<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.6001.18344" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">A weary but wonderful
<I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Wicked</I> comes to PlayhouseSquare
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">News-Herald,
Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times
Courier<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Member,
International Association of Theatre Critics <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">This
review appeared in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">News-Herald
</I>11/27/09</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #232323; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Back
by popular demand, the national tour of <I>Wicked</I> blows into PlayhouseSquare
with the gale force of a twister.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #232323; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #232323; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The
musical, b</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #232323; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">ased
on </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">the
best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, offers an unauthorized prequel to
</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Frank
Baum’s <SPAN style="COLOR: #232323">classic </SPAN></SPAN><I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #232323; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The
Wizard of Oz</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #232323; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It provides </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">the
back-story of the green-hued Elphaba, who eventually becomes the Wicked Witch of
the West, and the very blond Glinda, who is destined to become the Good Witch
and guardian of Oz.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It also offers
insight into the making of the flying monkeys and the creation of the Tin Man,
Scarecrow and Lion.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Dorothy’s
appearance is limited to an in-joke and a sight gag toward the end of the second
act, which is fine.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She gets more
than enough face-time in the </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">1939 MGM
movie</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #232323; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">This
year’s production possesses all the majesty and stage wizardry of the
record-breaking </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Cleveland engagements
in 2006 and 2008.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It has everything
you could possibly want from a tour of a hit Broadway musical… except an
enthusiastic cast.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #232323; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">As
with the previous years’ productions, the talent in this cast of </SPAN><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Wicked</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> is top-notch.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Chandra Lee Schwartz, as Glinda, and
Donna Vivino, as Elphaba, come fully equipped with Broadway-caliber voices and
stage presence.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They sell
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Stephen
Schwartz's clever music and lyrics, brilliantly deliver Winnie Holzman’s witty
dialogue, and hold the audience captive throughout the performance.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The
same can be said for Ben Lieber, who plays a featured munchkin named Boq, and
Richard Blake, who plays the romantic lead, Fiyero.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They are terrific.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The large </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">ensemble is equally
gifted.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The only weak spot is
Richard Kline as the Wizard. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He is
a former TV actor on such shows as <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Three’s Company</I> and, well, it
shows.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Despite this
abundance of talent, the first half of the opening Thursday night performance
lacked passion and purpose.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Sure,
the execution of Wayne Cilento’s extremely creative choreography was performed
with precision.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And, yes, every
song was sung to perfection.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>These
are professionals.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Nonetheless,
there was a clear and present road-weariness that weighed down the
production.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was not until the
second act that adrenaline kicked in, the cast realized it was not in Kansas
City anymore (their previous destination), and things revved up to full gale
force.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The performances are
obviously a huge part of this production, but so is Eugene Lee’s staging.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The numerous sets, which constitute the
extraordinarily colorful, massive, eye-popping pieces and parts of Oz, are
phenomenal.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The show is saturated
with superb special effects by Chic Silber and elaborate, surreal costuming by
Susan Hilferty.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Simply experiencing
the visual presentation of this remarkable production, as orchestrated by Tony
Award-winning director Joe Mantello, is worth the price of admission.
</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">There’s
no place like home, and <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Wicked</I> has
apparently found one in Cleveland.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Wicked</I> continues through December 13 at
PlayhouseSquare’s State Theatre in Cleveland.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For tickets, which range from $34.50 to
$130.00, call (216) 241-6000 or visit <A href=""><B><FONT
color=#000066>www.playhousesquare.com</FONT></B></A>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"><FONT
size=3> </FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>