Wicked Tour Review - Buffalo

[ohjustjake]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 11:43pm

Just got back from seeing Wicked in Buffalo, and after reading Zamedy's review of the show yesterday, I've decided to write my own as well.

I'd like to preface this with, although I have never seen the show on Broadway, I did see the tour in Toronto with Stephanie J Block and Kendra Kassebaum, which I would say was pretty close to the quality level on Broadway. My mom and I also saw the tour in Buffalo two years ago with Carmen Cusack and Meggie Cansler (who was on for Katie Rose Clarke) which was the 2nd National tour.

The tour in Buffalo is the 1st National, so I expected the set to look better, the pit to sound better, and the overall production to be better. However, the production I saw tonight only has two things going for it - Jackie Burns and Mark Jacoby. I left the theatre tonight feeling slightly disappointed in the overall production because it just seemed to be missing "it".

The one major component that ruined the show for me would be this: Amanda Jane Cooper. I understand that she is new to the tour and may still be "settling into her character" or whatever, but wow, she sucked. When she came down in the bubble, her soprano was nonexistent. There was a matinée before this show, but she didn't sound fatigued, just bad. When she belted, it was so-so, but her lyric soprano voice was just plain awful. She did have great comedic moments that I appreciated, finding new moments to expand on and make funny, but over all I was really disappointed in her performance. I don't understand how she got the role - i know this sounds harsh but there are so many more qualified women that could've played the role better.

However, Jackie Burns was phenomenal. Her acting could have been better in certain areas (or it could've just been the weak dialogue parts of the show), but her singing was excellent and consistent throughout. I've never heard an Elphaba sing in tune so well - her belting was really great. Mark Jacoby as The Wizard really stood out for me. The role of the Wizard was never really anything special to me, but for some reason, Mark Jacoby really took his character to the next level. He was charming, a great singer, great on his feet during "Wonderful", just overall great.

The rest of the production, sadly, was disappointing for me. Colin Hanlon was just so-so as Fiyero, Stefanie Brown acted Nessarose well but her singing left some to be desired, and Randy Danson as Madame Morrible was hit-or-miss. I was sad to hear a lot of synthesized instruments coming from the pit instead of more real musicians, and sometimes the sound design was all over the place. Sometimes the ensemble was crystal clear, othertimes I couldn't even hear them. Sometimes the overall sound was really loud, sometimes not so much.

I did appreciate the choreography and the costumes this time. I forget how much detail went into it. The set, as well, looked great for the most part. The overall set sometimes looked really small on the enormous Shea's stage.

I feel bad writing such a bad review because I do really love this show. I can appreciate how well it does on tour and how many people it brings into the theatrical environment. I just wish the quality was up to par. This could've been because it was my third time seeing Wicked and I'm just becoming pickier, but I left wanting something a better.

Updated On: 5/15/11 at 11:43 PM

[zamedy]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 1:50am

Well said. I actually REALLY REALLY loved the actress who played Madame Morrible last time WICKED came to Shea's (which says a lot because it's a dreadful character). Her name escapes me right now but her delivery, acting, singing the works was spot on. I remember Googling her afterward because I was so impressed. This time around, however, this Morrible always left me wanting more.

Some of the dialogue though -- uggg. So bad. So forced. And while at times I could appreciate the choreography, other times I just got annoyed with it, if that makes sense. If I saw one more turn with a leg bent at the knee I was going to scream. At times the choreography almost comes off as pretentious, if that makes sense to anyone besides myself.

[loveplays]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 7:27am

The tour with Carmen Cusack was the first national tour not the 2nd. And the Madame Morrible that was on tour with Carmen and katie was Alma Cuervo who I also thought was excellent in the role. Maybe you just saw an off performance.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 9:42am

Alma Cuervo was an electrifying and terrifying Morrible. She actually worked with the part and didn't sleep walk through it. Her speech to the citizens of Oz at the end of Act One was terrifying and malevolent.

Randy Danson was a huge disappointment. Not even trying.

I like Amanda alot and she was in great voice when I saw her.

I don't believe WICKED is selling out all the shows this time in Buffalo. They may start cutting corners with the tours and even cutting one whole tour. We shall see.

[zamedy]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 2:30pm

Alma Cuervo - Yes!! Thank you!

[ohjustjake]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 12:29am

Loveplays, ah thank you! For some reason I thought it was the 2nd because the set looked a little downsized, but it just must be the tour set now.

I LOVED Alma Cuervo as well when I saw her. She was magnificent.

I think that it's selling pretty well in Buffalo, except for the extreme sides and far back. When I bought the 4 seats for my family, the closest we could get were Row X on house left center.

Zamedy, I know EXACTLY what you mean about the bent knee choreography. I never really noticed it until Colin was singing his solo in the beginning of Dancing Through Life. Almost every set he took had that kind of choreography, and then the entire company joined it. Haha I'm glad you noticed that too.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 1:27am

Most of what I think has been already said, but I'll add my two cents (saw the Sunday night performance)

Won the lottery, and had two great seats house right, 6th row!

Jackie Burns needs to be a Broadway replacement Elphaba. Her performance is second only to Idina Menzel, in my opinion. 'No Good Deed' should be Elphaba's biggest moment, and this was the first time I actually saw this in any Elphaba's performance (except possibly Julia Murney). She had a slight touch of crazy in act two that was great to see. Her vocals were flawless, and on the last performance of the week on a two show day nonetheless!

I really enjoyed Stefanie Brown as Nessarose, her scene in act two was great. She didn't have a large belt, but she made up for it. Randy Danson just screamed all of her lines and made me miss Alma Cuervo or Rondi Reed, both of which are fantastic Morribles. Colin Hanlon was awful, which is sad because I LOVED him this summer in the ON A CLEAR DAY reading, but here his acting was just bad and uninspired, while his singing left much to be desired.

But the real person bring this production down is Amanda Jane Cooper. I don't understand why the producers are now casting Glinda with girls who are obviously right out of college. She obviously lacks the emotional depth for the character's transition, leaving the audience not caring for her the moment the curtain rises in act two. She thought she was playing Elle Woods the entire time. Also, if you don't have a solid soprano, the audience should assume you've at least got a good belt right? Yeah no. WICKED's track record with Glinda replacements has been a little shady recently. I haven't seen a good one since Kendra Kassebaum in the city, and Megan Hilty on tour, both of whom can be drastically funny, but also painstakingly serious.

Overall though, a wonderful production.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 10:03am

Yes but Colin has some serious "junk in the trunk" and puts his very nice signature on the Act One Fiyero pants. :) hahahaha

[ohjustjake]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 1:34pm

Haha I have always loved those Fiyero pants :-P If only I sat closer when I see this show...

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 1:46pm

Those pants are the stuff of legends. :)

[zamedy]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 10:57pm

I was too busy trying to follow a certain piece of eye candy in the chorus. Don't know his name.. but he was the one with the shaved head. He looked very tan, perfectly built and absolutely gorgeous.