One Short Day In The Emerald City
Apr. 1st, 2007 06:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sophieisgodFirstly, I fluffing love the word 'emerald'. Secondly, I saw Wicked yesterday!
.
I know that a lot of theatre snobs scorn musicals for being too populist, or too accessible, or something, but I really couldn't care less. I am an unashamed and unabashed fan, nay, *lover*, of musical theatre. There's something about the idea that sometimes spoken words can't convey an idea or an emotion as effectively as a song can. And sitting in a darkened theatre, there is absolutely nothing that makes my heart swell like the overture of a musical. Anyway, I'm a huge geek.
Wicked was incredible. Even more so than I was expecting. I knew all the songs before I saw it, but because it isn't a 'sung through' musical like Les Mis, the dialogue between songs often subverted, or at least veered radically away from, my expectations and preconceptions about the show. It was actually a fair bit darker in places than I was expecting (not as much as the novel, but I suppose it is a family show). Anyway, staging, lighting, costumes, choreography: all spectacular.
Kerry Ellis as Elphaba was incredible. She isn't Idina Menzel, but she isn't trying to be. Her performance was a lot more droll, not quite as extroverted as Menzel, and a lot more British. :) I'd heard amazing things about her from Emma, who'd seen her play Fantine in Les Mis, so from the moment she made her entrance I was waiting with bated breath to hear her sing. And she was amazing. She actually gave me goosebumps. During "Defying Gravity", I could not keep the smile off my face, and "No Good Deed" knocked my socks off. Plus, we had binoculars so I could see her face during her solos. Just, ach.
Helen Dallimore as Glinda... My hopes were not high. I'd seen the Royal Variety Performance with her and Idina Menzel, and I was not impressed. To the extent that Emma and I have known her for the past few months as 'Shit Helen'. Now, I think a lot of this was due to the fact that her warbly, anglified Aussie voice clashed horribly with Menzel's big belty American voice, especially on their duets. Thankfully, Kerry Ellis' Britishness eradicated a lot of the issues. I still have *some* issues, though. Glinda comes across as infantile rather than immature a lot of the time, and she's still really warbly, but she's also really funny sometimes, so I think I'll let her live.
Yay!Adam Garcia. I've been a fan since Coyote Ugly. Kidding! Or am I? Anyway, he was lovely, and funny, and charming etc etc etc. And he looks very good in tight white trousers.
And because I love you, I wont' say a word about the ending, except that it was not what I expected, and it was beautiful and awesome.
Now, admire the smoothosity of my segue as I slip from the Emerald City to the Emerald Isle...
I love stories about the aftermath of rebellion, and I love Ireland, so I really enjoyed this. Plus, Cillian Murphy. In braces, often. Which reminds me, Sunshine on Friday! And I've got so much to say about this, but a 'Making Of' the Jane Austen season is about to start, so I must dash. Good lord, JJ Feild is adorable.
Tonight shall be magnifique! I'm catching up with Doctor Who, and then it's Persuasion! I may pass out...
.
I know that a lot of theatre snobs scorn musicals for being too populist, or too accessible, or something, but I really couldn't care less. I am an unashamed and unabashed fan, nay, *lover*, of musical theatre. There's something about the idea that sometimes spoken words can't convey an idea or an emotion as effectively as a song can. And sitting in a darkened theatre, there is absolutely nothing that makes my heart swell like the overture of a musical. Anyway, I'm a huge geek.
Wicked was incredible. Even more so than I was expecting. I knew all the songs before I saw it, but because it isn't a 'sung through' musical like Les Mis, the dialogue between songs often subverted, or at least veered radically away from, my expectations and preconceptions about the show. It was actually a fair bit darker in places than I was expecting (not as much as the novel, but I suppose it is a family show). Anyway, staging, lighting, costumes, choreography: all spectacular.
Kerry Ellis as Elphaba was incredible. She isn't Idina Menzel, but she isn't trying to be. Her performance was a lot more droll, not quite as extroverted as Menzel, and a lot more British. :) I'd heard amazing things about her from Emma, who'd seen her play Fantine in Les Mis, so from the moment she made her entrance I was waiting with bated breath to hear her sing. And she was amazing. She actually gave me goosebumps. During "Defying Gravity", I could not keep the smile off my face, and "No Good Deed" knocked my socks off. Plus, we had binoculars so I could see her face during her solos. Just, ach.
Helen Dallimore as Glinda... My hopes were not high. I'd seen the Royal Variety Performance with her and Idina Menzel, and I was not impressed. To the extent that Emma and I have known her for the past few months as 'Shit Helen'. Now, I think a lot of this was due to the fact that her warbly, anglified Aussie voice clashed horribly with Menzel's big belty American voice, especially on their duets. Thankfully, Kerry Ellis' Britishness eradicated a lot of the issues. I still have *some* issues, though. Glinda comes across as infantile rather than immature a lot of the time, and she's still really warbly, but she's also really funny sometimes, so I think I'll let her live.
Yay!Adam Garcia. I've been a fan since Coyote Ugly. Kidding! Or am I? Anyway, he was lovely, and funny, and charming etc etc etc. And he looks very good in tight white trousers.
And because I love you, I wont' say a word about the ending, except that it was not what I expected, and it was beautiful and awesome.
Now, admire the smoothosity of my segue as I slip from the Emerald City to the Emerald Isle...
I love stories about the aftermath of rebellion, and I love Ireland, so I really enjoyed this. Plus, Cillian Murphy. In braces, often. Which reminds me, Sunshine on Friday! And I've got so much to say about this, but a 'Making Of' the Jane Austen season is about to start, so I must dash. Good lord, JJ Feild is adorable.
Tonight shall be magnifique! I'm catching up with Doctor Who, and then it's Persuasion! I may pass out...
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no subject
Date: 2007-04-01 07:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-02 10:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-02 11:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-02 10:35 pm (UTC)And jealous! That you saw Menzel. My sister bought the DVD of Rent today, and I'm a wee bit apprehensive. I've been conditioned by Team America to expect rather a lot of AIDS.
Just out of interest, what is your favourite musical? *is definitely not a geek*
no subject
Date: 2007-04-03 12:41 pm (UTC)Again, I'm not the musical geek in my family, (reserved for my sister) but I love 1776 to pieces. Second place would have to be Spamalot.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-02 08:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-02 10:40 pm (UTC)Hee! I love on the commentary for the Christmas Invasion where RTD is all like "He's awesome! He's a big theatre star! And he came on our show!"
Incidentally, he was also squeeing about Daniel Evans, aka Balding Beardy Welsh Guy, who's just won an Olivier for Sunday In The Park With George. I love Britain sometimes.