Casey 4-02-06

Before the Show: Yup, we got lost. And hit traffic in Gary on a Sunday morning. I checked the understudy board when we first got to the theater (At 11 am!), and saw that Don Richard was on as the Wizard and Peter Ermides was the Witch’s Father/Ozian Official. I’ve heard good things about Don Richard (AnaElphieLove), so I was excited to see him in a bigger role. We tried the lotto at Border’s because we were three hours early, and since we didn’t win, we did some damage at Marshall Field’s, and then made sure we knew where the stage door was. (By the way, don’t step on a Chicago pigeon. They fight back.)

NOMTW: The Chicago ensemble may not be very big, but vocally, they are very strong! They had a lot of energy in the opening. Stacie hit the operatic notes perfectly! Peter Ermides delivered the second “Take it away!” with so much disgust! (Though I still don’t get why the audience laughs before he says it.)

DOS: Stacie was perfect in the dialogue before this song! I was very impressed. I got a good feeling about how Kristy was going to interpret Elphaba just by watching her walk around in this song. In the scene after DOS, Kristy was dead-on. She was like the kid in high school who knew they were a nerd, and didn’t care at all what people thought. In fact, they were kind of proud about it. And I saw the guy in the skirt! Heidi’s Nessa seemed like she was tightly wound and absolutely fed up with her sister – but after WWOTE, it made more sense. And though she’s no Carole Shelley, Rondi was a good Morrible. Stacie also did a hilarious little dance after her “phosphorescent” line. She has got one crazy set of arms!

TWAI: I got the feeling that the audience wasn’t expected such a big and amazing voice from Kristy: she blew the whole theater away! The end of the song was beautiful. It was like a peek insider her characterization: outwardly, she didn’t care if she was a geek, but all she really hoped for was to be normal. I saw more of that later on during Popular. Another thing that I remember was how excited and happy Kristy was.

WITF: Kristy has got this song down! Even though she’s worked with many other Glindas, she knows just how to mock Stacie. As they sang “Every little trait,” Kristy did Stacie’s crazy arm dance! I also loved how their voices blended during this song, and the ensemble was powerful once again.

SB: I knew that Steven Skybell had left the show a few days ago, but I didn’t know that Timothy Britten Parker replaced him! Kristy was so annoyed as she said, “Maybe pronouncing your precious name isn't the sole purpose of Doctor Dillamond's life,” and Stacie’s crazy arms are adorable when she says, “I don't see why you can't just teach us history instead of always harping on the past.” Then she holds a pose and waits for the students and the audience to react. Kristy came off as the proud nerd again when she stayed after with Dr. Dillamond, and Timothy Britten Parker was perfect in his role. His attempts at saying “Galinda” are very funny, but he was able to nail the emotion when he flips over the chalkboard.

DTL: Just like I thought it would be, this was my favorite part of the show. As a dancer, I probably paid too much attention to the choreography, and the amazing costumes and lighting. Kristoffer Cusick, in addition to being very hot, was perfect as Fiyero. He can dance like that again anytime! Stacie tossed her hair every time she was with Kris, which made it mean more when she taught Kristy how to do it in the next scene. Telly was so determined, and I loved it when he got right up in Kris’ face. He’s a cutie too! Stacie made the funniest little “yuck” noises when she was holding the hat that actually reminded me of Lucille Ball. She was at her best when she found the hat, and when she gave it to Kristy. Rondi was very annoyed when she gave Stacie the training wand, which was very, very funny. Kristy and Stacie make the funniest pair during the dance, because Kristy is jerky, and Stacie is all over the place. After she circled her arms, she leaned way back, and then squatted on the floor.

Popular: I was not disappointed here at all! Stacie’s crazy arms and dancing are my new love. Kristy’s “That’s not the secret,” was played for laughs, which worked well. Stacie bounced around everywhere before and during the song, and put in that second “Don’t” that I love. You can tell that she has watched Megan Hilty in some parts, but the dialogue in the middle of the song was her totally her own. After the wand didn’t work the first time, she kept breathing on it and rubbing it off, and she was just like a giddy little kid when she said, “Ooo, pink goes good with green!” And of course, I loved her “Oh, hello!” into the mirror. Kristy looked so shocked when Stacie pinned the flower into her hair, like she couldn’t believe she was pretty. It was kind of heartbreaking!

INTG: Kristy was mimicking Stacie’s voice when she tossed her hair, and Kris’ mimic of that was even funnier. He put his whole body into it! Kristy was very passionate in the classroom, and it was so cute how enamored Kris was with her when they stole the lion cub. He owns the line, “Excuse me, there's no pretense here. I happen to be genuinely self-absorbed and deeply shallow.” Kristy’s voice was lovely during the song that it was hard to remember that it was a sad song. Like all of her songs, this one has gotten much better since she began on Broadway.

