Wicked National Tour
February 8, 2008
Evening Show

Cast:
Glinda: Katie Rose Clarke
Witch's Father: Paul Slade Smith
Witch's Mother: Lori Holmes
Midwife: Renee Lawless-Orsini
Elphaba: Carmen Cusack
Nessarose: DeeDee Magno Hall
Boq: Brad Weinstock
Madame Morrible: Alma Cuervo
Dr. Dillamond: Tom Flynn
Fiyero: Clifton Hall
The Wizard: Lee Wilkof
Chistery: Kyle Hill


Okay, so this is my first time seeing Wicked since Chicago in 2006, with Kristy Cates and Stacie Morgain Lewis. This was the best performance I have seen live. Considering Chicago was in the second last row, this was sort of like seeing the show for the first time again. I tried the lottery and was the third name called! We sat first row, off to the left.
Let the review begin!

No One Mourns the Wicked

As the overture started I got goose bumps! When the monkeys ran out I got all excited! When the ensemble came out and did their little thing with the hologram I loved it! The shadow of Elphaba is definitely a nice touch. The ensemble is really talented and has a lot of energy! When Katie came down in the bubble we totally started the applause. Eventually the mezzanine caught on and then the folks down with us. The clapping lasted quite awhile and Katie waved her hand and was like, “Oh stop!” She looks so beautiful as Glinda! Like most of us have noticed, she has a Rachel McAdams look. I think she resembles Jennie Garth from Beverly Hills 90210 and What I Like About You, too. Her voice is spectacular! All of the notes flowed so gorgeously together and she ended the song perfectly! Great performance by the Witches Father, Midwife, and Mother.

Dear Old Shiz

I was really excited when Brad came out, because that means… Elphaba was coming soon! As Carmen ran out of the clock, we started the applause again. Carmen sang Dear Old Shiz with everyone, which I really liked. Katie sang the ending mostly in the wings, and then the cart carried her out! Carmen looked amazing in green, Katie looked nice too . Alma came out and had such a commanding presence that just dominated the stage. I really believed she was Morrible. Nice suitcase throwing by Carmen too. DeeDee and Paul entered, and I was quite impressed with their acting. DeeDee used a higher, naïve voice and Paul was really nasty as the father. Which worked. Katie was really funny in this scene!

The Wizard and I

Carmen sort of stuck to the score, but sort of didn’t. She has an awesome voice! Everything was so believable and spot on. I especially liked when she added some nice subtle riffs. Her voice just never ends and sounded perfect! I didn’t really notice if she was holding back or not, but either way she hit this song out of the park! She was so happy at the end, and the audience just ate her up! Everyone was still clapping when Katie came out for What Is This Feeling. A+.

What Is This Feeling

Katie got a huge response right from the beginning. Everyone loved her solos. Carmen got just a few laughs for, “Blonde.” Even though it was executed perfectly. The audience and I loved her, “Your Voice!” It was spectacular. The girls have such chemistry. Katie ran around with her mirror and snapped it in Carmen’s face. Then Carmen did a little dance imitating Katie, which also got tons of laughs. I have always loved when the ensemble runs out. I feel bad for Elphaba, but they just do an outstanding job! This song was phenomenal.

Something Bad

Tom is great as Doctor Dillamond. His baaaaaad. Was depressing and a little lower than Steven Skybell or Timothy Britten Parker’s, but it worked. When Brad was passing out papers, he kind of stared at DeeDee with this bored expression, and then she looked at him for a while. When he wasn’t looking, she glanced over and then shot away as if he could have seen her. That was nice. Elphie and Dillamond shared lunch, and I always love that part. I really feel for her when she says, “It’s alright, I have none,” After his friends comment. The rice paper looked quite real and the song went by amazingly. Carmen sounded gorgeous at, “It couldn’t happen here, in Oz.” Black out!

Dancing Through Life

Katie was hiding from Brad by some pillars. They are both really great actors. I wish Boq got more stage time though. Clifton came out, and I got to experience the new scene with the “Green and thought go,” line. I like that they get to meet earlier on now. Clifton was a very talented actor; he looked the part and was a really good dancer. His singing was good, but his dancing was better. No offense to him, but Kris will always be Fiyero to me. Katie did this cute giggle after he said ‘shallow’. I don’t really care for the new choreography. The old stuff was more fun, in my opinion. DeeDee did a great job just watching on the sidelines. I really felt for her. When Brad came back in with his book, he stood like right in front of us and did this fun guitar thing. It was quite entertaining. DeeDee has a beautiful voice, but she didn’t get to sing enough. She used her hands on the munchkin line, and got loads of laughter from the mezz. They enjoyed the show a lot! Lol. Katie poked Carmen with the hat on, ‘sharp.’
In the Ozdust scene, Clifton and Katie were standing right in front of us. They were giggling and having a great time! Brad was really good here. He looked anxious to see Glinda, but seemed to want to stay with Nessa. He’s a great singer, but again, he doesn’t sing enough! Nessarose looked really nervous when they were dancing. She started clapping, because she couldn’t do much else! Alma was awesome here. She grabbed both drinks from the waiter too. My heart broke for Carmen when she came out. Her dance was so sad! Katie looked really hurt. Everyone’s chemistry really shined here.

