Well, I don't know exactly how I'm feeling. Perhaps less sad and more excited for the final show. It's an end of an era and looking back, it's been a journey. Never could I have imagined how the Melbourne production would work out. Heck, Carmen Cusack as Melbourne's Elphaba .. really!! Oddness.

I thought I'd start this thread for people to discuss how they're feeling about the final show. I'm geared up and bouncey and I think I'm ready to say goodbye. I shall post a review when I get back home in about 12 hours after the show - as I'm sure we all will!!!!

CHOOKAS AMANDA (welcome back, you were missed) and LUCY! (and Maggie)

I hope the cast has (had?) a wonderful last show. Are Amanda and Lucy not going to Sydney? i'm out of the loop.

No "official" casting statement has been announced, more an assumption that the Melb cast will transfer. I think Lucy will as Glinda but there is a question mark over whether Amanda will be continuing as Elphaba. Watch this space really.

Awwwwwwwwwwww, soooooooooo sad about the last show! However also slightly happier as the show is moving closer to me! Very depressing for the melbournians who are no longer able to see it! Hope everyone enjoys the final show, as I'm sure they will and I'll be at home cheering along, wishing I was there!

Final Flight

Full cast for tonight's show; as anticipated.

Tonight proved how valuable Amanda Harrison is to Wicked, and how much the show has suffered without her. This show was all about Amanda as she showcased exactly what she could give to the role and the production in general.

NOMTW: Massive applause. Lucy was taken aback a little and had to wait rather a long time before saying it was good to see her. Giant grin on her face. Everyone got massive rounds of applause, including Stuart ...not that it was much of a character introduction here.

TWAI: Amanda was CUTE. Not overly bouncey but extremely gawkish, and tomboy. Hope mixed with satire and sarcasm. Lovely to see her back on stage and the audience went crazy for her!!! I was a little worried about the vocals initially because of the difficulties she's faced but it sounded lovely. There is a different quality to her voice now, and she's not as strong as she once was (which is consistant with what many of us have heard about severe nodule formations). That's not to say she sounded bad, on a bad day she's still the best Elphaba vocally (Patrice has left so no longer counts).

WITF: Chemistry between the witches was palpable. Amanda included wonderful mannerisms like gagging at seeing Glinda - pretty much throwing up into her own mouth at the sight of her- hysterical!!. She was also more sarcastic towards Glinda and sent her "ditzy blonde" routine up.

DTL: I thought this was pretty standard. Nothing bad, enjoyable and running like clockwork (hehe). Interactions between Amanda and Lucy was fabulous. Lucy displayed empathy whereas Amanda looked like a deer caught in the headlights wearing the witch's hat and appeared to tear up over the situation.

POPULAR: Amanda stole this from Lucy, hid it under her pillow and wouldn't give it back. In other words, her mannerisms, deadpan reactions and quizzical looks at Lucy made Elphaba breathe! Elphaba was really wondering "what planet are you on Glinda?" She was also very uncomfortable being manipulated by Glinda and really didn't believe she could be anything other than ugly. The disappointment on her face during the times when Glinda replaced her glasses and when she said she had an "awfully long way to go" broke your heart. She was resigned to being peculiar. Lucy was great and didn't push Popular too far as I expected may happen for the last show. Very professional.

INTG: Awwww. Usually Amanda isn't that steamy with Rob. Tonight there were adolescent-like gazes in his direction and moving in towards a kiss during the lion cub scene. A soft and gentle rendition of INTG where Amanda curled herself almost into a foetal position under the bridge to hide herself from Fiyero and Glinda.

OSD: People loved this song. Never one of my faves in the production but the audience went mad for it.

SM: Maggie was very fierce tonight. Sinister and rather intimidating. As was Bert's bumbling Wizard who had moments of anger and then covered it up with his gentleman-like facade. Amanda kept staring at her hand after shaking hands with the Wizard.