Train Station: By this point, the two women behind me (who totally wanted to take Stacie home) were screaming, “Her arms, her arms!” and died of laughter every time Stacie moved them. Kristy was so hopeful, and Heidi was so nasty to her! Kris was adorable again, and Stacie’s “This must be what other people feel like. How do they bear it?” was the best. Kristy also came off as a very genuine friend to Galinda. (Oh, it’s Glinda now, isn’t it? Sorry, couldn’t resist!)

OSD: Oh my gosh, there is an ensemble member en Pointe. How have I never noticed this? I want those green Pointe shoes so badly! I tend to skip this song when I listen to the show, but it was a thousand times more amazing on stage. I finally appreciate it! Kristy and Stacie were so sweet and caring when they talked before Wizomania. Kristy was so genuinely excited, and Stacie was proud of her.

SM: Don Richard is probably the best Wizard ever. Right from the moment he came out from behind the head, you wanted to hug him like he was your grandfather. Yeah, sure he had a couple of cogs loose, but you still love your grandpa. Do all the Wizards grab Elphaba’s hand when they say “daughter?” It’s a cute touch. Kristy’s chanting was lovely, and when she realizes that the Wizard is a phony, she’s more shocked and disappointed than angry. I wanted to hug her too! She’s the best.

DG: Finally, the moment I had been waiting for to see live. I’d pay $90 just to see this song again! I knew the staging and set was simple until the end, but I loved the intimate feeling it gave, which highlighted the friendship between Elphie and Glinda. One of my favorite parts of the show was when they held the broom and sang together. It’s so sweet live! Kristy’s voice is gorgeous, and I even thought Stacie was very strong vocally here. Kristy also flew up much faster than I expected, but it seemed like she was right on my level in the dress circle. There was so much to watch and appreciate during the end of the song, and I feel like I missed so much by trying to focus on a couple of things. I don’t think I heard Stacie’s “I hope you’re happy” because I was so focused on Kristy’s amazing voice.

TG: Stacie IS the older Glinda, no doubt. I have never heard a more beautiful Thank Goodness. Kris was perfect as usual, and Stacie’s reactions were fabulous. She put so much meaning behind the song, and some awesome belting! Definitely better than the cast recording. The soloists all had amazing voices, and I wished I could have heard more of them individually.

WWOTE: Heidi is amazing. After this song, I understood why she played Nessa the way she did in the first act. She was so angry at Elphaba and Boq, and her voice was so beautiful and powerful when she sang. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone do this scene/song better. I also saw a change in Kristy’s Elphie during this scene: when Nessa tells her that their father is dead, she really starts to mature from the geeky Elphie that I saw at the beginning of this scene. I wish I could put my finger on just where it happens!

Glinda’s Ball: Oh, I love the ballgowns! They are so gorgeous in person! And as a dancer, I loved watching this part.

Wonderful: I love Kristy’s mature Elphie! And Don Richard needs this role full-time, because he has a great voice and the best portrayal of the Wizard. The dance is adorable, and everything that Kristy did in the scene after it was perfect. For the final time, her one wish was dangled in front of her, to end up with her more hurt than before. She’s got this role down pat! Stacie also stood out in the following scene because she brought so much emotion to it.

INTG ®: Just like in the preceding scene, Stacie brought just the right emotion to this song; it was not overdramatic at all. It really made the song mean more, and I felt so much more for her Glinda than I have with anyone else.

ALAYM: Absolutely gorgeous. Kris and Kristy have the perfect vocal blend, and Kristy puts a whole lot into it! It seemed like every time they had even the slightest pause, they jumped at each other. Kris was so sweet during the dialogue after the song, and was totally sure of their love.

The Catfight: Another scene I had been waiting for. For the first in this act, Stacie did the crazy arms and pose when she sent Dorothy off down the road. Kristy was at the top of her game here, the cackle was amazing. She was mad, but she had a reason to be. Stacie held her own, with a great “Yes, I do” and the best wand twirl ever. I also feel that she really forgave Fiyero at the end of the scene. (Though I wish I could remember the adlib after “Let me go, I almost had her” that was so funny!)

NGD: We all know that Kristy owns this song, and it stands true. Her voice is wonderful, and so is the emotional power behind it. I swear I could see some facial expression during this song, and whoa, was it heartbreaking. The last belt was absolutely amazing.

MOTWH: The ensemble was very mad here, and Stacie was very realistic with Morrible, like she was just realizing what had come and what she had lost because of her dream. Rondi’s “shut up” wasn’t as nasty as I was used to, though.

