The Wizard and I – Wicked

Wicked at the Canon Theatre

For Todd’s birthday in August, I bought him tickets for us to go see Wicked on my birthday – a pretty good plan, I thought. 🙂 So we were sitting on the same stools where I sat last time I saw the show at the Canon, and even though I would have rather been a little closer for his first time seeing the show, it was still a really enjoyable evening.

The production was just as good as the previous one that had stopped in Toronto the year before, which I thought was nearly as good as the Broadway one, so no complaints there. There were a few minor sound problems in the opening scene, but they were quickly fixed.

Of course, I was looking forward to seeing a new cast and their interpretation of the roles. Unfortunately, we had a lot of understudies this particular evening, which meant I didn’t get to see Alma Cuervo as Madame Morrible, although Barbara Tirrell did a very respectable job. Lori Holmes was also a fine Nessarose, just messing up one line that I noticed.

Todd outside the theatre

P.J. Benjamin was a good Wizard – I’d read reviews that said he wasn’t menacing enough, but it didn’t bother me. It’s his actions that are menacing, he didn’t need to be that way personality-wise as well (*cough*George W.Bush*cough*). Josh Lamon as Boq and Clifton Hall as Fiyero both did good jobs as well, though nothing in particular stood out for me.

As for the main two, they were both great! Shoshana Bean is a wonderful Elphaba, she’s a great actress, and really brings across all sides of Elphaba’s character. Once again, it didn’t take long for the audience to really warm up to her. She did have a teeny bit of trouble with the highest parts of Defying Gravity and No Good Deed, but it didn’t really take away from the songs at all. And Megan Hilty as Glinda was fabulous! I’d have a tough time choosing between her and Kristin Chenoweth, I really would. Her Popular was a showstopper, and her endearing ditziness at the beginning gave way to a more mature and loveable character in the second act. She was really just a perfect Glinda.

Of course, since it was Todd’s first time seeing the show, I had to get his opinion of it as a whole, and he said he felt the opening was a little slow, that it took a while to get going. I can understand that, although I think on a second viewing, when you know what’s going to happen, the beginning is every bit as enjoyable as the rest. But still, he liked it, laughed quite a lot, and me? I cried at the end, of course. 🙂 As I said last time, if this tour is coming to your town, go see it! You’ll have a great time.