i went to see wicked for the second time last sunday in oberhausen with my sister and my friend whom both had never seen wicked before.
we had amazing seats in the first row orchestra right with seat 5 and 6. and my friend sat row 3 seat 10 on the right side too.
cast:
Willemijn Verkaik - Elphaba
Valerie Link - Glinda (s/b)
Mathias Edenborn - Fiyero
Christina Maria Brenner - Madame Akaber (u/s)
Carlo Lauber - der Zauberer von Oz
Janine Tippl - Nessarose
Thomas Wißmann - Dr. Dillamonth
Ben Darmanin - Moq
i was soooo excited when i saw that willemijn was on because i was really hope for that to happen. even though i know that roberta is amazing too.
we arrived a little earlier and hang out in the lobby for a bit and i bought the program. around 1.45pm we walked in and i have to say the theater is very nice. no overhanging mezzanine and the first row is REALLY close to the stage. for some reason i was expecting to have a larger distance between the row and the stage but i really liked it the way they have it there.
it was really an experience to sit that close to the stage in wicked because the last time i sat in row 7 i think.
i will go through the different songs in my review because i guess that is easier.
KEINER WEINT UM HEXEN
i have always loved the song and the orchestra is just amazing in it. i was excited to see valerie again because i've already seen her in mamma mia and mozart a few years ago and liked her. and she did not disappoint me. she hit all the notes perfectly and i really liked her as glinda. the ensemble was really great too. belinda jean edwards was really great as the witch's mother. her expression when the governeur left was hilarious.
IM GUTEN ALTEN GLIZZ
it was perfect. nothing too exciting.
DER ZAUBERER UND ICH
WILLEMIJN!!!!!!!! her entrance was great and a few people cheered definitely as i expected it though germans don't go too crazy during shows.
i really liked christina as madame akaber. and valerie was hilarious.
now to willemijn ... OMG she is even soooo much better than on the cd and in the youtube videos. amazing last note!
WAS FÜHL ICH IN MIR?
the energy during that song was amazing. willemijn and valerie totally played each other off the whole time and their facial expressions were just perfect.
NICHTS IST MEHR GEHEUER
Thomas Wißmann plays really good dr dillamonth.
sitting that close to the stage enabled me to see some off-mic conversations/interactions going on in the ensemble which was cool.
TANZ DURCH DIE WELT
i don't like mathias edenborn as fiyero too much. his voice and dancing was a little off. but his acting was great.
valerie's interaction with him was spot on though. i really liked the chemistry between them.
ben darmanin as moq has the cutest accent ever. i thought he was dutch too but when i checked the program later i saw that he is from malta. he was the best moq i have ever seen.
willemijn's entrance to the ballroom was great. she really portrayed elphaba perfectly and i liked how she played the beginning of the dance.
HEIßGELIEBT
was hilarious.
the lipstick fall off the bed and willemijn had to pick it up. i've never seen that in any video before.
i loved how in the end willemijn looked in the mirror and smiled and then had tears in her eyes before she ran of stage.
ICH BIN ES NICHT
amazing chemistry between mathias and willemijn.
it is truely one of my favorite songs.
NUR EIN TAG
glinda's name change was hilarious. and the look on elphie's and fiyero's face was priceless.
great job from the ensemble.
EIN SEELENVOLLER MANN
Carlo Lauber as the wizard was great and i really liked him.
(nothing special happened during that song)
FREI UND SCHWERELOS
it was EPIC. i totally had tears in my eyes the whole time because it was sooooo amazing.
that was totally how the song is supposed to be. i cannot put it into words how much i loved it and willemijn singing it.
the lift was so much faster than on broadway. and the lighting and the orchestra were wonderful. and christina as madame akaber scared the crap out of my sister!
WIE HERRLICH
amazing last note by valerie. i really love her voice.
WUNDERVOLL
was amazing.
ICH BIN ES NICHT (REPRISE)
a truely hurt glinda which made want to give her a hug.
SOLANG ICH DICH HAB
the chemistry between mathias and willemijn again was wonderful. i kinda regret getting seats on the right side in that song because i could not see willemijn's face. but next time i will get tix on the left side. something i have never seen before was a little kiss before willemijn moved away and said 'for the first time i feel WICKED', which was cute.
another of my favorite songs.
GUTES TUN
basically i had the same reaction as in FuS with tears and unbelief of willemijn and her performance!
best version of the song i have EVER heard in my life!!!!! basically my life was complete after that song!MARSCH DER HEXENJÄGER
amazing.
WIE ICH BIN
very emotional and no dry eyes in that song.
and valerie's acting during the melting scene was perfect. she was very emotional and sad.
FINALE
just perfect.
the actors:
WILLEMIJN
just pure perfection. epic win. amazing. awesome. ...
there are no words to describe her and her performance. i loved her so much. she is my favorite elphaba hands down!!!!!
VALERIE
i really liked her performance and her voice.
my sister thought she was a little fake at the beginning but got better as the show progressed.
MATHIAS
acting great. singing and dancing not so much.
CHRISTINA
a great performance as madame akaber.
CARLO
not amazing but he played a good wizard.
JANINE
i did not even her until here. best nessa i have seen so far. i loved her voice and acting. when she learned to walk it was truely believable. i really really liked her.
THOMAS
was good. nothing special but a good and solid performance.
MOQ
adorable. great voice and great acting. really liked him.
THE ENSEMBLE
was really amazing.
STAGEDOOR
as expected. maybe 10 people at most were there. like 4 people came out. but there were only 2 hours between shows so i totally expected nothing else. though i was hoping willemijn would come out. but i will go back and see an evening show.
christina came out or well she was standing in the door to smoke. she signed my program and cd and i got a photo with her. she was really sweet and nice.
with make up still on and in a bath robe.
and joana fee würz was there too even though she wasn't on and apparently on vacation. she came by the theater to pick up her hair dryer.
and valerie link came out. she is so tiny. and was really nice.
it was just amazing and i had the best time. and i can't wait to see wicked again!
ps: sorry for using amazing, great, etc so much.
