Ben Vereen in Wicked?
Ben Vereen in Wicked?
keith2
Stand-by Joined: 4/9/06
#2re: Ben Vereen in Wicked?
Posted: 5/8/06 at 2:53am
But life is just a bowl of cherries.
So live and laugh.
Laugh and love.
Live and laugh at all.
#3re: Ben Vereen in Wicked?
Posted: 5/8/06 at 5:48am
lol
I saw Ben in Fosse several years ago and he looked like he was struggling a bit. (I know that he had been through a lot personally in the last number of years that probably affected his movements on stage.) I did meet him afterwards and he seemed a very nice man and I still was thrilled to be able to experience a Fosse original in a Fosse themed show...But...
When I read that he was going to be in Wicked, I thought...WHAT?
Now I have never seen Wicked (yet), but I am trying to imagine Ben as the Wizard. Did anyone seen him perform this role and how did he do with it?
"Life without music equals death."
lfae
Leading Actor Joined: 7/27/05
#4re: Ben Vereen in Wicked?
Posted: 5/8/06 at 5:59am
He was a very good Wizard (a good Wizard, "but you, sir, are a very bad wizard" 
) but also seemed to be very *himself*. If that makes sense. See, I'm not American, and I had no clue who Ben Vereen was before I set foot inside the Gershwin, so some of the little things he did kind of went over my head...they were a bit 'look, Ben Vereen!' more than 'Wizard of Oz!', but all up, I found him to be fantastic. Very enthusiastic
Sant
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/12/04
#5re: Ben Vereen in Wicked?
Posted: 5/8/06 at 10:14amHe was rumored to play the Wizard in the London production of WICKED but they've just announced that Nigel Planer (orig. Amos in CHICAGO revival) got the part.
shesamarshmallow
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/06
#6re: Ben Vereen in Wicked?
Posted: 5/8/06 at 11:26am
I saw him, and I absolutely hated his performance. He seemed to be in a different show altogether (which, granted, is partly the writing of the character) and was neither convincing nor charismatic.
I was disappointed.
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Sant
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/12/04
#7re: Ben Vereen in Wicked?
Posted: 5/8/06 at 12:20pmshesa: that makes two of us. He sung the role very well, but the acting... Too much of that "Hey, I'm BEN VEREEN, The Star!!" strutting there. All those extra dance steps in the middle of dialogue etc just made it very annoying performance.
#8re: Ben Vereen in Wicked?
Posted: 5/8/06 at 1:00pmDidn't Joel Grey do the extra dance steps as well?
So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life.~Office Space
erikaamato
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/12/04
BSoBW2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/8/04
#10re: Ben Vereen in Wicked?
Posted: 5/8/06 at 1:02pmBen was great and a much welcomed change from Hearn.
Jilani
Broadway Star Joined: 6/30/05
#11re: Ben Vereen in Wicked?
Posted: 5/8/06 at 1:04pmI liked him a lot as well. I thought the whole "I'm a star" thing actually worked with the character, because the point was that the wizard was essentialy just a showman, who was all about flashy, empty gestures. Ultimately, there was no real substance to him.
erikaamato
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/12/04
#13re: Ben Vereen in Wicked?
Posted: 5/8/06 at 1:31pm
Exactly as Jilani indicated, Ben Vereen was not playing himself. Those are the traits of the character, who is charlatan who can sham the entire nation of Oz.
I thought the dance steps were very appropriate, and they were also done by Joel Grey.
When I saw Hearn in the part the dancing had been simplified for him, I prefer the character interpretation where he is lighter, it allows for a more profound change at the end.
With all that said, the part is hideously underwritten, there will be major issues with anyone playing the role, because it is simply not a good role.
I stand corrected, you are as vapid as they say.
BSoBW2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/8/04
#14re: Ben Vereen in Wicked?
Posted: 5/8/06 at 1:37pm
It is sort of ironic - but the role has become the character itself.
A pretty dull role - but the right actor can cover it up.
#15re: Ben Vereen in Wicked?
Posted: 5/8/06 at 3:11pmBen Vereen was wonderful in Wicked, and his interpretation worked. It was a welcome change from George Hearn (who is a great talent, don't get me wrong, but was dreadfull miscast in this). Hearn's Wizard was so heavy, it was if he was playing Macbeth. You didn't get any sense that Hearn's Wizard would have been able to charm the land of Oz into making him their leader. Vereen and Grey were able to get that across.
#16re: Ben Vereen in Wicked?
Posted: 5/8/06 at 3:20pm
Jilani ... you summed it up thte best.
it was over the top ... but hey ... he was the wizard so what do u expect.