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Post by singularsensation10 on Mar 5, 2024 22:56:40 GMT
There was a period of 9 weeks straight where Alexia didn’t miss a single show. She must have sustained an injury or something which means she is unable to do the show, she must be waiting until she is 100% before she does return..
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Post by singularsensation10 on Feb 29, 2024 17:52:45 GMT
Christine has been confirmed to stay as maternity standby Glinda, and also Jessica Aubrey has been added on as an additional cover for Elphaba. This should hopefully mean they're not having to call people back as much! Oh wow, someone covering both Nessa and Elphaba instead of Glinda, that hasn't happened for a long time in the West End Kate Leiper covers Elphaba and Nessarose, as did Laura Harrison before her…
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jan 26, 2024 14:41:40 GMT
She’s Christina’s protégée. Sources say she was exceptional in the workshop so why shouldn’t we give her fair chance? Why the witch hunt these days, why can’t we be hopeful that newcomers might actually have the goods to deliver?
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jan 22, 2024 18:08:40 GMT
Methinks there will be deals a plenty for this. Dunbar isnt going to start a box office stampede and only we know who Stephanie J B is. For what it’s worth, I’ve noticed a trend in more people asking the question “is it good” than “who’s in it” of recent years. So when word gets around that this is, inevitably, brilliant (even just SJB), the ticket sales should pick up. Fewer and fewer people are advanced booking since Covid, hence advance sales being high and on-the-day sales being hugely discounted therefore the profits evening themselves out. Hopefully more shows will favour talent over stunt casting the way that this show has cast SJB. Nobody wants to see Janet Street Porter play Mary Poppins anymore.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Sept 28, 2023 18:01:12 GMT
I’d love to see Alexia but she is so frequently absent that I think the only way I could guarantee catching her would be to book her final scheduled performance, once the date is announced. She’s actually pretty consistently doing all 8 shows at the moment. Covers have barely been on recently..
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Post by singularsensation10 on Aug 19, 2023 9:24:37 GMT
Just posted this on the Donmars Facebook page. Hearing lots of reports of pretty bad behaviour from the 'creatives' involved in this show during the preview period. Sounds like some pretty obnoxious stuff and not really very respectable to paying patrons. Yes it's in 'previews', but they are usually in place to allow time for performers to settle into their roles with an audience, not so the people in charge can ruin the production for those paying to see it. It's previews, NOT rehearsals! Stand at the back behind the people who've paid, make your notes and be quiet and respectful to not only those who've paid good money to see it, but to the performers themselves! I sat next to the musical supervisor on my visit who was very respectful, quietly making notes and was actually quite interesting to watch him ‘feel’ (or not, in some cases) the music. His notes were mostly about the band & levels in the sound mix (very big squiggles so legible from next to him) but he was very respectful. As for this post above, I have to point out that previews are still works in progress. They are a key tool for the creatives to see how things land with an audience - so they are some way between rehearsals and performance. If you buy a ticket to a preview (often cheaper than post opening night) you enter into a contract that what you see isn’t a finished product - and as such you may encounter creatives working. Yes they shouldn’t pull focus but technically, the audience has entered their work room. It’s a work room until opening night.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Aug 16, 2023 19:23:16 GMT
Went to the first preview of this and found it impeccable really - incredible cast and band, the sound design needs fixing yes - at moments I needed to be hit more by guitar and drums (it is a rock score after all) and at moments I needed to hear more vocals. Having had a couple of days to reflect I think my favourite thing about it is the pace - the director has REALLY nailed it. The songs drastically fluctuate in tempo which really aid the bipolarity of Diana’s brain and the journey of the characters, and the build build build of act 2 to the drop and twist at the end, and then the punch of the final song really meant Light had so much more weight and presence - and I sobbed mostly because of the emotional release that came from the song (Light) after a massively emotional push-pull throughout the show, particularly act 2. Incredible work for a first preview but pace was clearly a priority throughout the rehearsal process.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jun 9, 2023 12:48:39 GMT
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there a small scene with the Wizard and Doctor Dillamond together? Pretty sure it's after 'Wonderful' when Elphaba discovers him unable to speak... The Wizard and Dillamond have always been played the same person on tour I believe. The scene in act 2 you’re talking about is an easy work around as anyone can come on wearing the dillamond mask.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jun 1, 2023 12:12:51 GMT
It’s a 9 show week for them this week (they have a relaxed Perf this afternoon golivetheatre.org.uk/wicked-tickets/) so one of the witches will be off Thurs eve. Lucy was off yest eve so I assume Alexia will be off tonight?
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Post by singularsensation10 on Apr 29, 2023 7:02:42 GMT
Most shows have injuries, these people are essentially top level athletes competing 8 times a week, I don’t think it’s exclusive to Wicked.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Apr 28, 2023 21:42:29 GMT
I would hazard a guess that performers know more about a stage they perform on than those who never step foot on it. And the physios that treat them..