Popular

Katie’s popular was perfect. Not insane, but not lazy. The secret scene was wonderful! Carmen really had me fooled that she was Elphie here. Katie was so cute too! Katie’s singing is such a breath of fresh air and has so much emotion in it. Carmen kind of sat there and did a great job of not laughing more than once! Katie jumped like crazy and had so much fun. She lost her breath a few times from just running around and stuff! When Carmen said, “Oh, this is never gonna work!” Katie kind of ran around, stretched by the shoes, and then laid on the bed with her legs in the air. She was adorable. The ball gown part got a ton of laughs from the kids and adults. She threw the wand back and told Elphie she looked beautiful. Carmen was amazing here. Katie finished the song with a bang! Perfection!

I’m Not That Girl

Clifton’s toss toss was very funny! Carmen and Clifton held hands for a really long time before she noticed he got scratched. He was funny running the wrong way too.
Carmen has an amazing lower register! This song was definitely comparable to Julia’s! I’m not gonna lie to ya! She has almost got Julia beat! Her voice is just like this never-ending source of gorgeousness. Lol. The rain effect was so cool! That was one of the things I really wanted to see again! Carmen had an amazing finish with that super low note!

TWAI Reprise/ Train Station Scene

I really liked Alma here. She treated Elphie so kindly. I like how she sings her stuff too. Katie was so innocent and pretty here. Her acting was spot on, as was Carmen’s. Clifton ran in and gushed over Carmen. Katie looked genuinely oblivious to his attraction to Elphie. Katie name change was very funny. And Katie was kind of crying here. Nice touch.

One Short Day

There aren’t as many lights on the Tour as there are in Chicago. The ensemble is really good, like amazing. Elphie and Glinda came out right on time for their solos. Everyone had such energy and clearly had a good time. The Wizomania heads were funny, but one didn’t come out all the way. I love this ensemble!

Sentimental Man

Carmen and Katie are phenomenal actresses. Lee was a great actor. He was really nervous for his singing though. I could tell. He didn’t get into his falsetto until a few seconds towards the end. Katie just gave him a reassuring shrug. He spoke the rest of the song. Carmen was hurt and really upset when she found out the truth. Alma was really believable here too. Carmen’s chanting was awesome. Chistery was really simple, if that makes sense.

Defying Gravity

Carmen and Katie both had amazing passion and energy here. Carmen’s notes were gorgeous and not nasally either. Everything came so easy to her. Katie was crying when Elphie asked her to come with her. I think that was a perfect thing to do on her part. As Carmen flew I got chills and felt so happy for Elphaba. The audience had a huge applause for her too. Her Ahhs! Were stunning as was everyone one there. Katie was smiling, which Cheno did at the Tony’s. Perfection on the face flash too.


Intermission

Bathroom, bought a tee shirt, and ran into an old friend!

No One Mourns the Wicked Reprise/ Thank Goodness

They wasted no time starting up the second act. Again, this ensemble is incredibly talented. They just have this contagious energy and awesome emotion that just flows into everyone! I couldn’t really see if Katie did the Evita pose, because latecomers were pouring in. Katie looked very beautiful and a new seriousness about her. She looked like Galinda, but was Glinda now. Outstanding acting by everyone here, particularly Alma. Katie has such an awesome voice. It sounded slightly more mature here. I really loved when Alma sang her solo. Katie was practically in tears towards the “Couldn’t be happier,” part. The ending was amazing as well.

The Wicked Witch of the East

This is my favorite scene. I don’t know why, it just is. DeeDee was definitely very powerful in her speaking. Brad was very good too. There were a few “oooohs”, after he said Madam when she corrected him. Carmen looked so amazing and scared me in the mirror! DeeDee has an awesome singing voice and Carmen’s chanting was perfect! DeeDee and her walking were so incredibly believable. She just never stopped shaking or stumbling! It was phenomenal. Brad came back in and wasn’t whiny or over acting here. He displayed anger and despair just right. His singing was very, very good too. I kind of like the new “To Fiyero,” part at the end of his solo. Carmen is a spectacular actress. She very much reminds me of Julia Murney. DeeDee was singing amazingly, but seemed to be holding back. She was really quiet and could have belted it. I still enjoyed her performance though. Everyone is this scene was amazing. My mom, brother, and I were to only ones to clap for the scene change. Kind of disappointing.

