I don't post on here a lot, but I'd like to start. Just thought I'd share my recent Wicked experience:

First off: non-review beforehand miracle:
I went with my family to NYC to see "The Drowsy Chaperone" but my sister got sick and my mom had to stay at the hotel with her while my autn and I went to the theater. I felt really bad because my mom loved Broadway shows and never gets to see any, and now she missed out on this one. So the next day I wandered down Broadway and (I swear I wasn't even headed that way) ended up near the Gershwin. Yes I know Wicked sells out for months in advance, especially on a Saturday night, but I went into the Box Office anyway and asked if they had 4 tickets for that night's performance. The guy said that someone had just cancelled and that the box office was selling their tickets for them (I didn't know they could do that). So I bought the 4 tickets and they turned out to be in Orchestra Row A! Very exciting.

Review:
I had seen Julia and Kendra in Boston, and thought they were both alright, but I really have a newfound respect for both of them, especially Kendra.

Julia Murney: She seems like she is very consistent (in a good way). Her voice really is powerhouse to a T. She knows what she is doing, and her belting songs are very goosebump-worthy. However, I think her acting is slightly overdone. I have never sat so close to the stage before, and I understand that theater acting is much less subtle than film acting because it has to be, but I really think that Julia can bring it down just a notch or two. I suppose it really boils down to personal choice (I know a lot of people love SJB because they love her passion, I however think that she can sometimes go over the top acting-wise as well). Don't get me wrong, Julia's performance definitely pushed her high up on my list of favorite Elphabas, but that was just something that I realized while watching.

Some highlights: I think "The Wizard and I" is the hardest song in the show to sing because it does not really carry itself. Defying Gravity, and No Good Deed are difficult, but there are so many lighting effects, and loud crashes and movement that the song can carry itself even if the performer is not top of the tops. WAI cannot. Plus it is the first song, so that adds more pressure onto the performer to win over the audience. Simply put, Julia owned this song in a way only two other actresses I have seen can make it work. Also, I LOVED her delivery of "We can't all come and go by bubble." It was just straight up angry, not coy, not tongue in cheek, just pissed off, and it worked very well. The end of her Defying Gravity notes were looooooong and very controlled and booming, this girl can definitely hold her own in a belt-off with any previous Elphabas. In short, Julia Murney, your sometimes slight over-the top acting is understandable (it being theater), and you have crazy phenomenal singing skills, and a firm handle on Elphaba. Thought you were very good: A-

Kendra: I was not a big fan of Kendra going into this. I thought that she was one of the weaker Glinda's both singing and acting-wise, but I was happily proven wrong. The only part where I felt scared was at the beginning. She may have been nervous, starting a cold or not fully warmed up because her entrance in NOMTW was weak with her operatic notes. However, as soon as she came out of the bubble and started acting she was great. I loved her openning because if you really watch her you can see traces and stabs of pain during the song (she misses Elphie). i think she pulls it off very well. I love Glinda's who really show growth, pain and vulnerability throughout the two acts (Kristin, JLT and Megan were great at this). Glinda's story is about her maturing, realizing the world around herself and being forced to deal with loved ones leaving her and having to become a stronger woman regardless of if she wants to or can even handle it. Kendra's acting was superb (and as I said, I am a harsh critic). Her singing was very good as well. She pulled out awesome belting notes in "Couldn't Be Happier" and Julia and her blended very well together in WITF and For Good. one thing i did notice was that Kendra does not wait to deliver lines (or she didn't on Saturday. maybe she had somewhere to go). I noticed this halfway through and then paid attention the rest of the way. Almost immediately after the other person says their line she starts hers. Her acting didn't seem to suffer, but there are a lot of moments in Wicked that are heart-wrenching and really great beats if given a pause. Still, not a problem, just something that I noticed. In short, Kendra Kassebaum you blew me away! Sorry for having doubted you: A.

David Garrison: Good job. Seemed to play it for laughs more than anything else, which is alright.

Jayne Houdyshell: A Madame Morrible that can sing again! Very good job. I love mean Morribles. Her speech during MOTWH was good (but I still prefer Carole Shelley grabbing the Glinda's....she was so scary. It worked so well. I apologize for the sidebar but I think it is great). I think Jayne was one of my favorite Morrible's.

Sebastian Arcelus: Boy can sing. I'm always afraid the Fiyero's won't be able to sing. I think it comes from going to see David Ayers. While I think David was one of the top acting Fiyero's, I really do not think that he sang the part well. At any rate, Sebastian seemed good, if slightly swallowed up by Kendra and Julia.

Christy Candler: I think she is my favorite Nessa. It was my first time seeing her, and I just loved her. Beautiful voice, acting. Wonderful.

Logan Lipton: Very nice. Good Boq. He seems to play it less for laughs and a little more on the serious side than other Boq's I have seen. i don't think I have ever not liked a Boq.

And just for fun, I list my top-3 favorite Elphabas and Glindas I have seen so you can see who I like and who i am biased for (what kinds of performances I like):
Elphaba: Idina, Shoshana (I know people say her acting is not that strong, but I honestly think that it is), Julia (moved up for her performance here)
Glinda: JLT and Kristin (tied, for alas I cannot choose one over the other), Megan (Kendra would be fourth).

Thanks.

Thanks for the review..how was Kendras Popular?
I always love to hear about it!

love the review!!!!!

Awesome!! The only part I disagree with was about Boq, I didn't seem to like him very much. Eh, just me though.

I do too..don't get me wrong, Logan is a very good Boq...but I think is he under plays the role at times.

Hey thanks for the review. . . . I agree with you about the song TWAI

Kendra's Popular was pretty great. I really loved her "sparkles" before the song starts when she's talking with Elphie. I think it's a tough line to tread between keeping Glinda's character real and still going insane and being hilarious during this song. Kendra did a really awesome job of being funny while still looking like she cared about Elphie. I LOVED her "Wear the frock, it's pretty" line because she kind of just spit it out then chucked the want over her shoulder! Her singing was on point, and she really had the audience in her hand for the song.

Thank you so much for posting this review. I haven't heard Julia since The Wild Party (aka: her first big role, seven years ago, have no idea how she sounds now) and since I'll be seeing her in a couple of months, I was really excited to hear that she sounds as though she's gotten even more fantastic. Absolutely can't wait.

(and off-topic slightly, totally agree about Carole Shelley and her scariness during MOTWH. Saw her during her (very brief) fill-in stint in Chicago, and she was more than a little terrifying.)