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Post by singularsensation10 on Apr 27, 2023 21:54:35 GMT
The AV has the steepest rake in the west end, actually.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Apr 24, 2023 8:55:22 GMT
Difficulties from both sides from the the very limited knowledge I have, but yes. I think they're very glad to be into the 23/24 cast let's put it that way. Something different about this cast even purely from the amount of press/media/new photoshoots etc they’re doing..
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Post by singularsensation10 on Apr 16, 2023 19:46:41 GMT
I know it's nobody's business but her own, but wouldn't it stop some of this ridiculous speculation if they put out a statement on the lines of, "Alexia will not be appearing due to a bereavement," if that is the case? You’re right when you say it’s nobody’s business but her own. If she’s not in the show, she’s not in the show. The end. The speculation is only from a very, very small subgroup of theatre fans; it’s quite possible that fewer people are aware of her absence than the total sum of one audience of Wicked at the AV, so no statement needed. She’s suffered a loss, someone else is playing her role in her absence, the show goes on, the end. Not the first time an actor has been ‘indisposed’ and won’t be the last time.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Apr 7, 2023 7:06:02 GMT
Amy seems to really struggle performing more than 2-3 shows in a row before calling out. I hope she is alright, because this has been an ongoing trend for quite some time now The lead Elphabas would never be expected to do 4 shows in 2 days, why should the standby?
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Post by singularsensation10 on Apr 6, 2023 15:45:45 GMT
Not sure about today, but it was Alexia last night (school hols schedule). Twitter says it was Amy for both shows and a no fly evening..
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Post by singularsensation10 on Mar 19, 2023 17:57:56 GMT
And not a word of explanation for it. Why do they owe anyone an explanation? If they’re not well enough to come in to do their jobs why should a statement be made?
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Post by singularsensation10 on Mar 12, 2023 21:16:50 GMT
It’s a constant battle between performers and sound team. Sound team don’t want to put any mic foldback (ie the performers vocals) through the stage speakers because it bleeds back into the mics and causes echo/delay/messiness. However performers will constantly be complaining they can’t hear themselves - not being able to hear oneself on stage is just something that is understood though, though performers will always ask for more. Sound team will also put very little hi-hat and cymbals on the stage mix as the high frequencies bleed into the performers mics too. In an ideal world they would have no speakers on stage to maximise the efficiency of the performers mics - this is obviously not possible, so they give performers the bare minimum possible to do their job properly, ie feel the vibe of the music to get ‘into’ the performance and hear their cues correctly. However as a performer you get very used to singing into the abyss!
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Post by singularsensation10 on Mar 1, 2023 9:46:02 GMT
She was on last night and absolutely phenomenal. Possibly the best No Good Deed I’ve heard?? I genuinely don’t care if she does all 8 shows this week just because it’s her final week - I’d personally someone take a show off if they’re not going to be 100% as long as they deliver when they’re there. If someone is going to see a show once in their whole life I’d rather each performer be on top form to make the show the best it could be, especially when there are 4 people in the building that can do the role.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jan 20, 2023 9:27:25 GMT
I think what some people seem to conveniently forget is these people have worked their whole life to be there - some comments made feel like they’re suggesting that their absence is through choice.
If I’m being paid 500+ a show to play Elphaba, a role I’ve wanted forever, and that payment gets docked every time I’m absent, why would I choose to be at home over being at work? Nobody knows the pressure on someone’s body or mind - there could be all kinds of unseen injuries which mean doing the show is ok in moderation, like an old knee or rib injury for example which tend to flare up after use but go down after rest. Meaning they can do a couple of shows fine then it hurts. Or the post-covid vocal changes, which many singers have felt, where the voice gets tired quicker.
It’s very easy to sit on the sofa at home scrolling through West End Understudies and think it’s very straight forward but there are many factors at play. The fact that Lucie, Amy, Laura AND Nicola have been, at times, unable to go on meaning previous cast members have had to return suggests that this isn’t just Lucie or Lucie and Amy’s issue. I’m sure they’d much rather do all 8 shows between them consistently and be done with it. There’s something fundamentally different about playing this role in that building at the moment.
If someone tweeted about me being unable to do my job? Regardless of why I was unable to I would get defensive. These women are still human beings after all, regardless of how much they’re being paid or how much media training they’ve had.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Oct 17, 2022 15:31:21 GMT
Before I join the stampede with the masses to try and get tickets for this, is this any more palatable than Falsettos and Caroline or Change...asking for a friend x Palatable in what way? I don’t know anyone who has seen this show (including myself) and isn’t so immeasurably moved emotionally. I sobbed like a baby, I was 13 and it was transformative for me in realising how musical theatre can tell a story so beautifully and incredibly. Palatable in terms of an enjoyable fun night out? Possibly not. Palatable in terms of accessible story telling? Yes I’d say so. Palatable in terms of subject and story? Also possibly not for everyone.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Oct 15, 2022 11:07:41 GMT
Dianne Pilkington is a name I’ve not seen mentioned on here yet but I would absolutely love to see her as Diana. Aside from the unique gorgeous vocal tone, she has a real subtle depth to her acting that would benefit this. Thinking back to her as Kim in Taboo or Fantine, for example.
I wonder if someone like Waddingham, with such a strong, commandeering physical presence, which is necessary for her witch-y roles and her turn in Spamalot, would mean she doesn’t have that fragile vulnerability which a character like Diana needs? The audience needs to be surprised of Diana’s strength which fights through the emotional instability, and someone like Hannah Waddingham is so naturally physically present and strong that you wouldn’t immediately think ‘vulnerable’ if you saw her. She wouldn’t be my first choice for a role like Jamie’s mum in ETAJ or Fantine, for example, for the same reason.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Oct 12, 2022 16:17:51 GMT
Wicked_Worldwide on Instagram (a large community fan page, followed by many current and former Wicked cast members) has posted that there are rumours that a third Wicked UK & Ireland Tour will be occurring over the 2023/2024 touring season. This is incredibly exciting if true! Has anyone heard similar rumours floating about as of late? This post is the first I have seen it mentioned! Yes it’s been rumoured for a while now.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Oct 12, 2022 9:09:19 GMT
I have no suggestions for Gabe though - we don't have an Aaron Tveit equivalent (plenty of pretty boys who can sing, but without an ounce of charisma) We have plenty of pretty boys who can sing with charisma, but the way contemporary commercial musical theatre is organised is so cookie-cutter, these boys are placed into moulds set by people sometimes 20-30 years before them. So their unique charisma is either not required or they do not ‘fit the mould’. The only time anyone is allowed to put their unique ‘charisma’ into a role is when they’re creating it, and the U.K. produces very few brand new original commercial musicals. That number is definitely growing but original character creation breeds ‘stars’, not the 12th replacement of Fiyero or the 32nd replacement of Marius - of course they can use that as training for stagecraft and confidence for when the opportunity arises to create a role but unfortunately most MT boys are not hired for their ‘charisma’ anymore.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Sept 30, 2022 13:31:04 GMT
Why does this particular show have such an issue with cast/covers? Genuinely curious. Many past Frankies have left the show with vocal issues due to it being a very specific impression style - the real Frankie Valli had no issues as it was his own voice but to do a Frankie impression 8x a week is understandably difficult, and with them casting graduates I’m glad they’re not getting the boys to push themselves and allowing the Frankies shows off within a week. Also there’s been a terrible cold flying around the West End with previous cast members returning to Heathers and Wicked also so it could be to do with that!
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Post by singularsensation10 on Sept 26, 2022 14:57:29 GMT
I think it’s important to remember what Wicked is a global phenomenon - even people who don’t know much about MT will know Wicked exists, even if they don’t know what it’s about. As such the need to stunt cast is less than something like the recent film adaption of The Prom for example.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jun 18, 2022 7:16:14 GMT
Tour question here; thoroughly enjoyed it tonight but couldn’t see the whole band from the end of the front row. I could see 3 keys & the drummer but who else was hiding? I remember the overture being partially on a track with the band playing along. It was deafening, I know that. Usually there’s a live bass & guitar but as the whole show is on click tracks they have the ability to use the pre-recorded guitar in place of live if the musicians are off for any reason. It’s pretty standard for shows to get dep musicians in to cover but I know as Mamma Mia is all on click they can use pre-recorded if necessary so that may be what they do on tour in stead of getting a cover musician in.
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Post by singularsensation10 on May 7, 2022 11:46:22 GMT
Saw this tonight and had a really good time (the sugar rush from the alcoholic slush puppy may have helped in Act 2). The cast was great, the whole thing was as camp as Christmas and it was a nice change to have a musical with a lesbian lead. The songs were good (I would quite like a cast recording) and everyone seemed to be having a good time. An added bonus is that Edward Chitticks was rocking those short shorts! The slush puppy is such a fun idea but yes pretty much only sugar! Saw this last night also - that wasn’t Edward Chitticks, he left the show a few weeks ago. Ross Harmon replaced him.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Mar 31, 2022 10:20:11 GMT
In my 60ish times seeing the show, mid-week shows rarely get an entrance applause. It’s only usually if it’s super full and/or if there are fans in.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Mar 29, 2022 8:33:26 GMT
Caught Hannah Lowther on TikTok live earlier today and she said that she gets an extra £30 per show when she covers Heather Mac! Thought it was interesting! Understudy pay is a normal thing, ensemble members get a set fee per week for covering and then an extra fee every time they go on. So if someone is covering 2 or 3 tracks, and is regularly on, sometimes they can take home an extra 250+ a week if they’re lucky. This is made up by ‘docking’ the lead (paying sick pay rather than full show pay) and capped for the understudy a lot of the time though - so if they’re on for a full week they wouldn’t get the full 8x30.
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