Wonderful

I really enjoyed the ball room dancing segue. Lee and Carmen were really good together. She kind of stood there with her arms folded the entire time until her singing part. Lee is a pretty good singer. But very good at acting with his singing. Quite a few laughs from the mezz in this scene. When the monkeys came out, Carmen was so thrilled, and I loved it! Alma and Clifton were really good here too. This is the part of the show where I started to get used to Clifton and Carmen being together. Katie was so heart broken and shocked when she found out the truth. Alma and Lee were so evil in this part too.


I miss the dancing though…

I’m Not That Girl Reprise

I think Megan and Kendra own this song. But now Katie does too! She was so upset and confused here. She didn’t take off the ring though. It stayed on her finger. She was so wise and astute. Her Glinda had a mature way of holding it together. And then I like how it segues into the love scene. Katie’s act II Glinda FTW!

As Long As You’re Mine

Carmen and Clifton only kissed like three times. I was behind Clifton, so I saw all of Carmen’s emotions. Elphaba was in doubt that he wanted her, and Fiyero just kept touching her on the back! Nothing was awkward or creepy. They fit well together. The harmonies rocked at the end.
Question: Why is Fiyero running around after Elphaba leaves?

Catfight Scene

Katie is so funny and really great at what she does! Spot on acting by the girls. The Glinda wand was really ugly and fake, lol. It had like rubber stoppers on it. The slaps were kind of off, but still probably looked real from the mezz and back. Carmen’s witch cackle was really good, but Sho owns it! I got to see Clifton wait in the wings before swinging in. When Katie tossed Carmen the hat, she dropped it and had to go pick it up.

No Good Deed

There is no trap door to fit Carmen in Cleveland. So the book just flew up. The lighting is amazing here. Oh, and Carmen knocked this song out of the park. This was definitely her best of the night. Her voice just kept coming and coming and never stopped! We told her that at the stage door too, she was very gracious. Everything about this song was just so right. My mom and people around us were just like wow, halfway through. She looked fierce and insanely powerful by the end. A++++

March of the Witch Hunters

AKA: The Mob Song from Beauty and the Beast. Everyone rocked this one out! The pitchforks and fire, just everything ruled! Alma and Katie were in front of us and when Brad was saying, “I have a personal score to settle with Elph,” Alma made this intense disgusted face like, “Who are you talking about?” Then when he said the witch, she smiled and nodded very mean like. Alma scared me when she said, “Listen here missy!” It looked like she was about to choke Katie! Brad has a great voice. And the tin man outfit was pretty darn cool. I watched Carmen walk in behind them before the end.

For Good

Such chemistry here. The girls have glorious voices and they blended so nicely together. It’s kind of funny how Chistery just watches them. Carmen sort of let her accent bleed through, and she sound amazing. Katie was beautiful here, but quite sad. Still very mature, though. They did an outstanding job.

Finale

There is no trap door, so they used a well. Which was very clever. Carmen did this quite head popping up thing when Clifton stumbled out as the scarecrow. Katie was so good in the scene prior with Morrible and the Wizard. Funny, but authorative. The Finale was perfect and an amazing end to the show.

Stage Door

We had to run so fast out of the theater and had to leave my mom behind! She caught up. The State Theater’s stage door is directly behind the theatre. So it took ten minutes to leave and get back there. First out was Brad, and I yelled, “Brad, you rock!” He kind of looked around and finally saw me out of the eight of us there and was like, “Oh thanks!” He signed and we got a picture. Then, some of the ensemble came out. I didn’t know their names though. Clifton came to the door and brought in like ten people. So we never met Clifton or DeeDee. Carmen and Katie came out together after like ten minutes. Carmen was so kind and very sweet. We got a picture and an autograph. Katie is so pretty in person! She even had a hint of a Southern accent, and said “Ya’ll.” We got a picture with her. We also met Paul Slade Smith and got his autograph.

Overall
This was an amazing show. Everything was just perfect. If you haven’t, go check out this tour cast. They are outstanding. And Carmen and Katie need to go to Broadway. They are so worthy.

Thanks for reading everyone, I hope you enjoyed my first ever review. If you have any questions just feel free to ask. Just so no one asks, I did not tape the show.

Thanks guys!


PICTURES!