10/22/06
I would love to write a full review, but school is seriously not giving me any time for anything else. So, I'll just stick to highlights and if there are any requests, I'll try and tell about the scene you requested.

I've heard so many different things about Ana and didn't really know what to expect. I'll tell you right now that I was not the least bit disappointed. I know people have said that she has been having volume problems, but believe me, those were over.

Towards the beginning I was afraid that I didn't have an active audience since I was the only one clapping for Kate when she came down, but I shouldn't have feared that, and you'll see that later in my small review. Gaelen was Morrible, and she was great. I've never actually heard the beginning of TWAI sung, so that was nice. From the moment Ana opened her mouth to sing that song, I realized why so many people love her. She has such a unique style of singing, and doesn't need riffs to make her special. She didn't totally belt down the house during this song, so I wouldn't call it the highlight of the performance. I'll skip to Popular, since everyone singing prior to that song were as usual: amazing.

I think Kate calmed down a tiny bit since Ana came, but not much. She's great in every song, and is vocally great for the part, but I just think she goes a tad over the top during this song. Ana almost fell off the bed during her toss-toss, which got the audience laughing. Actually, the audience loved Kate's Popular- I could hear the guys behind me talking about it during intermission. Now to Defying Gravity.

Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. I'm not the type to cry during performances, but I almost teared. Again, any volume problems she may have had are OVER. This was the second-best song for Ana of the night. She just ROCKED it. At this point, Ana earned herself about 2,000 fans that night- they SCREAMED for her at the end. Ok, one more. WOW.

Thank Goodness was fantastic. Towards the beginning Kate seems like she's the same Galinda she was during Popular, but towards the end you do see how she realizes she isn't exactly getting what she wanted. Wicked Witch of the East- I LOVE JENNA. The end. Skipping to INTG reprise, because David was "wonderful" as usual. Please don't kill me for that horrible pun. Not much to say, but I'll note how Kate ends "girl" on a higher note. I really like it. Now on to As Long As You're Mine.

This was the best ALAYM I've ever heard. Ana and Derrick have great chemistry, and their voices go so well together. Just great. Catfight scene.

Kate and Ana just make this scene. They're acting together just works. Ana's "we can't all come and go by bubble" got a huge laugh.

No Good Deed. This was Ana's song of the night. I've heard about how she messed up big time at her first show, but I think tonight totally made up for that. I can't find words to describe it. She just blew the house down.

For Good- Ana and Kate have the best chemistry. I know you've heard it before, but it's true. Just awesome.

So here comes the finale, the part that makes me sad for two resons:
1) Elphaba and Glinda will never see each other again.
2) The end of the show.

They all come out and take their bows, and I popped up for a standing ovation as soon as Kate and Ana came out. But instead of everyone leaving and the map coming back down, Ana gets everyone's attention and they bring out a signed Wicked poster. Then I realize that this had to be a Broadway Cares announcement. So Ana gives the usual announcement, but when she gets to the part about selling Wicked posters, it went a little like this:

"We also have these Wicked posters signed by the entire cast- they're great for covering up- if you have any scuffs in your house, or if you have any family secrets- sorry I'm really drunk right now."

She finished up the announcement and the music started to play again, and Ana and Kate start doing this happy dance that makes me happy just thinking about it.

SD:

Jenna came out first, and soon after came Derrick, and then Kate. She was incredibly hyper. I thought she was still doing Popular! This 70-year-old lady kept telling everyone about how her three daughters took her there for her 70th birthday gave Kate some money to put in the Broadway Cares bucket, and Kate half skipped-half ran bag into the SD and ran back out. Next we wait a while until Gaelen comes out. Then Tiffany Haas signed, and this is my third time seeing her at the SD but first time when she's actually signing things. She gets to me and we exchange "hi"s, but then totally forget what to do. We just stand there a moment, and then start laughing a little. "She's shy", my mom says, which gets me embarrassed and I tell her she did a great job while she took my playbill and signed it. Next, we wait. And wait. This guy came up the guard and said he was there to pick up Ana (well, he pronounced it wrong, but apparently he was not her regular driver). He explained that her regular guy was in an accident or had a break-down or something. He said that he was embarrassed because he had no clue what she looked like. Now the 70-year-old takes out her playbill, shows the guy her picture, and then starts telling him everything else that's written by her name. We wait longer. At about 7:00, Ana came out and apologized for making everyone wait. It was worth it.

Now, everyone who has ever asked the question, "Why did they choose Ana?" and has never even seen her live, I suggest you stop. Because I was not a biased Ana fan before this show, and she blew the house down.

Hope you enjoyed!

That was an amazing review! I love to hear about another person falling in love with Ana. And that curtain call story made me laugh out loud... I can picture Ana saying that. And isn't Ana such a sweetie at the SD?

Ahh! Reading this review just made my night. And I definitely laughed out loud at the curtain call story, like Lisa said. Definitely something I can see her saying. It's so nice to hear that people love her.. I seriously don't know why so many people doubt her.

I absolutely love your review! If I didn't have common sense I would walk down to the Gershwin 2morrow at 2 in the morning 2 be sure I see Ana 1st! And sneak into the show... :mrgreen: *sly smile and evil grin*

I can't wait to see Ana and Kate in January!

Great review Jennifer! :mrgreen: I'm glad people are liking Ana. btw, are thier pics of Ana on the poster in the gershwin lobby or is still Eden?

You mean like on the posters outside of the theatre? Because those have Ana.

Yeah, what does her DG pic look like?

I don't really know much about the posters because I rushed in and out, but I did notice they were changed. I didn't get to see any with Ana, just different ones with Kate, so I don't really know what the ones with her look like.

They don't have a DG pic up. They have a big, HQ version of this...



and then a smaller version of this...




(these are both pictures from Chicago)

Aww thanks so much for the review. I love reading about people loving Ana. I can't believe about her driver though.. LOL

And the curtain call speech... definitely an Ana-ism lol

Thanks AnaElphieLove...do you think when you go next time you could take pics of the posters? I collect pictures of them with the different casts. I'm a loser. :ha:

Sure thing! I might be there this weekend, but I'll definitely be there next weekend, and I'll get a few pictures.

Great Review! I might be able to see Ana this November. I'm excited!




I absolutely love that shiz pic of Ana!

AnaElphieLove - Sure thing! I might be there this weekend, but I'll definitely be there next weekend, and I'll get a few pictures.

THANKS SO MUCH!!!! :mrgreen:

yay great review jennifer! and thankies for the playbill :mrgreen:

Great review and I would agree with nearly everything you wrote. Especially about people saying she had volume problems and you saying it is better....she had no problem when I saw her belting out those numbers---and the explosion of applause that was with Defying Gravity. And I really think her strongest performance was with No Good Deed--Acting and singing wise she just was insanely good for that number.

Ahhh, reading the reviews makes me want to go see it again!!

Great review!

I get to see Ana and Kate in December-I am SOOOO excited!!!!

That's cool to see a review from someone who didn't already love Ana, it makes it seem so much more powerful that someone becomes a fan of her by her individual performance.

Love. Love. Love the review! :mrgreen:
Nice one Jennifer (Jenny Benny)
LOL, so i guess that means Anna is my third favorite Elphaba now!

Last night I printed out the picture I took with her, and realized the left side of her face and neck was still green. :ha:

hahaha i saw the pic. i was like cracking up :ha:

In my picture with Eden, you can TOTALLY see green all around her hairline and on her neck. I love it. :mrgreen: