Won tonight! Enjoyed seeing the show again and while I adore the musical for the fab costumes, sets and SONGS, Amanda is the reason I will see again and again with the additional hope of seeing Jemma and other understudies.

Amanda's 'No Good Deed' was as always OUTSTANDING and that's the absolute highlight for me....worth the ticket price alone!!! Love 'What is this Feeling' the girl's performance is so much fun to watch and I can't get the Bogan version out of my head now…so I smile even more as they taunt each other. Defying Gravity and The Wizard and I, are also other faves and not sure if most of you have seen this link: Evolution of The Wizard and I but very interesting to see the development of that song. LOL lucky Stephen Schwartz is such a brilliant composer cause the man's voice is not so great BUT he is a genius wordsmith! Can't believe what what SOME critics have said about the Wicked score being unmemorable!?!?!? LOVE the comment about making people wait for Idina's belt…my heart soars when I hear that part of the song watching Amanda belt it out...I'm right there with her in experiencing that emotion! Also found this which is how Wicked the Musical came to be: The Idea of "Wicked"

Have to add that Mill's voice is starting to wane even more and it's not even been two weeks since I saw last! As stated previously by a few on the board…he obviously doesn't have the stamina and I didn't think the dancing could get any worse....the humour of that was lost in witnessing his last perfromance BUT I smiled knowingly upon hearing one sole woman in the audience giggle hysterically on his first spin and felt a kindred spirit in the crowd tonight. Some sanity after the astonishment the previous Sunday in witnessing him recieve almost as much applause as the girls!?! I saved myself the annoyance this time! The show was running late and I played pseudo director in changing the ending for myself tonight by leaving before the finale (had to catch the last bus home), right after Chistery shakes his head and hands Elphaba's hat over to Glinda. I know most of you love the musical's ending and even though I've tried very hard to accept the tragedy of Glinda and Elphaba never seeing each other again…just does not compute cause I don't believe Elphaba's defiant character would run off like that, let alone not confide in Glinda!?! She took on the almighty Wizard and all of OZ against animal's being mistreated...can't see her mistreating her BEST friend in allowing her to suffer that kind of loss!! I know being in love can change a person's outlook but the cynic in me says…Na-ah!!!

Oooh and I killed time during intermission checking out the orchestra pit…the guy on the far right playing bass guitar and the double bass….HOT!!!! Dark hair, dark eyes and the cutest smile…HE should have been Fiyero!!! Even if he can't sing, dance or act...still ahead in my view! I sat up high in my seat to get a glimpse of him during ALAYM!! Did it for me! LOL

Won the Lottery for thursdays performance, it's my fifth time since July's opening.
Once again what a pleasure to see Amanda perform, she is a star and what a voice, also happy to see Lucy maintain a high standard. I went along with four of my girlfriends, and we all left happy and satisfied. The Only let-down was the performance of Rob Mills, when I saw him perform six weeks ago, i was happy with his performance, but what a drop within this time, his dancing, singing and acting was really below standard, all my friends disliked his performance, he danced really slowly and sang out of pitch.
I was hoping to see Rob grow in the role, it was a lacklustre performance, yes he is very ''POPULAR'' but it doesn't mean he performs the role well, and if he was to be judged by international media and honest- theater critics it would be a very negative review, maybe he was ill, and if he was I apologise, but let your understudy do the role, don.t perform when you cannot deliver.

I want to say well done to Rob.G and Maggie, for always performing consistently well and to a very high standard, maybe Rob Mills should look at them for guidance. Also to Penny and Anthony for on-going improvement, Penny performs the role of Nessa well, and has improved since my last show, Anthony, always maintains a consistently strong vocal performance, he certainly has a fine voice and its a shame it isn't show-cased more,it would be very interesting hearing him do the duet with Amanda, two strong and powerful voices, even though he doesn't fit the Fiyero casting, it would be great to hear them sing together, As long as your Mine, interestingly I did hear many comments from those around me praising his vocal performance, he is also dancing well with the ensemble cast and he has improved since July with his acting, in the end that's all I expect from the cast, to improve not go backwards, I really expected the same on-going improvement in Fiyero/Mills which is such a more important role then Boq.

Overall, Wicked is great due to Amanda being the star, supported well by Lucy,Rob.G,Maggie,Rodney,Penny,Anthony and the great ensemble.

I may be harsh on Millsy, but if you go back to my July Post, I actually praised his performance, but after seeing Millsy really put a low energy performance I am not happy, its not a high school musical, im sure many disagree with me.

Ok this may be a stupid question but...
How do you enter the lottery???
Thanks

Not a stupid question and the only way to get an answer is to ask questions. You need to be there for the draw a few hours prior and can put in for one or two tickets. Copied from the Ticketek site:

WICKED Ticket Lottery: A limited number of $30 tickets in the front row are available for each performance from the Regent Theatre Box Office. Limit of 2 tickets per person, cash only. 2 1/2 hours prior to each performance,* names will be collected and placed in the barrel. 2 hours prior to each performance, names will be drawn.
Winners must be present (with valid photo ID) when their names are called, or they forfeit their tickets. *The Wicked lottery will commence at 11am each Sunday and will be drawn at 11:30am. Please note: The lottery tickets are not to be onsold to a third party.

NOT harsh in the least and I believe the same...especially when it comes to performers going on if ill...it's going to affect the performance and also recuperation. I thought he might be ill at first too but I really believe he lacks the stamina seeing as he's so energetic during encores. As you said...it's not a high school musical nor is it amateur theatre...not at that ticket price!! Why I'm sticking with the lottery for now!

As fans of Wicked, we ALL wanted (even those of us who were NOT happy that Mills was cast), for him to grow in the role!! The reason why a few of us were so opinionated about Mills being cast and upon seeing the Foxtel advertisement (snippet of Rob and Amanda singing ALAYM). Aside from the fact he is outclassed vocally, not convincing as Elphaba/Amada's lover in looking like a school boy BUT the biggest concern was the lack of experience!! Musical theatre is VERY demanding…even those with professional experience struggle to maintain peak performance levels. I can accept an "off" night but not visa versa!!! I wish all the understudies had the opportunity to perform at least once a week…would give everyone a break…and make it more interesting for those of us seeing more than once…twice…or..............................!!!!

Hey
Thanks a lot. Guess what I'm doing if I can go to Melbourne again in November...

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm not the footy cause that will be over by then!! Hmmmmmmmmmm perhaps something that's actually entertaining and of interest to make the trip worthwhile, considering the travelling costs?!?

I would book one show and then try the lottery for rest of the time you are in town! Shall keep my fingers crossed for you!! Might even see you there! Addiction/Obsession/Whatever...don't care cause I would see the show again and again JUST for Amanda's No Good Deed! BRILLIANT!!

LaFemmeVert, I've been reading through posts on the Melbourne thread for the past several minutes, and absolutely LOVE the fact that you use so many smiley faces and things in your post! They are so entertaining for some reason.

LOL Well I could say they are an art form and one I'm happy to see being embraced by other members on the forum but admittedly the emoticons are more therapeutic in expressing my thoughts where words are simply just NOT enough!

Won the lottery again for the Saturday matinee and saw the show with my bestest "Wicked" friend saintaelphaba (Wicked officiando and even MORE obsessed than me! ), with Jemma as Elphaba. I have to say I was not impressed like the first time I saw her! At first I thought it might have been an off performance but realised I must have been in awe initially; being so close to the stage (2nd row in comparison to the last row of dress circle), seeing the costumes in such wondrous detail, actually seeing facial expressions, experiencing the brilliant lighting effects, and Jemma's accent not being as pronounced as Amanda's was back before the official opening.

Jemma has a LOVELY voice but I don't feel she captures the essence of Elphaba the way that Amanda does. It was a good performance but I didn't take the journey I had expected. I sound like a complete hypocrite to my post back then but the only thing I can put it down to, is that I was not as focused as I was in seeing her performance this time round. The first time, I was so wired in seeing the show with my bestest girlfriend who I'd raved about Wicked to constantly for the past year and with both of us being costume buffs...taking in so much at once, along with the songs performed live.

Have seen the show now 6 times and the last few have been solely to see Amanda, especially for NGD!! That being my prime reason for seeing Wicked, could watch Jemma's performance without the green coloured glasses and brilliance of the Emerald city. I think Jemma's Defying Gravity is by far her best moment and I'm glad I saw her again to view both girls from the same perspective. Makes a huge difference but then Amanda's performance is totally different to what I first witnessed.....a much more liberated Elphaba now!

Also, met a lovely guy from Perth at the lottery on Sunday (he won which was great), and still smiling at his comment upon seeing the Wicked tram and stating "TAKE ME TO WICKED!" He had no idea the show was on in Melbourne and was thrilled to see the all the advertising. He had read the novel and knew of the show internationally. I thought he'd driven over for the show when he first mentioned he lived in Perth but not the case, and only part of his adhoc adventure!