I have tried to translate a review of the public dress rehearsal of WICKED in Stuttgart (Germany). The original review in German was written by Urs of the German WICKED fanpage www.wickeddasmusical.de

'Cause it is a fast done translation, i hope you could unterstand anything. Please excuse possible mistakes in grammar and orthography.

Review from the public dress rehearsal at Halloween (07/10/31)

For this day hundreds of WICKED fans in Germany have waited and finally this day was here: The first show of "WICKED – Die Hexen von Oz" in front of an audience in Stuttgart (Germany). The climactic anticipation was everywhere noticeabley weeks before: new rumors came up, parts of the translation have been announced and at last the cast has been proudly presented. But how fit this parts of the puzzle? At October 31th 2007 it came true and fans from all of Germany came togheter to answer all this questions.

Other than us fans attended a lot of listeners of the German radio station „Hitradio Antenne 1“ and some lucky winners of a couple of activities and raffles. A sold out theatre to receive and celebrate this broadway hit. But did all work out as planned? Did the fears of us Wicked-Fans come true? With this review we're going to give a detailed account about this experience of that dress rehearsal in Stuttgart. But first of all the cast, which has entchanted us.

Lucy Scherer as Glinda
Stefan Poslovski as Elphabas Vater/Funktionär (Witch's Father/Official)
Emma Hunter as Elphabas Mutter (Witch's Mother)
Jessica Lantto as Hebamme (Midwife)
Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba
Nicole Radeschnig as Nessarose
Stefan Stara as Moq (Boq)
Angelika Wedekind as Madame Akaber (Madame Morrible)
Michael Günther as Doktor Dillamonth (Doctor Dillamond)
Mark Seibert as Fiyero
Carlo Lauber as Der Zauberer von Oz (The Wizard Of Oz)
Cosimo de Bartolomeo as Chistery

Ensemble: Paul Boereboom, Alan Byland, Alessandro Cococcia, Cosimo de Bartolomeo, Belinda Jean Edwards, Emma Hunter, Kisha Howard, Michael Kargus, Jessica Lantto, Jimmy Laremore, Valerie Link, Artur Molin, Jens Simon Petersen, Stefan Poslovski, Barbara Schmid, Lanie Sumalinog, Francesca Taverni, Roberta Valentini

The way to the Palladium Theatre was more exciting than ever. Up to now we went to the theater to look to the becoming of the musical. But today we might see and appreciate the (more or less) finished play. Before the beginning of the dress rehearsal we had arranged a regulars' table for the members of our WICKED forum wich made for the anticipation. We exchanged our ideas and made still jokes about facetious diproportionate horror scenarios which possibley come true this evening.
Lastly there sat in large part WICKED fans arround the table, which are knowing and loving the play for years and which were critical of every least alteration.

The needle was at 5:45 p. m. When the group slowley but surley headed to the entrance of the Palladium Theatre. There already was a cluster of people in front of the entrance which all waited with anticipation to go in. When we entered the foyer firstly lots of „WICKED Boutiques“ catched our eyes with many WICKED souvenirs to buy. Exept for whose names in London ( „Ozdust Boutique“) they are as like as two pears in a pod. Even the t-shirts were printed with English citations, that's of course not too bad for us fans but the question is: Are German visitor able to follow a slogan like „Defy gravity!“? Well, the answer is: No! But there surley will be t-shirt with German slogans as soon as possible.

On the way to the door of the auditorium we noted prominent guests: Stephen Schwartz (componist) and Michael Kunze (translator) attended too, to experience this fire test of „Wicked“.

When audience finally was allowed to enter the auditorium, they were directly clear in their minds, that this won't be a regular musical visit. The familiar proscenium, which giantly encloses the stage, in Stuttgart is yet bigger than in London or on Broadway. The wooden construction extends far into the auditorium up to the second tier. Above the theater curtain, the map of Oz, the giant Time Dragon is enthroned as usual and observes everthing. The proscenium differs enormously from the London version, because all appears more wooden and less steel. It's rather closer to the New York production. Nice to see ist the into German translated map, which visibly has captivated the audience; so that many of them were busy before the show to pore over the Land of Oz in detail.
The seats fill up slowly, because many of visitors were caught up in a traffic jam in direction to the theater.

At 6.40 Dani, a moderator of „Hitradio Antenne 1“ arrived the stage to induct the audience in to the evening. After a short interview with art director Nicole Hildebrandt finally the show began. The light was dimmed, the audience became silent, and the first note of the overture was played by the orchestra and thrilled the theater.


When Lucy Scherer floated to the stage in her bubble, surely many caught their breath. How is she going to master one of the most challenging roles in genre musical? But her interpretation of Glinda dwarfs all high pretensions. Already her first notes sounded so firmly, as nobody has expected it. Lucy passed the soprano part, which already a few Glindas have failed, with flying colors and her play was so good, as she hadn't played any other role. As well not all translations weren't filed out, the first German Glinda cares for a lot of applause after many scenes. An absolute impressive presentation by Lucy Scherer, it's even difficult to find likes of her in all WICKED-places.

