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rkoldSo today I at long last got to see Wicked. For those who don't know, despite having the CD and several illicit recordings, I've never actually seen it before. I did try reading the novel but only made it about 10 pages in because I found Maguire's writing style a little dry ^_^;;
I was really excited because unbeknownst to me when I bought my tickets, we were going to get to see Kerry Ellis as Elphaba. For those who don't know, she was the first British Elphaba after Idina Menzel left. And to make the deal even sweeter, she and Idina were both just in the 25th anniversary recording of Chess together where Kerry got to be Svetlana who was given Someone Else's Story even though it was Florence's song in the American version, but still I love that song So getting to see Kerry was a real thrill.
I felt like in the first act she was too busy trying to do an imitation of Idina, which I guess is fine for some people but I wanted to hear Kerry as herself. I thought she was much stronger and better in the second act, she felt more in character and like she was not trying to be Idina and instead was being Elphaba/Kerry. I particularly thought she was awesome at No Good Deed though my Mom thought she was screechy. I also thought she was amazing at As Long As You're Mine which brings me to Aaron Tveit, Fieyero. His voice is lovely and I though he sounded good for Dancing Through Life but he sang with no emotion, it was a bit... off putting. I so preferred Adam Garcia and the youtube version of Joey McIntyre. However, he completely redeemed himself in Act 2 where suddenly it seemed like he realized he needed to ACT as well as sing. They did such a lovely job with As Long As You're Mine I really liked Kendra Kassebaum as Glinda. She didn't sound quite as ditzy and cutsie as Kristen Chenowyth does on my CD but her voice was lovely.
On the actual musical itself...
It was interesting seeing it since it seemed more a throwback to the grand tradition of Lloyd Webber/British Mega Musicals. The set was huge and grand and the giant dragon seemed sort of overwhelming and unnecessary unless it is some reference to the book I am missing. It's interesting, Avenue Q and Xanadu both seemed sort of.. simpler. This was really highlighted in Thank Goodness where Glinda looks just like Eva Peron on the Casa Rosada. Particularly the way she ended the number with her arms raised and Fiyero standing there in the background in his military outfit. o_O;; I really hope it was intentional cause damn if it's not...
Wicked is also made up of power ballads and some of the songs/music for the choral numbers are sort of jarring and discordant. Avenue Q on the other hand is more catchy simple to sing tunes that don't take lots of musical talent necessary. There are a few power ballads in Avenue Q that take actual singing ability *cough* Fine Line and The More You Ruv Someone but songs like If You Were Gay>/i> are easy to sing.
Overall I really enjoyed the experience and I look forward to trying to see more.
I was really excited because unbeknownst to me when I bought my tickets, we were going to get to see Kerry Ellis as Elphaba. For those who don't know, she was the first British Elphaba after Idina Menzel left. And to make the deal even sweeter, she and Idina were both just in the 25th anniversary recording of Chess together where Kerry got to be Svetlana who was given Someone Else's Story even though it was Florence's song in the American version, but still I love that song So getting to see Kerry was a real thrill.
I felt like in the first act she was too busy trying to do an imitation of Idina, which I guess is fine for some people but I wanted to hear Kerry as herself. I thought she was much stronger and better in the second act, she felt more in character and like she was not trying to be Idina and instead was being Elphaba/Kerry. I particularly thought she was awesome at No Good Deed though my Mom thought she was screechy. I also thought she was amazing at As Long As You're Mine which brings me to Aaron Tveit, Fieyero. His voice is lovely and I though he sounded good for Dancing Through Life but he sang with no emotion, it was a bit... off putting. I so preferred Adam Garcia and the youtube version of Joey McIntyre. However, he completely redeemed himself in Act 2 where suddenly it seemed like he realized he needed to ACT as well as sing. They did such a lovely job with As Long As You're Mine I really liked Kendra Kassebaum as Glinda. She didn't sound quite as ditzy and cutsie as Kristen Chenowyth does on my CD but her voice was lovely.
On the actual musical itself...
It was interesting seeing it since it seemed more a throwback to the grand tradition of Lloyd Webber/British Mega Musicals. The set was huge and grand and the giant dragon seemed sort of overwhelming and unnecessary unless it is some reference to the book I am missing. It's interesting, Avenue Q and Xanadu both seemed sort of.. simpler. This was really highlighted in Thank Goodness where Glinda looks just like Eva Peron on the Casa Rosada. Particularly the way she ended the number with her arms raised and Fiyero standing there in the background in his military outfit. o_O;; I really hope it was intentional cause damn if it's not...
Wicked is also made up of power ballads and some of the songs/music for the choral numbers are sort of jarring and discordant. Avenue Q on the other hand is more catchy simple to sing tunes that don't take lots of musical talent necessary. There are a few power ballads in Avenue Q that take actual singing ability *cough* Fine Line and The More You Ruv Someone but songs like If You Were Gay>/i> are easy to sing.
Overall I really enjoyed the experience and I look forward to trying to see more.
