The Ongoing Wicked Discussion Thread

Thank you deej4life for your dedication to #Elphawatch #whichwitch #hereslucy #whereslucie

She is on holiday Tuesday 17th January so won't be doing that one.

Amy Elphaba tonight, god this is so bad! Lucie’s definitely missed more shows than she’s done

As much as we jest about Lucie’s absences surely this will be getting noted? She cannot sustain a full week of performances and as much as she is lovely and has a great voice that has to be a huge red flag to producers doesn’t it?,

I've been to Wicked a lot since moving to London, and I've seen all the Elphaba's in this cast, but I've still seen Lucie the most .

When I went back in September, Laura Pick was on emergency standby as Lucie was the only Elphaba in the building that whole week. My friend saw her dog and ran over to her, It took me a min to realise it was her as I was to busy making sure my friend didn't get hit by a car running over Wilton Road. Anyway I said I only ever saw her act 2 when she was standby and I'm gutted I never saw her act . She joked saying I probably never will . Exactly a week later it came up on west end understudies she was on that evening. I ended up going that evening and she was amazing.

Aimee Fisher has returned to Wicked today to play the role of Nessa for both shows. Laura Harrison is also on as Elphaba for both shows! (7th January, 2023).

It seems the winter bugs have really knocked out the cast!

Okay, so has Amy ever held out for more than a couple of shows without Laura having to step in? Between Elphaba and Nessa, Laura is indisputably the MVP of this cast.

It makes total sense that they didn't renew Lucie, but like I've said before - I think the real story here is the Elphaba standby/Nessarose situation. 2nd cover Laura has to go on for Nessa all the time, Rebecca Gilliland has had to come back multiple times from a year ago, now Aimee Fisher has had to come back from three and a half years ago, and that's not to speak to the constant performances of Grace Chapman and Maggie Lynne in the role. It's a bit wild! And I still find myself in shock that Amy is returning as standby for another year when, statistically speaking, she's only done half the shows that were available to her and consistently demonstrates that Laura has to step in within a couple of shows. In all of Wicked's history, has there ever been a more unreliable standby? Absolutely baffling that they're bringing her back.

And I know some have said that it's about the show and it's not about the performers and Lucie's name is not above the title... but the reality is that the show chose to promote her joining the cast a year ago as if she is. It may not be Lucie Jones in Wicked in name, but it was Lucie Jones in Wicked in practice. Even if that weren't the case, audiences are owed a strong show for the money they are paying. A stable cast is a consistent cast is a strong cast, and this is not a stable cast on a number of fronts. No matter who is playing the roles, when you have leads and standbys who are only on 1/2 to 2/3 of the time and are constantly having to rotate swings and covers and going back to the bench of past performers from as long as three and a half years ago and throwing people together who've never had the chance to figure out their show together... you're really gambling with the quality of the show. On the bright side, though, I guess congratulations to the first cover Elphaba in the next cast since she'll likely be the one on any time Alexia calls out.

To be fair, Natalie A was way more consistent than Lucie

my partner and her son are going today. wonder who they will get, it's his first west end experience

Lucie is on today (Sunday 8th January)

The vast majority of audience members have no idea who is on, and probably don't care