Hey everyone!
Some of you might know me from UL. I'm one of those ppl that posts a ton of wicked reviews, like Sho's last and Eden's first. Anyway, I'm pretty new to this board, but I thought I'd post my most recent review on here. I hope this is okay! This review is from 1.24.06 when Megan was out, but Katie was in. If you want to read ALL of my reviews, check it out here.
http://www.meganhilty.org/forums/viewforum.php?f=14
Warning: As some of you know, I write REALLY long LONG LONG reviews so keep that in mind if you like quick ones!
So, for the entire weekend and entire time I've been into Wicked (which has only been, like 5.5 months), I've been hyping up the glorious-ness of Wicked and its cast. Before the show I was telling my brother "This is the best show you've seen and the best show you'll ever see in your life. Even if you hate it, you better pretend to love it cause I won't except anything less." He was like "WTF?!" But was game to my obsessive situation.
Anyway, I had hoped and prayed that there were no understudies today for my brother's sake. I really wanted him to get the full effect of megan and eden together on that stage. Alas, it was not meant to be. The understudy of glinda was katie adams. Of course, on this site and others, I've heard amazing things about that girl. Really positive things. But, you gotta understand, megan is the shit! <---in the most complimentary sense! She is Glinda to me and I was soo disappointed for my brother (and, of course, a bit for me) over missing megan, but...Katie was great! However, I must warn you all, my review here is totally biased towards megan! Just a heads up
She came out and started off the usual way. She definitely has the "LOOK" of Glinda. It was a natural look, very much like Megan's "glinda" look. In fact, there were times that Katie looked so much like Megan from a distance. Honestly, it was the same for me with Eden and her looking kinda like Idina at times. It was really FREAKY at times. I'm serious. If you can see eden, you'll know what I mean. At times, she looks like Idina and sings like Sho. It was like she was a mix of the two, a little bit of everything all rolled into one ("I'm a bitch, I'm a lover...." Sorry.) Pretty cool though.
Katie sang NOMTW with a TON of vibrato or whatever you call that type of singing where the voice is all undulating and stuff. Interestingly, she played Glinda in the begiining with a lot more maturity and seriousness. In a way, I can see that since that scene was supposed to link with the end and Glinda being truly 'good'. megan plays it more to the heart, acting like she's chipper to the ozians, while Katie is more serious. It's a very interesting interpretation between the two. Katie didn't hit the high note at all. In fact, she didn't really try to hit any big high notes during the last part where she's singing "WIIICKED" and stuff. Her voice just blended with the ensemble. That kind of surprised me because, with Megan, she makes it so that her voice is distinguishable over the ensemble. But, that was just a small thing i noticed with Katie.
Okay, here's the major thing with Katie that tickled me. You guys know Cheri O' Terri? From SNL? She was one of the cheerleaders with Will Ferrell? Katie's Glinda and her mannerisms totally reminded me of her. Like, her jerky-ness of her limbs and stuff. I'll try to explain as i continue on with the review.
Eden came out look FANTABULOUS. The audience cheered (YAY, that makes me happy!) when she came out, which is the right thing to do (there are three sure things in life: death, taxes, and cheering for the green girl's entrance...although I think we should cheer for glinda's too, FYI) I mentioned in my review of Eden's opening night on how Eden played up the anger more. That defintiely hasn't changed at all, especially in the beginning parts of the show. I've mentioned this before, but I F*KCING LOVE EDEN'S FACIAL EXPRESSIONS. LOVE 'EM.
Katie's glinda voice....um....it's really high. I think she's really good as the role, but I sometimes though...mickey mouse on helium...which, in a way, totally worked for certain scenes. Like the whole "bright, she's phosphorescent" was really cute cause katie said it really fast and high. Very adorable.
Eden's WAI was also fantastic as usual. If you haven't heard her sing it, you're missing out. Sho will always be the queen of all the elphaba's, but Eden OWN'S the line "THings I've never felt." Seriously. IM (MDER2005) or PM me and I'll prove it to you (I have an OLD one, not recent, if you know what I mean). No one does that line (not even Sho....wow, that really hurt to write) better than Eden. IT'S JUST jaw dropping. That one line. Then you add in that entire song and the AMAZING belting ability she has and you'll know what I mean. Paging Sho, anyone?
