Well, it happened...I got to see
Wicked this weekend. I'm in awe...absolutely, stupifyingly in awe. If you all would indulge me, I'd like to provide you with some brief (or perhaps not so brief) thoughts about this amazing production.
First of all, let me give you some general information about this particular production. The production I saw this weekend was performed by the touring company. Chicago is the second stop on the tour (it came here from Toronto). As of right now, the tour is scheduled through September, 2006. You can check the touring schedule at
the official Wicked tour website. If the tour is coming to your town, or a town near you, buy your tickets the SECOND they go on sale. This is a show NOT to be missed.
For those of you in the Chicagoland area, but were unable to see
Wicked during the touring company's run, do not fret. On June 24, 2005, the sitting company for
Wicked will begin it's open run. Chicago is the first city to land a permanent cast for this fantastic show. My prediction,
Wicked will revitalize theatre in Chicago. Hell, it already has. Tickets have been on sale for the sitting company for a few weeks now...they are nearly sold out through the end of September.
Okay, some information about the theatre....
The Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theatre is located in downtown Chicago in the renovated Theatre district on West Randolph. The Cadillac Palace is right down the street (where
The Lion King will soon be opening) and the historic Chicago Theatre is right around the corner on State Street. Appropriately enough, the world-famous and historical Marshall Fields building -- lit up in all it's green glory and hosting a
Wicked window display -- is kitty-corner from the Oriental. West Randolph is decked out with
Wicked banners hanging from the lamp posts and every bus and 'L' stairway has a
Wicked sign prominently displayed. Obviously, Chicago is under
Wicked's spell.
The Oriental Theatre is one of the many theatres in Chicago which has undergone renovation. It's a beautiful, yet relatively small, theatre. It opened in 1926 as a movie theatre and continued to show feature films and host concerts until the 1970s when the building fell into disrepair. It was added to the Federal National Registry of Historic Places in 1978 in hopes of saving the building but it continued to decay. In 1981, the building was closed to the public and was being considered as a site for new shopping center. Fortunately, in 1996 Livent, Inc. decided to restore the theatre to it's original grandeur and the theatre would be used specifically for musical theatre productions. In 1998, the restored theatre opened with the Chicago premier of
Ragtime. (Information about the threatre found at
Broadway in Chicago.)
On to the review of the production I saw last night.....
My mother, the loveable, wonderful, typically pain-in-the-ass woman that she is, bought me two tickets to see this show for my birthday. She told me to get the best seats possible and that I could invite whoever I wanted to join me. And since she is MY loveable, wonderful, typically pain-in-the-ass mother, I invited her. She was the one who introduced me to musicals in the first place, and I know it's because of her that I have my love of theatre. It pretty much goes without saying that, even though she kept trying to convince me that I should invite someone else, she was really excited about going to the theatre. I was excited for her.
We found our seats, which were located on the Dress Circle level on house left -- row KK, seats 1 & 3 (
seating chart). We had the
slightest of sightline obstructions, but really very nice seats. And, to give you an idea of how quickly the shows sold out, I bought those tickets 3 days after they went on sale...the show opened April 29th and June 4th was the soonest night I could get.
The preshow set design had a scrim that ran the length of the proscenium arch. On this scrim was a map detailing the various counties/countries/areas discussed in Gregory McGuire's novel (on which,
Wicked was based). At the center, in shimmering green, was the Emerald City.
The lights in the theatre dimmed and Oz came to life! The opening chords of "No One Mourns the Wicked" sent shivers up and down my spine. They are reminiscent of the opening chords in
The Phantom of the Opera. The cast burst onto the stage and the tale began. For obvious reasons, McGuire's tale was altered for the stage. McGuire's novel is really rather dark -- the beginning third of the novel tells the story of Elphaba's childhood (Elphaba is the Wicked Witch of the West, btw). On stage, this entire backstory is told in the opening song. The tale in
Wicked truly begins as Elphaba and Glinda meet at Shizz University -- it is during that period that most of the story takes place.
