Post Gazette: The "Wicked" showstopper "Defying Gravity" is one of those transcendent moments when a composition, a character and special effects come together to deliver musical theater magic, even after multiple viewings.
I've seen "Wicked" a couple of times on Broadway and a couple in Pittsburgh, so I'm somewhere between the woman who wrote to say she'd experienced the Tony-nominated show 38 times and the couple of "Wicked" newbies who accompanied me to the Benedum Center Thursday night.
4 comments:
In this article, Eberson says that her "problem with any new cast may be that I have the soundtrack by the original Broadway cast." This is something I can definitely relate to as a theatre-goer. Listening to the OBC recording of a show can almost ruin seeing an actual performance. I build up a lot of assumptions about how the songs should be performed, not because the recording I'm listening to is entirely superior to all other productions, but because I'm used to it. The same problems happens with movie musicals. I've seen Funny Girl countless times, so no matter how fantastic someone's performance is, they will never really compare to Barbra Streisand. (But my admiration for Barbra Streisand is an entirely different issue.)
Maybe it was my lack of curiosity, but I was shocked to find out that the scenic designer of Wicked! is a CMU alum. I am amazed to see how the students from our program are shaping today's entertainment industry. Most of the "face" of our students does come from our performers, and their achievements, because that is the most accessible thing for the public. But it is so fascinating to see how many other prominent individuals are woven into the huge spectacles in today's entertainment business.
Another strong point in regards to Wicked! is its constant search for new talent to plug into the show. There is always a casting rep at Showcase in New York, and they are generally cycling talent through on a relatively consistent basis.
Pia makes a good point here. The OBC recordings often take away from the actual show experience becuase of the expectations that you build up before seeing the show. On the other hand, listening to the recording is often times what makes you interested enough in the show to actually go and see it. Granted it's great to see a new spin on something that you are familiar with, but the differences between how you perceive the show and how the show actually is creates a strange feeling. It's just a vicious circle I guess.
The tour of the Benedum has revived my interest in Wicked. I was really fascinated by the differences between one tour and the next. I think that any differences in the cast and the way they do the performance is what makes the show great. Afterall if it was exactly the same why go see it again and again as many people do. I often like the replacements better than the OBC and try to avoid getting to attached to any single performer in a role.
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