Katie brought such a different interpretation to WITF. I loved the "mean-ness" Katie exhibited towards eden. But, first, OMG, Eden's dance! Haha, during the "every little trait however small" line Eden starting hopping/dancing/belly juggling/twisting/flailing/shaking/seizuring as her interpretation of Glinda's hyperness. It was hiliarous because it was SO unexpected. Before, Eden mimiced glinda putting on makeup. This is totally a new thing for her or maybe she's doing different things every night to change it up. Who knows? It was hilarious! Remember how I mentioned that eden would shy away from the compact mirror? Well, this time, Eden didn't get a chance too. Katie put it up to Eden's face and then snapped it shut. I swear, it was so close i thought Eden's nose was gonna bite it! They were just cute that way.
The dillamond scene was the usual, except that Katie, after saying "artichoke is steamed" line, gets up and does this STUPID/CHERI O'TERI/HILARIOUS/ jerky leg sweep-shuffle thingy. It was SO SO SO SO SO RANDOM. She got props from me for that.
Derrick...bleh...he's great to look at though...HIS ARMS! WHEW! But, his singing and dancing could be more up there. My major problem in this scene was with Katie. She didn't move at all. I thought Glinda was supposed to dance some parts and stuff? I know Megan does and I've seen Cheno, JLT, etc, do the same type of dancing. Katie just stood there. That irked me a bit because she looked a bit out of place. Oh well, she had great facial expressions. BTW, MANY MANY MANY MANY of the ensemble and cast have changed. Asmeret is gone! and sooo many new ones are in or OBC ensemble that came back after Sweet Charity (seriously, that's what their playbill info said..."back in wicked after playing in Sweet charity"...i think it had to do with the choreopgrapher since they were the same)
The dancing wasn't as good either between Eden and Katie. I think it was because Katie didn't do the funny dance in the beginning before the sweet music comes on. She just raised one arm and looked at Eden, saying something like "do i have to do this" then eden indicated glinda to continue. When katie dances again, then the music comes on. I wished katie danced in the beginning instead of just raising her arm. Otherwise, the scene was very good. Katie and Eden have really good chemistry.
Popular. Haha, katie's voice got pretty high and stuff, but, to me, popular tonigght was ALL EDEN. Again, her facial expressions. Normally, as you all know, Popular is glinda's time to shine. In this case tonight, it was Eden who kicked popular ass. Katie was phenomenal, but didn't earn the laughs I thought she deserved. Her toss toss was more subtle than megan's, but she sucked in her cheeks and pursed her lips (that supermodel-ish look) and when eden tossed her hair, katie goes "elphie, the lips...remember the lips" So there was eden, tossing her hair, sucking in her cheeks and pursing her lips. Of course, katie was there encouraging it all saying "lips! lips! lips!"
I love Eden's hopefullness over getting a new ball gown. So sweet and honest. The way she closes her eyes, raises her head, and has this small smile on her face really tugs at you about Elphie's inner esteem. Katie did make Eden laugh out loud when she, at one point, poked each index finger on each cheek, doing that thing we do to babies. Eden defintely cracked up, but stopped it in time.
I'm not exactly when, but Katie did this "ratatatat" thing that was soo out of the blue. Now that I think about it, it was one of the most random things I've ever heard! It was really cute and Katie played the scene like such cheerleader on espresso beans! She gets really awesome props for her very different portrayal of Glinda!
the classroom scene was bascially the same, nothing to noticebale or unusual that occured. I'm still trying to get a fix on Derrick and eden's chemistry. Haha, my brother immediately didn't like Fiyero cause he thought the singing was horrible. He was like "I'd rather have Elphie and Glinda get together than Fiyero with anyone of them" At the end of the show he was like "they need to get rid of that guy". Poor Derrick. I thought he was off, but not that bad. I wonder if anyone else in the audience felt the same way.
As we continue on the show, it finally dawned on me that it was George Hearn. For some reason, I thought it was Gene W. but it was GEORGE! I never thought I'd get to see him, but YAY, I did. My personal opinion? He plays the wizard too blandly. the wizard is supposed to be charismatic with a lot of appeal, but george didn't play him like that. It wasn't anything special, to be honest with you. However, I saw George Hearn so I'm happy. He's a fantastic singer though, he just doesn't have the presence of Ben Vereen (but who really does?)
I LOOOOVE Eden...LOOOVE HER.....I just don't LOOOOVe her DG, tho I do like it a lot. I think it's just cause of her screaming "it's mee" instead of singing it. I still can't help but compare all of eden's major songs with Sho. Her beginning off DG was awesome though. She can totally riff, imo. Yet, it's just not as strong, but I can SOO tell that it's getting there. She was much better with it than jan10. When she was in the sky, her belting power was off the hook. Totally. I loved that so much. However, I was a bit distracted with Eden's body moven'ts in that she leans REALLY far over the railing thing. My heart was pounding cause I thought she would fall over. I'm dead serious about that. Eden's "Bring me down" is phenomenal! JUST AMAZING. Her "AHHAHAHAHA" isn't that great cause it wasn't sustained as long as sho, but, again, it's getting there!! Have I mentioned how much I love that girl?!