„Und wir waren beide sehr jung...“ („And both of us were very young...“) that were the words of Glinda and when Willemijn Verkaik arrived the stage, the whole audience clamored. With her play and her singing the Dutchwoman was able to satisfy, even though she was hestitantly in the beginning of „Der Zauberer und ich/The Wizard and I“, but in the end of that song she let us hear hear amazing voice and showed that she needn't to hide from any other Elphaba in the world. Her and Lucy harmonize fantastically togehter and everbody may be pleased with their exceptional interaction. Especially everbody may be anxious to hear her riffs; with own variations of notes every Elphaba turns her interpretation to something specific.

With Nicole Radeschnig the role of Nessarose is filled perfectly without doubt. Especially in the second act the young actress played really fantastic and very belivable. In the first act we had the feeling that she has held off a little bit. Especially during „Tanz durch die Welt/Dancing through life“ we had awaited that her Nessarose flourishes a little more.

Stefan Stara played his role of Moq (Boq) very lively and agile. Also in this case we felt that his interpretation was considerably better in act II than in act I. Especally in the school scene sensitiveness in some details of the role was missed, but that's surely to excuse in a dress rehearsal. Vocal his interpretation of Moq (Boq) is good , whether increasable during „Marsch der Hexenjäger/March of the Wicked Hunters“.

Angelika Wedekind IS Madame Akaber (Madame Morrible). More we aren't able to say actually. With her play and her singing the role is perfectly performed by her. Especially the very important metarmorphosis from the motherly headmistress to the tyrant of Oz is excellently played by her. We're great fans of Carole Shelley (the original Madame Morribe of Broadway) an we're very happy that Angelika Wedekind creates this role similarly and does with such brilliance.

Doktor Dillamonth (Doctor Dillamond), the last Animal teacher at Glizz Universität (Shiz university), was presented very good by Michael Günther. The punchlines were placed very good hand he cared for many laughs in his class scene. But also he played the hurt and despaired teacher with lots of sensitiveness. Then he played the specific realationship between him and Elphaba very traceable.

The role of Fiyero was interpreted good by Mark Seibert. But we had awaited a little more in act I during his song „Tanz durch die Welt/Dancing through life“. The song lives on the easiness and the juvenile and coltish Fiyero, who captivates all. But these Mark Seibert has not putted across to us enough, he appeared too stiff and too adult. From the lion cub scene his interpretation has pleased us more and finally in Act II he warmed up in his role.

With Carlo Lauber the producers have found the ideal German Wizard of Oz. Funny and moony, naive and sad; all that whichever the role needs. Vocal good and in play perfect and precise he captivated the audience.

The ensemble was casted very good as far as posible, but on the choreography and the general acoustic understandability they still have to work partially. This calls for forgiveness because the dress rehearsal is the first show in front of an audience and altogether only the second full run. We're positive about that the excellent production team gets these minimal failings under control until opening night on november 15th.

The translations by Michael Kunze (lyrics) and Ruth Deny (dialogues) are felicitous on the whole. Especially the dialogues were transfered fancifully and freshly into German, that even the greatest fan forgets that it's about a translation. A priori it was clear that it was difficult to translate the lyrics of WICKED but Michael Kunze delivers a very good German version, which hardly shows failings.
The last details surely will be revised during the previews, so on opening night even the smallest inconsistencies will be removed.

During the dress rehearsal there were, as usual, some difficulties. So some items fell to the floor and Willemijn and Lucy have problems with the costume change during „Nur ein Tag/One short day“. The result of that was that they too late arrived the stage and banged together with other actors. Furthermore the stage lift during „Gutes Tun/No Good Deed“ didn't operate and Willemijn didn't arrive the face of the stage. Thereupon the show was interrupted a couple of minutes and then it was continued with „Gutes Tun/No good Deed“ again. A great commendation to the technicans and to the cast which didn't alienate themselves and got all under control.

After the last „Hexen“ (in original lyrics: „Wicked“) during the final, the whole audience broke out to thundering applauses and standing ovations which not stopped until four curtain drops. The complete cast appeared very eased and endless happy that the dress rehearsal went of so successfully. Following the show the yearly „Hitradio Antenne 1“ halloween party took place. Of course WICKED was the motto of this great party in this year.

On this note sincere thanks are given to the Palladium Theatre and the full team of „WICKED – Die Hexen von Oz“ for this swell evening.
By courtesy of www.wickeddasmusical.de

Looks like WICKED is a hit (knock on wood)

"Knock on wood."

I'm so glad that the reception for Wicked has been great so far, and I hope it continues to have it as so.

Not to mention, the cast seems excellent.