DG: Nice vocal control, gentle and melodic. Enough anger, hope, confusion and determination. Amanda didn't have the powerful quality she used to have during "look to the western sky" and her voice sounded a little husky during the higher octaves. Not something most people would notice really but I was really keeping an ear out to determine any lasting effects from the nodules. Sounds like there still may be some. Lovely aggressive facial expression before blackout. Fierce.

ALAYM: Gentle, melodic, wonderful harmonies.... and Amanda was STEAMY. I was convinced she was experiencing euphoria in the arms of the man she's lusted after for years. Rob didn't quite know where he was going with the song as Amanda was trying to encourage him to touch her. Deep sighs, face pats and head nudges from Amanda, very little reciprocated from Rob. He's always had difficulty performing this song intimately no matter who Elphaba is. Heck, Carmen scared the hell out of him by being so physical and I think Amanda did tonight too!!!

WITCHFIGHT: Probably the most aggressive the two witches have been with each other. Total loathing (unadulterated loathing... for your face, your voice.. etc). Amanda was more Margaret Hammilton and Lucy was aggressive but not as squeaky. Nice balance here. I also think they broke the yellow brick road. I've seen the show too much ... it's a sad day when you notice bits of the set having been damaged.

NGD: Anger, confusion, overly emphasized hand movements; wide ferral eyes. She was a desperate woman with nothing left but to foam at the mouth almost. Rabid Elphaba - and it worked!! Perhaps the air machine was turned on more than usual as it managed to blow her hair about behind her. I thought this was a fantastic effect having both cape and hair looking wild! I imagined she was atop one of Kiamo Ko's towers in the wind screaming her distress.

FG: Lovely harmonies and this really felt the way it should be. The two Melbourne witches doing what they do best. Chemistry was fabulous, harmonies were faultless and it was a nice final farewell.



During the curtain call John Frost spoke a bit about the production, did his thank you's... let us know that three of the ensemble members were going to leave including Stuart (kinda always thought Lockhart Brownlie was a bit hot) and spoke about how the cast were going to drink lots tonight. Amanda showed off her sexy boots and made Elphaba look like a hooker after a few drinks (CUTE) and we all threw streamers at the cast. Jemma and Erin were also there to take bows which was a nice touch. A fond farewell. The show will be disassembled and sent to syd over the next 6 days apparently. Us crazy fans were also thanked for supporting the show.


Tonight was probably one of the rare occurances when I truly believed an actor WAS the character and not so-and-so playing <insert character here>. Amanda was entirely Elphaba. Every movement, nuance, mannerism... every hair flick and stance was in character. I don't know why she never went this far beforehand but WOW. She really WAS Elphaba tonight above and beyond her usual, and always fantastic, portrayal. This production needs an Amanda and she has been sorely missed. The show has to rest on the actress playing Elphaba as everything revolves around it. Amanda's leadership not only improves the production, in my opinion, but gives the character a life and complexity that has been missing for several months. A wonderful way to close Wicked in Melbourne and it certainly went out on a high!

A perfect review of the evening! ^

I didn't know which thread to post in (this one or the Finale thread -- maybe a Mod could merge the two?), so I'll just come here to post this photo I took tonight (we got in trouble just after we took it, hehe), but I love this picture regardless. Gonna miss Wicked now!

That is a great photo Thanks for posting. They all look so proud and happy!!! Except for Stuart..... haha

aww, Amanda was so boppy too. Bless. Strange seeing Amanda and Jemma there are the same time. It messes with my head when I see photos of two Elphabas at the same time (especially when both in green). Would have been nice if she was greenified but then my little brain couldn't manage dual witches.... argh! *explode* (I'm sure I'm being a little dramatic )

Sounds like an amazing show! I'm glad everyone had such an amazing time and I'm sure melbourne and The Regent have both been changed for good by Wicked! Love the picture too.

Hi. This is Amanda Harrison. I had a ball last night and want to thank those who came along to make the evening so special.

I have been following your forum for quite some time and I really appreciate your support and enthusiasm, but would you please refrain from drawing conclusions about my vocal health. No one, apart from the producers and the creative team, know what I was away for and it certainly was not 'severe nodule formations'.