Act 2 will be shorter cause nothing major and totally different happened. Katie definitley hit that high ass note at the end of TG. Is that note optional? I haven't heard any glinda not sing that note. Anyway, good stuff. BTW, I totally thought that Katie plyaed Glinda way sluttier and stuff in the first act. She was always feeling up derrick, squeezing his muscles. And personal space? Forget it! She might as well be one of those mollusks or leeches or some sticky bug that you can't get off unless you burn them off with a match or lighter. I wouldn't be surprised if she started humping his leg, but this is a PG show and there are young 'uns in the audience
In the beginning I was pretty ambivalent about Cristy Candler....however, i thought she totally rocked tonight, eps WWOTE. She reminded me a lot of Michelle in mannerisms and tone. The role is really coming into it for her. I thought she was just fantastic tonight. She was one of the best tonight, imo.
Hey, for those there tonight, notice the completely different lyrics to "Wonderful" when Eden and George were singing together at the end? I vowed to myself to remember the exact new lyrics, but I forgot about them as well. Shit. Oh well, I hope some of you can see for yourself. it's nothing MAJOR but there is definntely new lyrics/added lyrics and certain ones taken out. It's noticeable if you're pretty aquainted with the show...which all of you are!!
So, Eden and Derrick and ALAYM....their voice didn't blend as well. Even my younger brother who is in college for neuroscience and has NO theatre background noticed that. I wonder if they are getting sick or soemthing? Maybe just tired? Off day? Oh well, they still played it up really well.
HAHA, the best scene besides an AMAZING FG was the fight scene. You know how Megan plays it up like she's very skilled with the wand? Like twirling it as if she was bruce lee or someone and showing the skillz off? HAHA (I'm totally chuckling now), Katie did the very OPPOSITE. She twirled it like a person who's never even had to lift anything heavier than her own arm. She purposefully kept on getting it stuck on her dress, her own body, and repeatedly hit herself at times. The look on her face. This is gonna be SOOOOOOOOOO disgusting, but the best way to describe it is someone's who's, well....constipated. Like, she's trying to pass soemthing through...I know, I know...gross, right? But, it's the first thing I thought of when she made that face as she "twirled" (I quote the twirl because it was more of a big 'ol mess of an attempt) the wand. So funny!
Eden's NGD is amazing. And this is when Eden raised her awesomness in her eyes....SHE CAN TOTALLY RIFF!!!! SHE'S GOT MAJOR RIFF POWER!! OMG! SHE RIFFFFFFFFFFEEEEEEEEDDDDDD!!!!!!!! That made me really happy! She mainly did this at the end of NGD, especially "no good deed will i attempt to do again...never again!" that part...she totally riffed those lines. I loved it and it brought such shooting joy into my body! YAY FOR EDEN'S RIFFS! Although not as strong as Sho's, they were still awesome!! WHOO HOO!
I have to say, Eden's and Katie's FG was one of the best I've ever seen. Katie really played up to the sadness and the physicality of that scene. She immediately grabbed Eden's hand (haha, I just typed Sho's hand..oops, old habits die hard!) and as she sang her part, Katie would take Eden's hand and place it up to her cheek and stuff. It was really sweet. Eden, as she sang, also used both her hands to hold onto Katie. And Katie was defintiely really crying cause I saw her wiping away to snot and tears before the scene with her, morrible, and the wizard. They also stood close to each other and sand side by side and stuff. I liked that because I can't stand it when the two leads would stand, liike, across the room from each other as they sang FG. If it was the last time I saw my best friend alive, I'd be chained to her wrist, bawling my eyes out. Not 50 feet away. I really liked that Katie did not maintain distance and kept close to Eden. This was a very well done song, one of the best I've ever seen (besides Megan and Sho's on Sho's last and their Bway on Bway perfo).
Overall, I was SO impressed with Katie's performance. At curtain call, after the bows of the leads, Eden pointed to katie as if saying "Hey audience, check out this girl! Wasn't she fucking awesome?" I liked that Eden was giving Katie some props. Katie is honestly one of the best Glinda's I've seen. I'm actually really happy to have seen her! She was a doll at curtain call as was everyone else!
Okay, I think that's about it for this review. I know the second act wasn't as long, but I hope it was good enough! Everyone, have a good night and ROCK ON!!