|
Post by danb on Nov 23, 2023 10:58:43 GMT
…exactly. Its not like he was great when he started and has dropped off. He just doesn’t ‘gel’ as a Fiyero, all of the feedback at the time said exactly that, yet the mgt have extended his contract like the audience doesn’t know what its talking about. Yes, it is groundbreaking and to be applauded to have all three leads be POC, but not if they struggle to sing or act it! Plus there must be other POC actors out there with the talent required. What? Change something when there’s nothing wrong with it? 🤣 See also: shocking sound quality from many spots in the auditorium. New spots in the auditorium that could be ironed out by having another look at the sound design? Because nobody has ever mentioned that either? 😩🤯
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2023 16:28:04 GMT
Plus there must be other POC actors out there with the talent required. What? Change something when there’s nothing wrong with it? 🤣 See also: shocking sound quality from many spots in the auditorium. New spots in the auditorium that could be ironed out by having another look at the sound design? Because nobody has ever mentioned that either? 😩🤯 The sound quality is shocking for a professional production, let alone one that's been running for so long in the same house. It's not like they're unfamiliar with the acoustics like, say, a touring production. I was sat in the third row stalls and struggled to hear the majority of the spoken lines, but there'd be instruments drowning out the vocals to the point of bordering on painful.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Nov 23, 2023 17:08:15 GMT
Great username! Are you a cleric who can disappear & reappear at will? 🤣 or just one with impeccable music taste?
|
|
|
Post by jay987 on Nov 23, 2023 17:16:25 GMT
Amy Webb returned as Elphaba for the show on Sunday (19th November, 2023). Based on social media, she had friends in that afternoon to see the show. Amy was scheduled to be on Tuesday-Thursday this week, however Kate Leiper was on last night and for both shows today (22nd November, 2023). I believe Kate may have now passed Amy in terms of Elphaba shows performed this contract. I hope Amy is all right, whatever keeps her from performing.
|
|
482 posts
|
Post by deej4life on Nov 23, 2023 19:17:37 GMT
Kate Leiper is on as Elphaba tonight (23rd November, 2023).
|
|
|
Post by JustJ on Nov 24, 2023 10:04:31 GMT
|
|
|
Post by normasturban on Nov 24, 2023 10:38:43 GMT
Oh dear. Was looking forward to a full cast overhaul.
|
|
1,910 posts
|
Post by LaLuPone on Nov 24, 2023 10:41:20 GMT
I think the tour is the place to be for the next year now, much more exciting
|
|
129 posts
|
Post by sb on Nov 24, 2023 10:50:13 GMT
Alexia and Lucy are a very strong duo, happy to see them remain for another year!
Laura Harrison is returning as the Elphaba standby this time. She has plenty of experience of the role! 😂
|
|
|
Post by topaz on Nov 24, 2023 10:50:44 GMT
A shame - I love both Lucy and Alexia in this, but really can't face another Ryan show. I note that both current Fiyero covers are leaving - do we have any idea which of the new ensemble members will be covering? This is definitely only a once a year show absolutely maximum for me now, even when I really enjoy both witches, so might give it a go if Ryan has some holiday late next year...
|
|
|
Post by musicalfan on Nov 24, 2023 10:56:13 GMT
A shame - I love both Lucy and Alexia in this, but really can't face another Ryan show. I note that both current Fiyero covers are leaving - do we have any idea which of the new ensemble members will be covering? This is definitely a once a year show for me now, even when I really enjoy both witches, so might give it a go if Ryan has some holiday late next year... Felipe Bejarano will be 1st cover next year
|
|
|
Post by aingidh on Nov 24, 2023 11:06:46 GMT
Laura Harrison standby is good news. She and Kate truly have been holding the show together last year and this year. And glad to see Kate staying. Everything else... 🤷🏼♂️
|
|
1,910 posts
|
Post by LaLuPone on Nov 24, 2023 11:25:47 GMT
If Ryan Reid sees out this third contract he will overtake Oliver Tompsett as the longest running Fiyero in London, how depressing…
|
|
445 posts
|
Post by tr252 on Nov 24, 2023 11:46:20 GMT
I'm very happy to see Alexia is staying, I thought she was fantastic when I saw her in September, up there with Rachel Tucker for me. However whenever I go again, I agree, I will be timing it with the Fiyero holiday dates.
