So I flew to Stuttgart with the purpose of seeing Wicked, and more importantly, Willemijn. It was exciting when I first touched down in Stuttgart to see the walls of the terminal plastered with pictures of the show and the German witches. That increased the heart rate a little. I booked for a whole bunch of shows as I know Willemijn’s schedule can be a bit odd at times. As such I’m going to review the production in various formats as I ended up seeing all 4 lead witches in various combinations:

2nd Jan -Willemijn and Lucy:

Willemijn is a phenomenon … there’s nothing else to say about her. She embodies Elphaba perfectly as she has each small mannerism and eccentricity mapped. Lucy also has become my favourite Glinda as she is one of the few performers I’ve not felt becomes the villain in the show.
Lucy is so regal in her portrayal carrying her wand as a sceptre with bent wrist looking delicate and floating along in her bubble dress (when others bash around the stage because the dress is difficult to manipulate). Lucy gave the impression the bubble dress was light and knew how to twist and move it with ease. Lucy also breaks your heart. She utterly convinced me that she was broken hearted when Fiyero no longer pays her attention in the train station scene and even more so when she is confronted with the Elphaba/Fiyero affair (which seems to be treated as such). During I’m Not That Girl Reprise, Lucy shuffles along the stage almost in tears (one time she actually was) with a deep and convincing expression of mourning. This Glinda experiences emotion deeply. She may not appear to be the brightest spark intellectually, which she is very much aware of, but her heart is there. This is a Glinda who has so much hope, who is betrayed by the two people she really loved in her life, and then who ultimately loses both and is pushed to her own breaking point. For the first time I felt the show was very much Glinda’s story as well as she, like Elphaba, loses loved ones. Lucy’s delivery of her humorous lines are deadpan. She doesn’t ham it up for the audience but acts in concordance with her vision of the character. This makes whatever she says even more amusing as Glinda is obviously not aware she’s being funny! Lucy never once drops character.

Willemijn moves sharply with pointed, accentuated movements. She’s a somewhat cold Elphaba (not so much so when she’s singing songs like Wizard and I and Not That Girl as she’s alone and can reveal another side of herself). She magnificently transitions Elphaba from awkward first year student into a woman in act two. Her mannerisms become more mature whilst they still maintain their sharp nature. Willemijn bends her body and uses it a certain way for each and every movement creating the impression that Elphaba is a real individual with a set of behaviours, interests, and eccentricities. Her spell casting is quite different as she looks like she’s taking pieces from the air, building and combining them during the casting process. Willemijn’s Elphaba also warms to Glinda throughout the show and becomes almost a protective mother figure to her. Interesting as Elphaba herself doesn’t have a mother figure. As Lucy’s Glinda is so insecure, Elphaba appears to adopt a caring role by sheltering her from the booming voice of the wizard, embracing her whilst towering over her when Fiyero shows her no attention, and blowing her a kiss farewell before the melting scene. Their relationship is passionate in that respect as Glinda defers to Elphie and Elphie is so gentle with her as if she were a china doll. This drops briefly during the cornfield scene when both witches RAM their wand and broom at each other –whack.

It really was the extra things Willemijn threw in to her Elphaba such as being rather frightened of the Wizard and keeping her distance from the great figure, peeking behind the Wizard head to see how the mechanics worked and looking like she was about to be told off, rubbing noses with Fiyero during As Long as You’re Mine and kissing parts of his bare arm… all of these things were wonderful new quirks. She WAS Elphaba and nothing was out of place.
I was able to meet Willemijn after the show and mentioned I was so glad to have caught her since I flew from Australia. She seemed perplexed anyone would fly to see her but actually appreciated it. I told her she was the holy grail of Elphabas which she laughed at and signed my program thanking me for making the journey. That experience in itself was well worth it. She was such a wonderful performer and seemed to be a wonderful individual too. Lucy was a bit concerned that she couldn’t write in English and she signed the programme too. They are honestly the best combination of witches and I doubt I’ll ever see better.

2nd and 8th Jan - Roberta and Valerie

I didn’t know a great deal about Valerie. I knew a little about the previous alternate Glinda, Jana, so I did expect good things from this alternate. I was sorely disappointed. Her voice was wonderful and appropriate but there were so many things lacking. She just wasn’t Glinda at all. She wasn’t ‘bad’, she was just a non-entity for me. The audience also reacted very differently to Valerie than to Lucy. Whereas the audience laughed, cried, and made ‘aww’ sounds on several of Lucy’s performances, they didn’t react for Valerie. She didn’t take her time to deliver her lines but just plonked them out and kept on going. Timing and especially comedic timing was virtually non-existent. It was a pity

I really don’t know how I feel about Roberta even after a week. The one thing I liked most about her was her voice. She has a commanding voice and her belt was great! She also performed a very different version of Defying Gravity to what I’m used to. DG here became a song of relief; she wasn’t angry, frightened, or concerned… she was finally, for the first time, free. It was like a giant weight of wanting to be accepted, or to conform to a certain standard, suddenly vanished and Elphaba could be herself. I really like that.

