Post by Mark on Nov 10, 2021 11:38:35 GMT
I enjoyed this again last night for what was my 10th visit. Laura Pick is an excellent Elphaba, I had seen her back in 2019 when she was standby Elphaba and I wasn't disappointed again tonight. Sophie Evans as Glinda was good, but didn't quite bring as much comedy as i've seen from other Glindas. Was not a fan of Alister Brammer as Fiyero. His vocals were good, but my friend and I both found his dancing to be incredibly weak and awkward. As Long As Your Mine was the most boring 3 minutes of the whole show for me - I was zoning out.
The Emsemble - really excellent. You can tell from the front row how much they put into it and they sound fantastic.
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Post by inthenose on Nov 10, 2021 17:41:13 GMT
Edward Seckerson has interviewed Stephen Schawartz www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/sights-sounds/ (second section down). While of course the interview is intersting, I also found the snippets of the OCR that are included interesting. I don't think I've listened to the OCR since I first saw the show live at the end of 2006. I'd forgotten how many lines in Defying Gravity Idina Menzel actually sings that so many subsequent Elphabas I've heard either shout or growl. I'd forgotten that "To those who'd ground me" actually has proper notes! Idina was phenomenal. As always happens, people come along after and new generations find the show, and always believe "their" Elphaba, Valjean, Phantom, etc etc is the best. They often (not always) haven't actually seen the performer who originated the role. The original performer goes through the process of creating the character in the rehearsal room, often giving a lot of input and adding touches which then become stage directions, which are recreated for decades to come. In Idina's case it really doesn't help that the cast recording isn't the best - and she has given some dreadful performances on YouTube at other events (the Tony's in particular). For me Idina WAS Elphaba, the only performer I've seen come close on either Broadway or the West End was Jennifer DiNoia, but she was saddled with a poor cast around her. Idina was absolutely electric live, you felt you were watching the perfect performer in her perfect role at exactly the perfect time when the West End needed it. |
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2,418 posts
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Post by robertb213 on Nov 10, 2021 18:42:08 GMT
I saw Idina as my first Elphaba, and for that she'll always be special and important. But as the years have gone on, I feel others have surpassed her. Idina didn't always hit the big notes, she doesn't have great breath control (the last 90 seconds of Defying Gravity on the cast recording sadly illustrate this), she can't do the low notes (I.e the end of I'm Not That Girl) and she puts strange L-sounds where there aren't any.
She was a great blueprint, but for me, Rachel Tucker was the complete package. Assured, controlled, full of emotion, and money notes every time.
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190 posts
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Post by tsxmitw on Nov 10, 2021 20:28:12 GMT
The orchestra sounds great at the moment - rich, loud, full of energy.
Is there a new MD?
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Post by danb on Nov 10, 2021 20:55:57 GMT
This is very true. Only Kerry Ellis the first time round has even come close. It was all wrapped up in the excitement of seeing that original cast in their first few weeks and Idina did indeed smash it.
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Post by jacob on Nov 13, 2021 20:28:28 GMT
saw the matinee earlier, can easily agree on the orchestra comments:) some moments were a little out of time, but that’s understandable Cast was enjoyable, Laura is immaculate!! Sophie is no doubt one of the most beautiful Glindas, however line delivery sadly wasn’t my favourite.. Mikey was decent, Scott making a veryyy cute Boq too  ..the lisp 😩 |
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Post by Negamuse on Nov 14, 2021 12:03:39 GMT
No non white Glindas at all that I can remember. Two Fiyero covers. It really is not good enough by any stretch of the imagination but it goes way beyond colour. Why should pretty much everyone in the ensemble apart from a couple of tracks be very thin when there is no reason to be for plot purposes. Just back to this comment, to say Brittney Johnson looked absolutely stunning as Glinda. Although your point is basically right, it *should* be way more diverse, not just the occasional outlier. I did notice the current London cast has some slightly more varied body shapes in the ensemble and it was very welcome to see. As others have noted, it's sounding the best it has in a while at the moment, I think everybody is still riding the wave of happy to be back! |
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491 posts
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Post by djdan14 on Nov 17, 2021 11:03:21 GMT
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544 posts
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Post by amp09 on Nov 17, 2021 11:10:28 GMT
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1,929 posts
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Post by LaLuPone on Nov 17, 2021 11:14:52 GMT
Awesome! I hate that Lucie and Sophie will just miss each other though seeing as they’re both Welsh and close friends in real life, that would have been magic!
I thought Sophie-Louise Dann was Charity Shop Sue from glancing at her head shot! That would have been interesting casting…
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Post by jacob on Nov 17, 2021 11:20:31 GMT
Unbelievably excited, Lucie and Helen sounds like the dream pair
a black Fiyero too was very much needed, looking forward to seeing Ryan!!
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299 posts
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Post by bengal73 on Nov 17, 2021 11:29:31 GMT
Very happy with this casting news
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1,929 posts
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Post by LaLuPone on Nov 17, 2021 11:43:30 GMT
Must admit it’s going to be funny when 30 year old Lucie Jones has to point to 40 year old mother of two Carina Gillespie and say “this is my younger sister Nessarose”  |
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101 posts
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Post by filendile on Nov 17, 2021 11:52:58 GMT
I'm excited to see Lucie, I think she'll be great. This could be her ticket to Broadway if things work out.
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Post by Negamuse on Nov 17, 2021 11:53:38 GMT
Gary Wilmot as the wizard! Wow. Haven't thought about him in a long while. I remember when Mark Curry was cast and thinking "surely not THAT Mark Curry? Oh!"
Looks like an exciting cast, good to see Helen Woolf coming back too.
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Post by isabel on Nov 17, 2021 14:07:36 GMT
Exciting to see how Lucie is as Elphaba.
I am happy they have given someone new a chance in this role
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Post by danb on Nov 17, 2021 14:15:26 GMT
This had better be the ‘…and finally’ story on the national news tonight. It’s been years and years.
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883 posts
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Post by longinthetooth on Nov 17, 2021 16:58:53 GMT
Really pleased Lucie has her chance to fly at last.
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Post by aingidh on Nov 17, 2021 21:14:00 GMT
Very pleased about Lucie’s casting and the diverse casting in the ensemble. Sad to see Kim Ismay go, she’s been fantastic over the years but it’s time for the show to be refreshed and this new cast will do that immensely.
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1,046 posts
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Post by jgblunners on Nov 17, 2021 21:28:23 GMT
This is excellent news - in my opinion, the perfect time in Lucie’s career. I’m sure she’ll smash it out of the park. Also excellent choices in Sophie-Louise Dann and Gary Wilmot- hopefully they can bring some good old-fashioned classy musical theatre performances and re-invigorate those roles a bit. And of course wonderful to see a man of colour as Fiyero.
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130 posts
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Post by sb on Nov 18, 2021 8:08:25 GMT
I am really pleased with this casting, it’s perfect! Lucie and Helen as leads and Amy and Charli staying on as standbys.
The diversity Wicked aimed for is certainly present too which is excellent.
This also means recent casting has introduced four brand new actresses to the show playing Elphaba (on Broadway x2, US Tour and now the West End) … that is something I never thought I would say!!
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2,393 posts
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Post by theatreian on Nov 18, 2021 8:56:43 GMT
Just miss the new casting as I am seeing it on Saturday 29th January before Taboo on the Sunday, would have liked to see Lucie too, oh well never mind!
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..the lisp 😩