For Good: Since my class is singing this song at graduation this year, it had a little more meaning for me. I saw Kate and Ana perform this song on a telethon, but Kristy and Stacie had what I felt that Ana and Kate were missing. Stacie played the dialogue beforehand like she couldn’t let her last time with her best friend be spent watching her demise. Kristy’s voice is so funny at the beginning of the scene, but so lovely during the song. Another great blend of their voices, with just the right emotion. These two know where the feeling in this musical is!

Melting: I had a little epiphany during this scene: even though Elphaba accepts her failure in For Good, she does succeed, because the Wizard and Morrible are deposed. The only thing she loses is the ability to be with Glinda. I don’t know why that hasn’t hit me yet. Anyway, if the tears weren’t rolling down my face already, they were now. Kristy and Stacie are just so sincere and genuine together! Right before Kristy stepped behind the scrim, she held it for a couple of seconds, and she and Stacie looked right at each other for the last time. It was probably the most heartbreaking moment I’ve ever seen. And Don Richard was so believable when he realized he was Elphaba’s father – I still wanted to hug him, even though he had his own daughter killed. He was just that great. Stacie also put the right amount of humor in when she had Morrible sent to prison: It couldn’t really be a funny scene, but she made it all work. And those arms too!

Finale: I loved how shocked the audience was when Kristy came out of the trap door! She was heartbreaking when she wished that she could tell Glinda they were alive. Stacie also hit that last note beautifully.

Curtain Call: When Kristy was asking for BC/EFA donations, she told the audience that they could put “Tens, twenties, hundreds, and small children” in the bucket and gave a little cackle. It’s a good thing I came prepared, because that alone deserved a donation! She and Kris were so cute as they asked for donations!

Performer Reviews:

Stacie: I know people have said that she puts too much emotion into Glinda, but I beg to differ. That’s what really stuck out to me during act two. If that hadn’t have been there, I could have easily not cared as much as I did about Glinda at the end of the show. She put the feeling behind her songs in the second act that gave them a much more poignant meaning than I had heard before. She’s a great Galinda, but she’s the best Glinda. And her crazy arms, poses, and dances were hilarious!

Kristy: Her characterization of Elphaba, the proud nerd who is secretly insecure, is something I hadn’t seen before, and I really loved. It made the change in Elphaba between the acts more profound. Her voice, of course, is also amazing. Nothing can compare to hearing its power live! If this is how much it has grown already, imagine what it will be like at the end of her run.

Kris: Ah, one cannot say enough about how Kris is the best Fiyero ever. He is hysterical in the right moments, perfectly believable as he falls in love with Elphaba, and sincere through act two.

Don: Like Stacie did, Don brought more to this role for me. I went into the show hating the Wizard, but he was so sincere in the end that I still cared for one of the story’s villains. He was crazy but loveable grandpa, who didn‘t really understand that he‘d done wrong.

Rondi: You know, she’s really not that bad. She was fantastic at the Ozdust, when she was so annoyed with Galinda. She’s now my favorite Morrible in that scene, hands-down. And her “Wicked Witch!” is good as well.

Heidi: I wondered why Heidi’s Nessa was so mad at Elphaba at first, but then I understood how long she’s had to put up with something that she can’t stand. While it’s not right for her to be that mad at Elphie, Heidi’s portrayal makes sense. She was absolutely perfect during WWOTE, and completely believable.

Telly: He made what little of a role he has stand out! I loved when he tried to stand up to Kris, and how he kept looking over to Galinda the whole time at the Ozdust. Oh, and how mad he was with Nessa at the beginning of WWOTE. He needs a hug! (Wish I could have met him after the show!)

Timothy: I am so glad that he came to Chicago! I think earnest is the best word for his portrayal of Doctor Dillamond. I know that his character can be written off, but this man made you care about what happened to his character. I didn’t expect to feel as much as I did for Doctor Dillamond.

Stage Door: We had to wait about 10 minutes, but it was worth it! Brad Bass (Fiyero u/s) is probably the nicest person ever. We talked with him for about five minutes, and he was a lot of fun. He sings “No one mourns the Wicked” in NOMTW, and has extremely good hair, as my friend noticed. Then Kris came out, and the drooling commenced. We didn’t get to talk to him long, since Kristy & Stacie came out, but we did get an autograph and a photo. Kristy is an absolute sweetheart! We got a couple of photos with her, and talked to her as well. She was still a little green around the ears. Stacie didn’t stay long, and we were two of the only four people that got to meet her, because she was starved. She’s also dyed her hair lighter, and was very kind and polite. (She was probably running away from the ladies who sat behind me - they were going to kidnap her, I swear.) Then we noticed Kris walk down the alley, and out into the crowd, completely unnoticed. Then we met Ashley Robinson, another Fiyero u/s. Since we were the only ones left, we talked with Kristy again after she talked to one of Jenna Leigh Green’s good friends. Did you guys know that Kristy was in New York for four years before she got a part on Broadway? She is probably the coolest person ever.