Roberta held the fort for Willemijn I thought. There just seemed to be a massive difference between the talent of the two leads and the alternates (Roberta cannot be compared with Valerie). I perhaps found that difficult as I may have expected Roberta’s Elphaba to be closer in quality to Willemijn’s. But then again, how many people can compare to the talent of Willemijn? Roberta went through the motions but I wasn’t convinced she felt/lived Elphaba. I think it was partly because her facial expressions didn’t change a great deal. Her vocal tone did, but she didn’t show all that much through her expressions. I didn’t hate Roberta, I just felt there was something missing and she was really standing in the shadow of Willemijn. It would be hard to be Willemijn’s alternate and I think she did well. I would just like to see her take the role further and live Elphaba not just play her. I also think I want to like Roberta more than I actually do.

One pleasant surprise was Mathias as Fiyero. A truly human Fiyero who responds so well to Elphaba but manages to convince the audience that the relationship with Glinda was never really right. I think tickling Elphaba during the forbidden forest scene and telling her of course she’ll see him again was touching and very natural. This Fiyero was caught in an unhappy relationship but felt he was doing the right thing by not leaving Glinda because he did care about her… just not enough in the end.


Finally the last performance I caught was when Lucy’s bubble broke down during the start of the show. Roberta was meant to run out and Lucy just wouldn’t descend!! Down comes the curtain and then you hear BANG BANG (hammers), BZZZZ BZZZZZ (drills) and I even think I caught sight of a blowtorch behind the curtain. I was in hysterics, it was so funny to hear all this going on behind the scrim!! The most fun I’ve had at Wicked in ages!!!! After about 20 mins the show resumed and, I’ll tell you what, both Lucy and Roberta gave an extra 50% to their performances as a result.

Overall I really loved my Stuttgart Wicked experience. I will however say that I think it’s only REALLY worth it if you’re seeing Willemijn and Lucy. You can’t see performers like this in these two roles anywhere else in the world. They are stunning and their voices are heavenly. The ensemble I found were similar to Wicked elsewhere and I didn’t really find Morrible, Nessa or the Wizard remotely worthy of mentioning (not bad, just not memorable for me). Stephan Luethy, however, was probably the best Boq (or.. Moq) I've seen. So cute and amusing in the role! But this show belongs to Willemijn and Lucy. But since Lucy is leaving ‘for good’ very soon, I’m so glad to have seen her perfect Glinda. Willemijn was a dream come true. I don’t know how others I see now will ever compare. Perhaps they just cant.

Wow, this was a really great review, very interesting read, thanks! It's really making me want to plan a trip to Oberhausen at some point and see Willemijn!

If you ever get a chance to see Willemijn.... don't hesitate!!! There isn't an awful lot to do in Oberhausen during the day though. The Metronom theatre will be more suited to Wicked than the Paladium though I think. Tanz Der Vampire looked great in the Metronom.

It's Alexia and Dianne next week. Interested to see how Alexia goes in particular.

Yeah, Willemijn's top of my 'must see' list, definitely need to see her!

Enjoy Alexia and Dianne! Alexia's brilliant at the moment, she's back at the top of her game after all those months of being ill, hope you like her! And Dianne's just always brilliant...

Worth the wait to read your wonderful review of the German witches. Thanks! I pray that some day Willemijn will get a chance to play Elphaba in English on Broadway. As I said before I'd be there in a !

Aww, that literally made me sigh with happiness It really brought me back to last January when I saw Willemijn and Lucy, and made me so dearly wish to be able to see Lucy again! A big YES on everything you summed up about her basically. (Although I'm a little confused because she wrote in English on my programme quite happily for me!)

I love the way she delivers "Glinda, die Gute" at the end, so teary and earnest. That breaks my heart, along with many other things. She just really IS Glinda and no one else can ever really compare, though I do think our Aussie Lucy comes the closest.

Willemijn of course is God, 'nuff said. And they have such beautiful chemistry together, it's simply amazing to watch. 'Wie ich bin' was just so sad and fond and loving!

I think I loved Valerie a LOT more than you did. Perhaps she was having an off night? Because when I saw her last July, I was left not at all sad that I'd missed Lucy.

Roberta's Gutes Tun was one of THE fiercest things I've ever witnessed. I definitely think she matched (or even surpassed... no, matched ) Willemijn for that one. I loved how passionate they both were though! It was such a joy to watch Roberta, although it kept jarring me how very different her pronunciation is to Willemijn's which is an odd thing, but I'd never before heard such a harsh accent. I loved it though. (Btw last July when I saw Roberta/Valerie, I also saw Aida in Tecklenburg and Willemijn was every bit the perfect Amneris, as much as she is the perfect Elphaba. There is nothing she can't do!)