|
|
547 posts
|
Post by andrew on Nov 24, 2023 12:27:36 GMT
A shame - I love both Lucy and Alexia in this, but really can't face another Ryan show. I note that both current Fiyero covers are leaving - do we have any idea which of the new ensemble members will be covering? This is definitely only a once a year show absolutely maximum for me now, even when I really enjoy both witches, so might give it a go if Ryan has some holiday late next year... Felipe Bejarano and Jacob Young
|
|
129 posts
|
Post by sb on Nov 24, 2023 13:28:40 GMT
If Ryan Reid sees out this third contract he will overtake Oliver Tompsett as the longest running Fiyero in London, how depressing… Is this the same for Alexia Khadime and Lisa-Anne Wood? Will they pass Rachel Tucker and Sarah Earnshaw to be the longest Elphaba and Glinda standby?
|
|
|
Post by StageyBrum on Nov 24, 2023 15:33:48 GMT
I really thought Ross Harmon had a chance of taking over in this role or at least extending in his ensemble role. I’ve heard that he’s extremely impressed the powers that be.
What normally happens with current ensemble cast. Do they have to audition to get another contract with the show? There’s one or two who have already said they haven’t got anything lined up after so I assume it’s not been their choice to go?
|
|
4,503 posts
|
Post by Being Alive on Nov 24, 2023 15:54:54 GMT
If Ryan Reid sees out this third contract he will overtake Oliver Tompsett as the longest running Fiyero in London, how depressing… Is this the same for Alexia Khadime and Lisa-Anne Wood? Will they pass Rachel Tucker and Sarah Earnshaw to be the longest Elphaba and Glinda standby? I don't think so - Rachel did three (and a half) contracts, so by a rough estimate she'll still just edge Alexia out and retain the longest running UK Elphaba title (but I'm happy for someone who's got time to do the maths to prove me wrong!)
|
|
482 posts
|
Post by deej4life on Nov 24, 2023 16:37:35 GMT
Delighted to hear that Alexia and Lucy are staying on. I likely won't be able to get over to see them until after March!
Also glad to see Laura Harrison making a return as standby Elphaba. She really carried the show when Lucie was Elphaba, so it's great she is getting recognition.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2023 20:21:03 GMT
Is there a reason why RR is still around? I'm not expecting them to cater to the whims of we peeps on TB but reception to him has been overwhelmingly negative from day dot.
|
|
|
Post by isabel on Nov 24, 2023 20:45:09 GMT
Ahh well more boring news. Same old same old .
I expect the Tour will have all the focus over London
|
|
|
Post by jay987 on Nov 25, 2023 1:15:15 GMT
Is this the same for Alexia Khadime and Lisa-Anne Wood? Will they pass Rachel Tucker and Sarah Earnshaw to be the longest Elphaba and Glinda standby? I don't think so - Rachel did three (and a half) contracts, so by a rough estimate she'll still just edge Alexia out and retain the longest running UK Elphaba title (but I'm happy for someone who's got time to do the maths to prove me wrong!) If I'm doing the math right, this contract will put Alexia past Rachel. They'll have both done three and a half, but contracts were shorter when Rachel was in than they are now, so if they stick with a twelve- or thirteen-month performance run for the new cast as they have done lately, Alexia will have more total months on the West End. Rachel will have more overall because of the year on Broadway, but Alexia will be longest-running West End Elphaba.
|
|
|
Post by jacob on Nov 25, 2023 13:47:25 GMT
Echoing the RR comments with disappointment. Having seen the Bway production last month, they put the West End version to shame. The cast over there is phenomenal. A Fiyero that can sing and dance breathes so much life back into this show:) Can’t wait to see Laura and Carl on tour instead.
|
|
|
Post by theshez on Nov 30, 2023 13:18:32 GMT
Delighted to hear that Alexia and Lucy are staying on. I likely won't be able to get over to see them until after March! Also glad to see Laura Harrison making a return as standby Elphaba. She really carried the show when Lucie was Elphaba, so it's great she is getting recognition. This absolutely fantastic news. I am sooo pleased. Really the best Elphaba ever imho (No Food Deed OMG). And what a team. So sorry Christine Tucker is leaving. Love her interpretation of Glinda. Love Lucy too.
|
|
84 posts
|
Post by littlefluffychick on Dec 4, 2023 4:14:59 GMT
I saw Alexia for the first time on Saturday. Hmmm.