As someone who read the novel, I have to say that I am pleased with how Winnie Holzman adapted the story for the stage. And Stephen Schwartz's music and lyrics worked wonderfully to compliment Holzman's retelling, to move the story along, and to provide character development. Additionally, Susan Hilferty's costumes were absolutely beautiful! They were colorful, they were detailed, they were functional. Every costume for Glinda bespoke the character's flirtatious, "it's all about me" demeanor. The costumes for Elphaba appropriately matched the character's tendency to stand out -- her green skin stood out against the black of her costumes, which, in turn, caused her to stand out against the colorful wardrobe of the students at Shizz and the citizens in the Emerald City.
The actors. What can I say about the actors other than "wow"? I admit that I was disappointed to see that Glinda and Madame Morrible would be played by understudies for the performance. I was so looking forward to seeing Carol Kane as Morrible. But, once the show started, I completely forgot that they were understudies. Katie Adams' portrayal of Glinda, while a bit reminiscent of Kristen Chenoweth in the originating role, was spot on. Adams easily brought out Glinda's bubbly, yet unwittingly, self-centered personality -- which is a rather appropriate description, since Glinda's mode of transportation
is a bubble. At the same time, Adams was able to showcase Glinda's vulnerability when she found out that she couldn't always get what she wanted and her strength when she realized the treachery of the Wizard. Really, quite wonderful.
Stephanie Block's turn as Elphaba was tremendous! Having heard Idina Menzel's Tony Award winning performance on the soundtrack (unfortunately, I didn't get to NYC to see her on stage), I was afraid that Block may be tempted to go the way of Adams and mimic Menzel's performance. What a delight to find that Block made the role of Elphaba her own. And what a voice! I sat in rapture as I listened to her pine for the boy she never thought she could have in "I'm Not That Girl" just to come back and belt out the powerhouse Act 1 finale "Defying Gravity." This woman has already known success as the singing voice of Barbie and, more notably, opposite Hugh Jackman in the Broadway musical
The Boy from Oz. I think we are going to be hearing a LOT more from her!
I was somewhat disappointed in Derrick Williams's portrayal of Fiyero -- the romantic lead. While I realize the character is meant to be a fun loving, live for the moment and don't worry about commitments kind of guy, I thought Williams was a little too "Rico Suave" for my tastes. Rather than naturally oozing Fiyero's innate sexuality, Williams seemed to be making too much of an effort. I picture him as more of a cabaret performer than a romantic lead in one of the best musicals of the last 50 years. Good-looking guy. Talented guy. Not right for the part.
David Garrison as the Wizard really did nothing for me. I think I'm biased on this point, however. I came into the show not really caring for Garrison's work. He is probably best known for his stint on "Married With Children," but is a veteran of the stage. Again, this may be my own bias, but I thought his performance was rather stiff and much of it was underplayed. Regardless of the fact that the Wizard is the villian in this show, I just didn't find the character likeable. I want to like the villian. This just didn't happen.
Okay...I just hit preview and I now realize that this review of
Wicked is almost as long as McGuire's novel. So, in the interest of not boring you anymore, I will end it here.
I highly highly HIGHLY recommend seeing this show, buying the soundtrack, and reading the novel. Sooooo worth the time and the money spent. Run, don't walk, to a town near you to see this production. You'll thank me. And if you're ever in Chicago and want to see it, but don't have anyone to go with you...just let me know! I'll be there will bells on! I'll be seeing it again once the sitting company is here -- I'm fascinated by the thought of Ana Gasteyer (of
SNL) playing Elphaba.
Carleen
. If it's long term withdrawal, I'd go mad, seriously. I wouldn't know what to do with my time, and I'd be frantic, cos there are friends, like Car says, close close friends, I can ONLY get in touch with on the internet.
.
(just kidding.... 
mostly...) 
) on the Tony's, it'd take forever to list 'em all! 
*Hugs modem* Oh, and the person that invented high speed access, should go right to heaven! *does nekkid moonlit dance in their honor*
