Ok so I promise I will finish this review cuz I haven't been doing so on the tour boards. I have decided to just summarize the main points. I have been busy with different things. Now I convinced my mom to lotto since we didn't have any plans and I already had 1 ticket for me. I was in NY with my dad and uncle for business and we thought If I enter and win 2 more people could see it. My mom also entered to add extra luck. Good new it turned out we met a few people and chit-chatted about the show and had a good time. Bad news we lost and the people behind and in front of us won... FML. Oh well I still got in.
Michelle and Alex were out. Robin Wilner and Adam Flemming were on.
Time for the show, I go to the SD at 7:30 to meet Julie but she had a rehearsal so she didn't get to come out. I am still waiting to meet her let alone see her. So I just head on to my seat which was AA 6 in the FMEZZ. To be honest, it was wonderful, albeit, I saw into the wings but it wasn't as bad as the partial view in the orch. I have to say the "boxes" are quite nice, the seats are raised so it's kinda like a barcalounger.
I did notice that the cards from the spots and the monitors off the edge of the mezz were connected to the edge of the boxes going into the wall of theatre. I mean it looked like someone just punched a whole into the theatre and shoved cloths to block extra row. It was torn and dusty. For the highest grossing show (right now), why can't they put some of that money into small renovations. I'm not saying replacing every in of the theatre but small things like a oat of EVEN paint, fixed dry wall, dusting for goodness-sake! I know it's a heavily used space with 2000 people running in and out 8 times a week but a few dollars could fix that theatre up really well. Now back to the good, The entire mezz has a better view than I thought. It's not that far and the sound is really nice. I must say the Bway orch is just so pleasant and rich sounding except for certain blips here and there. Otherwise Fantastic! Act 1
NOMTW-Ok, so Erin comes down and she is just beautiful and then she just started singing, WOW! I was pleasantly surprised! Just a clean smooth voice that I was not expecting. Then I realized, this girl has been in the 4 original Wicked US productions and 3 of them had her as Galinda.... it now makes sense. Now I didn't assume she would be awful but I thought she couldn't compare to Alli, KRC and Kendra but she did! So yay!!
DOS-Dee Runs out and I start clapping and a few other people join and then silence! I hate when that happens, so embarrassing and Dee really deserves a nice cheer! Rondi came out and she is just so good. I really like her Morrible.
TWAI starts and Dee is very very... cute. I guess you could say, she was looking up a lot in this song so I felt like she sang to the mezz... how sweet! I was in the mezz
Anyway she was at the top of her game and just belted like non other. I noticed that they had both sets of traveling shelves, is that normal? That was new... right? Oh well, it looked neat. She finished and the ROARED!!!!!! I mean like she just exploded with sound! WOWOWOWOWOW! The people next to me were in awe and they were cheering with such delight! Go DEEEEEEE!WITF-Nothing much here, really nice and upbeat scene. All sorts of good
SB-Timothy (Toby) was fantastic! He and Dee really had some chemistry, like I felt that they bonded during their "lunch".
DTL-I realized that the "horse buggy" thing that Kevin rides on is only on Broadway. When I saw the show last week in Cleveland I noticed that what they used was just a buggy with a big bar handle, I just thought they phased it out. I read that Kevin was sick last week but I could tell he was still a little congested. He sang in his head voice a lot. He was still really really good. I like his voice like that, It was something really nice to hear.
Popular-Now this is where I thought Erin would really shine b/c.... well.... it's popular! Haha I just know whoever play's G really shows what they can do in Popular. Now she started and he voice was pure and flawless but I have to say, ever since seeing Alli, I hold a sub-conscience standard in my head. Not that Erin wasn't good, it was just that she wasn't as loose as Alli. Though she and Dee had all sorts of good chemistry
I mean you could tell that a year or so in Chicago really connected them. She was very dry with her words. Not that she was boring but she just said them as Galinda with no really outlandish acting choices. All in all fabulous!!!!!!!!OSD-I just love love love this set for this, especially on Broadway! It's just so green and beautiful. Dee especially was a good dancer. I know there is not much movement bur she just looked very natural with her movement especially on that last part of the song "DAYYY!''. Her turn was really crisp and clean. This is really a crisp, hard working team bway has.
SM-I get chills during these scene up until DG. I just love seeing Elphaba grow and learn and react. P.J. is a great Wizard. He has real charisma about him that just draws you in and makes you wonder about him. He pulls off the philanthropic facade so well.
DG-Rondi's speech could have been better, I wish she would use her voice a little bit more. Though she was very very sinister with her facial expressions. Now am I alone that the towers in the tour (the smaller ones with all the old crap on them) are better and more attic like. The 2nd set on Broadway just blend in to the ones that are further back. Anyway just opinion. Dee was very very good. I felt a lot from her. Like there was actually tension through out the theatre. You could just tell she was scheming something up to get back at the wizard. Though flying away really isn't that scary on paper lol. So she did her "good byeyeyeyeyeyey!" riff with slays me! Loves it! So it comes time her to fly and I always straighten my posture and just sit on the edge of my seat. Haha... omg so she rose and I must say Elphaba always rises faster on tour. Can any one say why this is? I know when Ana came in she was extremely afraid of heights but did they slow the lift dow just for her? Anyway this part was just a blur cuz I always black out anything I flip over. I just remember talking to the people next to me and they had such tears in their eyes! Beautiful!
TG-Ok, one thing I need to point out, when Galinda and Fiyero have their little argument about Elphaba (When Galinda says "No one has searched harder than you.... maybe she doesn't want to be found") to Fiyero, do they always go to the left of the stage or stage right in theatre terms. One tour they always did it stage left or normal right. I don't remember them doing it like that. Oh well! Anyway Erin was fabulous. She has once again proved her reputation to me in this scene. I just love her voice and she really pulled of Galinda's perplexity towards Fiyero and Elphaba. MOst of the time I see G's that are just sad as opposed to being hopeful and confused.
WWOTE-Robin was clearly not on top of her game. I don't mean to be mean but she was just not doin' it for me like Brynn and Deedee usually do. I was excited to see Michelle but I guess an u/s is better than a bad show with the principle. Dee was there, I mean like doing her job but Robin just was flat lining. Her voice was not as good as I thought it would be. And Adam was not good. I mean her was not good, I had my cocky moment and said to myself, I could get up there and do it better but I thought again and said, maybe something happened backstage. Ya'no, benefit of the doubt... they both were good actors ,Robin and Adam, but they had no vocal power.
MORE TO COME!!!!
