ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.- Page 3
ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
MusicAndPassion
Broadway Star Joined: 9/14/05
#50re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/26/07 at 1:07amActually, it is "so-sha". Not "so-cha." Updated On: 8/26/07 at 01:07 AM
Bobby Maler
Featured Actor Joined: 1/8/07
#51re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/26/07 at 7:18am
Alexandra would be a better fit for Matt Doyle, who understudies Melchoir. They both look the same age.
Both Groff's and Michele's understudies look way younger than they do. I'm sure that's not a coincidence...
People are raving about Alexandra's performance on Facebook.
gymdudeva
Broadway Star Joined: 1/29/07
#52re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/26/07 at 2:17pm
"Spring Awakening" is available on Amazon.com and I would bet money you can find it at the Drama Bookshop.
I think some translations call it "Spring's Awakening".
gymdudeva
Broadway Star Joined: 1/29/07
#53re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/26/07 at 2:17pm[duplicate posting deleted] Updated On: 8/26/07 at 02:17 PM
#54re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/26/07 at 2:42pm
They also sell the script at the theatre. The translation they sell is Spring's Awakening.
However, if you can get a copy of the Ted Hughes translation, I recommend it. It may be out of print, but the translation is the most colloquial I think. I've performed in a production of this translation.
~Steven
Updated On: 8/26/07 at 02:42 PM
#55re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/26/07 at 2:47pmI've got Edward Bond's translation.
I know you.
I know you.
I know you.
#56re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/26/07 at 4:49pmDo the Wendla understudies do the nudity stuff? Or is it just Lea Michele?
#57re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/26/07 at 4:57pm
Alexandra was phenomenal was Wendla. Groff looked like he was 30 years old next to her, and he's almost 2 heads taller than her but it didn't look THAT weird. Made the hayloft scene much more "rape-like" than "consentual" but I appreciated that. It was also Alexandra's Wendla that made it like that but it was a good choice since I've always felt that the scene should have clearly been made rape and not passed off as a true love story.
But she was really, really good. Her acting is far superior to Lea's, though her voice isn't as strong.
And all the Wendla understudies do the nudity. It's a part of the character so you have to agree to do the nudity or you won't get cast.
Updated On: 8/26/07 at 04:57 PM
#58re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/26/07 at 5:46pm
I'm surprised that they would cast an understudy that looks so young. From everything I've read, it seemed as if they made a conscious decision NOT make it rape. One of the many changes from the original material. I think that Michele and Groff do an awesome job of conveying this during the scene. No - it is not a verbal statement, but there is a very definite moment of non-verbal communication that I noticed when I had the opportunity to sit on stage this summer. He pauses, they look at each other, and SHE is the one that initiates the kiss that leads to more. I think that there are more than enough intense issues recognized in this show, and I don't think it is watered down at all.
As for the ages- I don't think that 15-16 year olds looked OLDER back then. In fact, I believe they looked younger (just observe the costuming choices --- braids, babydoll dress, shoes). It is well know now days that children are maturing more rapidly than they used to --- from physical traits to choices of dress.
Does it bother me that Michele, Groff, and Gallagher look like full grown adults? No - because if you walk into a crowd of teenagers many look like this, and the musical is a combination of the old and new. They are clearly making a point that issues haven't changed much since this point in time.
So, that was the Drowsy Chaperone. Oh, I love it so much. I know it's not a perfect show...but it does what a musical is supposed to do. It takes you to another world, and it gives you a little tune to carry with you in your head for when you're feeling blue. Ya know?
Updated On: 8/26/07 at 05:46 PM
millie_dillmount
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
#59re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/26/07 at 5:57pm
"It's a part of the character so you have to agree to do the nudity or you won't get cast."
That's not true. I heard when Krysta Rodriguez went on for Wendla, she didn't do the nudity. I think it's up to the actress.
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
#60re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/26/07 at 5:59pmNope. Krysta did the nudity. There was one performance where she didn't do it because of a dress malfunction, but other than that she did do the nudity. Phoebe did as well.
#61re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/26/07 at 7:54pm
Dress Malfunction. Haha.
Sorry it's just funny to hear about a problem dress that won't come down. Usually they are trying to keep it in place.
Exactly how nude does Wendla get? When I looked at getting tickets for the fall the website said that it's brief. Some critic said it's not even noticable from most seats (I think he was disappointed). But the way it's being talked about on here makes it seem like she takes off the dress and throws it. Is it that obvious or are people just pressed to see some skin?
Just curious.
"I'm-Not-That-Boring-Low-Ass-Girl?! You better go up at the end!" - Seth Rudetsky to Julia Murney about her Solo CD choice
jg4892
Broadway Star Joined: 11/2/06
#63re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/26/07 at 8:08pmNo, its both breasts. He unbuttons the top of her dress completly open so both breasts are exposed.
jg4892
Broadway Star Joined: 11/2/06
#64re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/26/07 at 8:09pmReally? Yeah I guess you're right. Also, sometimes in the guilty ones you can still see Wendla's breasts because she hasn't buttoned her dress yet.
millie_dillmount
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
#65re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/26/07 at 8:10pmReally? Hmm there was another thread on this and I thought it was up to the actress whether or not they wanted to do the nudity.
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
#66re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/26/07 at 8:58pmit makes sense that every actress must bare her chest, because, clearly, that was a choice michael mayer made that he felt was integral to the story. If it was important enough for him to add it, then it wouldnt make sense for them to not have it when an understudy was on. That would prove it was gratutious, which the SA creative insists its not.
"The Light in the Piazza....My Love"
gymdudeva
Broadway Star Joined: 1/29/07
#67re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/26/07 at 10:47pm
Sitting on stage 10 feet away, I barely noticed the bare breasts. She's lying down, and Lea is not exactly Dolly Parton. Groff's butt on the other hand....
Back more on topic: I think that age group is really hard to cast. Just a couple of years can make a huge difference in how old someone looks. Add sex, and 3 or 4 years age difference could be a problem (depending on their individual looks)! You don't have that problem with us folks in our 40s LOL ....it's all good heh.
#68re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/26/07 at 11:21pm
"Groff's butt on the other hand.... "
Mmmmmmmm....
#69re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/26/07 at 11:23pm
The actresses don't have to do the nudity. Krysta specifically said she didn't want to, so when I saw Phoebe as Wendla, I was surprised when she showed hers.
Every Wendla so far, minus Krysta, has bared her breasts.
#71re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/27/07 at 12:02am
Yeah, I think it's kind of in the job description to expose your breasts. Kind of like Maureen exposing her butt in Rent. Wouldn't be quite the same without it. It was Mayer's decision to stage it that way, so I'm assuming each actress playing Wendla, understudy or not, will have to do it.
~Steven
#72re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/27/07 at 12:03amWell, she didn't do it the first time she went on...
#73re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/27/07 at 12:04am^ That could have been when Groff had trouble undressing her, but I can assure you that she did do the nudity.
dressingroom4
Swing Joined: 8/27/07
#74re: ALEXANDRA SOCHA as Wendla 8/25 Mat.
Posted: 8/27/07 at 1:20amsorry but you are wrong. krysta never did the nudity and was never required to. it is up to each individual actress who covers wendla to determine their comfort level. the "dress malfunction" rumor is just that. a rumor. people thought that groff was fumbling with the buttons on krysta's dress but he was actually just slowing the process down to time it correctly with the music since he would not be ripping her dress open as he does with lea.