Thanks for the review, Willemijn is definitely the best Elphaba insofar as having consistently incredible vocals and acting chops to match.

If you go, can I come with you... please? (A)

You have a wonderful way of reviewing, saintaelphaba! I really loved reading it. I saw Willemijn and Valerie together, and didn't hate Valerie, but I don't remember much either. It was more she was there to accompany Willemijn (I came to see her too, although my trip was significantly shorter ). Willemijn OWNS that stage. She is so unbelievable amazing.

Seeing her live is still one of the most incredible experiences for me I am glad that "dream" came true for you!

Heh. I still have trouble comprehending what it is about Lucy that everyone loves because I find her the worst of the 4 Glindas Stuttgart has had. The regality you mentioned escapes me completely, her broken-heartedness in the train station scene is nothing more than loud whining, her facial expressions don't change at all during the show (or maybe just compared to Jana, since she was the queen of facial expressions) and she lacks fluidity in her movements - she moves like a mechanical doll, with very abrupt and sharp movements.
Err, okay, this might've been harsh and seemed I hate her. I don't, I think she's supercute as _Lucy_, I just don't think her Glinda deserves all the praise she seems to be getting. That being said, I'm really happy you liked her and thought the trip was worth it. ^^ It would've sucked if you thought it wasn't.

(also, the topic subtitle made me think you managed to see all 4 ELPHABAS and I honestly got green with envy )

I miss Willemijn now, I haven't seen her since July. I'm glad both she and Roberta are going to Oberhausen, the girls deserved it.


edit: btw, who was on for Morrible and the Wizard?

Thanks for the review, I enjoyed it!

Thanks for the review! I agree, you have a great way of writing about the characters.

And it also makes me want to see Willemijn A LOT. My best friend actually has relatives in Oberhausen, so I've dropped a hint once or twice as she loves Wicked too, but I doubt I'd ever get to go

I completely agree with what you said about Valerie. Thats the same way i felt after seeing her. I also agree with everything you said about Willemijn and Lucy. I adore them both. I feel as though no one will ever be able to top the performances that Willemijn and Lucy give. Or at least it will definitely be a challenge. Thanks for the review!

Since everyone here seems to be raving about Lucy, here's an interesting piece of info:
Tanz der Vampire! - Lucy wird in der Stuttgarter Premiere von "Tanz der Vampire" und bis 28.März, die Rolle der Sarah übernehmen. (Tanz der Vampire! - Lucy will take over the role of Sarah in the Stuttgart production of Tanz der Vampire from the opening night until March 28)
Source: her website

Sad and a little green I will be missing Willemijn's Elphaba for the final shows in Stuttgart though the next best thing to seeing her for myself is your review...can almost see it!


Sounds like the novel's Glinda which I have been desperately wanting to see though a little curious now cause of what 'TheSitar' has commented...considering I have enjoyed reading previous posts by her as well. I guess it would depend on how you see Glinda...for me I want less hyper and more regal, so that in itself will be lovely to experience.


Ooooeee could Mathias be the Fiyero I have dreamed of...one who will make me swoon? LOL the best I can hope for is one who can hold a note without facial distortions! Will see on the 28th & 29th!


LOL I'm still laughing since I got your text about that....too funny and ppl don't believe me when I tell them about the blow torches!


He sure does! Keep telling him he should have his own musical theatre blog or submit as a freelance writer ....has such a flair with words and shares his honest opinion constructively. Always enjoyable to read and while may not always agree I like his style cause I just cringe when I read so called professional reviews which are more or less regurgitated press releases...want "real" thoughts and at least some background knowledge!


Can't wait to see them and share some of that Wicked fun with you next week Mr! Two more sleeps till I jet off!

LOL well your post and missing Willemijn in a full Wicked performance...has me already thinking another trip is in order this year so I can see Lucy as Sarah in Tanz, Wicked in Oberhausen with Willemijn...Oooh and Wicked in Denmark!

WHAT. I HAVE A TICKET ALREADY FOR THE 28TH. Oh my god!!! I think I am about to faint. Or buy a ticket for the 27th also. Or both!!

For that piece of news, you are my hero.

Do we know who Krolock is for Stuttgart? I had assumed Jan would be transferring.

Yep, with Kevin Tarte as alternate.

I wasn't paying attention, so I just went, WTF Kevin Tarte as Fiyero?!

ROFL

that'd be interesting to see!!!

Hahaha, a couple of Stuttgart people who don't like him already said they wanted him to be Fiyero so he doesn't come to Stuttgart.

ROFL
Never seen him perform live but I don't mind him. Jan is obviously much better though. I was thankful I got to see Jan both times I saw Tanz. He made up for the horrible experience that was Thomas Borchert (ok, so the experience wasn't horrible, the Vienna show is wonderful. It's just Thomas is rather ...hmmm).