I would appreciate it very much if people would stop guessing about my reasons for absence and stop posting as if they know for sure what was wrong.

I really do think you are all fabulous, and supporting Wicked is a wonderful pastime. Wicked is my life at the moment, and I am just doing the best I can to perform the duties of my job.

Thanks again. See you in Sydney!

A xxx

ps. I am using a friends membership, so older posts were not from me. Cheers. xxx

I have my doubts that's really Amanda Harrison, judging from the other posts.

But if it is, my sincerest apologies.

wow. Trying to decide if that was really Amanda. Read the other posts and its hard to tell. If it is, my deepest applogies, Amanda.

Ooops my mistake...not sure if computer was playing up or just me in a daze (Wicked and coffee high! ), but did not see this thread lastnight when I posted the Finale thread. Happy for the mods to merge to include your FAB pics (thanks again for posting!), and my initial post...was going to write up more of a review but already covered my thoughts overall. A FANTASTIC night and so thrilled to be part of Wicked history!


Well even if not, it's a fair comment. As fans, of course we want to know but mainly the concern for Amanda...such a fantastic talent and knowing how demanding this role is vocally or how it has affected other actresses internationally, the assumption is there. Much of the fun of this forum is in sharing information; stating what we know for sure or hear along the way, and I for one am grateful people do. I would never have known so much about other productions or even ours without WoOZ, and the wonderful members on here. I'm just soooooooooooo thrilled Amanda was back lastnight...made the night so VERY special! LOL my palms are still sore from the emphatic applause, especially when Amanda made her entrance! That was "the" highlight of the evening for me...to see her back on that Wicked stage where she belongs! John Frost's comments about the six semi trailers which would be transporting the set up to Sydney had my head reeling! LOL momentarily wondering if one could bribe them to take a detour! I've read about people replicating Elvis's Graceland as their home....I kinda like the idea of the Wicked set as mine! LOL Oh and WHAT a fantastic doorbell Stacey Time Dragon would make!

Yep, couldn't agree more. When a lead disappears for an extended period, people wonder -especially for a fan base of us nutters and a paying public. Word, after a while of absence, spread over various sites/fans/lottery draws/audience mutterings but I don't think any offense was intended from anyone on this forum. And if there was, apologies completely. Many Elphabas have experienced vocal problems (Idina, Teal etc) and had to go off for a while to recover. I assume this was initially the belief because the role's a corker. I always felt Amanda was well supported and it was a JOY to have her return. Everyone has a right to privacy but theatre, being the world it is, people can't help wonder when an American is flown in to cover a role. I think many of us were concerned rather than any intended malice (unlike some other general Wicked sites) but are relieved that Amanda's back and on form! The show just wasn't the same. In a way, it's the highest form of flattery when people are hoping against hope that an actor returns soon because they bring so much to a role.

Thanks for the review.
Haven't read the entire thread, but I know for sure, i.e, she said it, Jemma is going to Sydney!

Double post I know, but on the 'new' Wicked Australia website, it has was is suppossed to be the Sydney cast. It's the Melbourne cast except the stand-by Boq (name???) is now principle Boq. Also, according to their respective Twitter pages, both Lucy (I'm fairly sure) and Millsy (def.) are going to Sydney

Yeah, we've known that for a while now. It's the exact same principal cast, with the exception of James Smith as Boq (Stuart has left - but I think he's doing a couple of Sydney shows before James takes over, but I could be wrong). Other than that, the only major changes are in the Ensemble. Danial J Brown, Lockhart Brownlie, Suzie Mathers and Glen Oliver are not making the move to Sydney (I believe Lockhart and Stuart are both off to New York, and Suzie will be Australia's new Sophie in the upcoming tour of Mamma Mia!). Alexander Ellis, Robert Jeffery (the new Boq u/s), Sam Marks, Shane Stepien and Taneel Van Zyl are the new Ensemble/Swings to replace them. Hope that helps.

Just passing on what I know! And thanks for filling me in on the new Boqs name, I completely blanked it when I posted that!