I’ve seen Wicked a good few times over the years. I ‘found’ the show during the Rachel Tucker/Louise Dearman/OliThompsett golden years. RIP.
Alexia’s performance was not my cup of tea at all. I thought she sounded very very shrill and nasally throughout the entire show, and her acting choices didn’t work for me either. She SHOUTED almost every line and I actually left the theatre with a headache. I was so disappointed.
The understudy Glinda (Christine) was on and she was excellent. A very talented comedic actress and great singer, Different from Lucy’s stellar performance but just as good in a different way.
Ryan Reid was better than last time I saw him, but I still don’t understand why his understudy Ross Harman isn’t been given a chance. He was vastly superior to Ryan in every aspect imo.
I left the show feeling significantly underwhelmed. Alexia was just not for me at all.
|
|
|
Post by toomasj on Dec 4, 2023 5:18:07 GMT
I’m sure fans - and probably even the production - know the show is in a bad way creatively. It’s just a write-off at this point.
Much like Phantom, if they did something spectacular with the casting I might go back.
At this point it’s name value alone. The show itself is so, so tired.
|
|
|
Post by asps2017 on Dec 4, 2023 6:33:01 GMT
I really thought Ross Harmon had a chance of taking over in this role or at least extending in his ensemble role. I’ve heard that he’s extremely impressed the powers that be. What normally happens with current ensemble cast. Do they have to audition to get another contract with the show? There’s one or two who have already said they haven’t got anything lined up after so I assume it’s not been their choice to go? Wonder why Ross is leaving!?
|
|
11 posts
|
Post by hoopoe on Dec 4, 2023 10:13:53 GMT
I saw this for the first time last week, and my overall impression was just that it's fine. I can still remember the theme of a bunch of songs, but the tunes and words were gone as soon as I left the theatre, though I thought they were fine enough in the context of the show. My main issue was there were a lot of things that I felt happened just because they needed to for the plot or staging, not because it made sense, and I couldn't really get invested in any of the characters. For my £35 I felt it was worth a watch; I enjoyed the dragon and the wizard's animatronic, and I'm glad to have ticked it off the list of things it feels like one ought to have seen, but I was left a bit confused about why it has the status it does in musical theatre.
|
|
578 posts
|
Post by christya on Dec 12, 2023 21:15:48 GMT
Seeing this tonight and so far not all that impressed. It’s bee n years since I saw the show, but it feels as though the level has just gone down massively. I think we have Ross Harmon as Fiyero and I’m enjoying his performance, but Christine as Glinda is shrill and pitchy, and she actually missed her entrance for One Short Day. Which I could forgive, but neither she nor anyone else sang her line so there was just an empty space. Not great. Outside of that she’s just so pantomime. I don’t remember Glinda being quite that pantomime. Alexia - she seems like she has two voices. On the one hand this beautiful rich, strong tone, and then also this shrill almost strained thing going on (which, to be fair, reminds me of Idina and might be a choice). She’s doing some lovely stuff onstage, but somehow I expected more.
Let’s see how it goes for Act 2!
Act 2 - a little better but still disappointing. Even a couple of instances where microphones didn’t kick in on time. I think this could do with a reboot of some kind, quite honestly.
|
|
|
Post by jay987 on Dec 17, 2023 1:43:10 GMT
Does anyone know - has Christine Tucker essentially assumed the role of standby Glinda? I know she still performs in the ensemble, but it seems she’s routinely on for Glinda with a frequency uncommon for a first cover.
|
|