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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b><span style="color:windowtext"><br></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b><span style="color:windowtext"><span style="color:rgb(153,0,255)">•••••••••••••••••••••••••••</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b><span style="color:windowtext"><br></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b><span style="color:windowtext">Wonderful WICKED wows ‘em again at State</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">How good is the production of WICKED which is now
appearing at the State Theatre?<span style> </span>In
2009 when I took my then 14-year old grandson, known as the Kid Reviewer
because I take him along to give the teen/tween view of shows, he gave it a 9.5
out of 10 on his “rate the play scale.”<span style>
</span>Why only a 9.5? He said he’s reserving the 10 for the most unbelievable
show he’s ever seen. But, he indicated “’WICKED’ was GREAT!” Why? “It had
everything. Great story, outstanding production qualities…sets, costumes,
lights, special effects. The music and the performances were awesome.” His
advice: “Go see this show! It’s appropriate for kids and their parents.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">It’s 2014 and the kid reviewer is an 18-year old
multi-award winning composer.<span style> </span>His
evaluation of this, the 2<sup>nd</sup> National Tour of WICKED?<span style> </span>He gave it a solid 9.75!<span style> </span>Yes, he thinks it was even better than
when he saw the show “as a kid!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">‘WICKED,’ an alternative view of the ‘WIZARD OF OZ,’
tells the “true” story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch, and her relationship with
Glinda, the Good Witch. It has all the elements of the original tale, but
packages them in a different way. We find out about how the Lion, the
Scarecrow, and the Tin man came to be. How Dorothy got the red (in this version
silver) slippers. And, most importantly, what really happened to Elphaba. (Ah,
yes, in a quirky ending, there is a happily-ever after story.)<span style> </span>We also become aware of the power of
gossip and rumors.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">The music and lyrics, by one of my favorite theatre
composers, Stephen Schwartz, includes such beautiful and delightful songs as
“Popular,” “I’m Not That Girl,” “Defying Gravity,” “As Long as You’re Mine,”
and Alex’s favorite, “For Good.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">The production qualities of this touring show are
outstanding and impressive. There is a dragon hanging over the proscenium arch
that has a wingspan the same as a Cessna 172 airplane. They use 200 pounds of
dry ice every show for smoke effects and enough power in a single production to
supply twelve houses with electricity. There are 175,000 pounds of scenery.
This is not a stripped-down touring show, it’s a full-blown Broadway
extravaganza.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">The cast is strong.<span style> </span>No, it’s not the unbelieveable Idina Menzel (Elphaba),
Christine Chenoweth (Linda) and Clevelander Joel Gray (as the Wizard), but,
realistically, who can top that amazing trio?<span style> </span>(BTW—Menzel is on the way to Broadway in IF/THEN, which I
saw in an-out-of-town preview in DC.<span style>
</span>The show needs cutting, but Menzel is her usual mesmerizing self).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">In the touring production, Jennifer DiNoia glows
gloriously green as Elphaba. She hits the vocal high notes with ease and
creates a clear characterization. Haley Podschun is properly bubbly as the
“popular” Glinda.<span style> </span>She sings
beautifully and carries the role well.<span style>
</span>David Nathan Perlow is excellent as the self-centered Fiyero, who falls
in love with Elphaba.<span style>
</span>BTW…did you know that Adam Lambert, the AMERICAN IDOL runner-up and
actor on GLEE was the understudy for Fiyero in the Los Angeles production of
WICKED?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">Alex Wyse is character-right as Boq.<span style> </span>If the name sounds familiar, it
should.<span style> </span>Wyse is a very talented
Clevelander who showcased his talents on local stages for many years.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">Talking about Clevelanders, besides Gray and Wyse,
the name ARACA on the program should ring some bells.<span style> </span>ARACA, (<a href="http://www.araca.com"><span style="color:blue">http://www.araca.com</span></a>) the theatrical production
company founded by Michael and Matthew Rego and Hank Miller, all Clevelanders,
are the producers of WICKED.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><i><span style="color:windowtext">CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:<span style> </span>When asked what I should write in my capsule judgement Alex
said, with enthusiasm, “Tell them if they didn’t see WICKED yet, go see this
show!<span style> </span>If they did see it before,
“Go see it again, it’s that good!” Grandpa totally agrees!!!!</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><i><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><i><span style="color:windowtext">WICKED runs through January 5 2014 at the State
Theatre in downtown Cleveland.<span style> </span>For
tickets call </span></i><span style="color:windowtext">216-241-6000 or go to <a href="http://www.playhousesquare.org"><span style="color:windowtext">www.playhousesquare.org</span></a></span></p><br><span style="color:rgb(153,0,255)">••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••</span><br>
<br><br><span style="color:windowtext"><a href="http://www.playhousesquare.org"><span style="color:windowtext"></span></a></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"><a href="http://www.playhousesquare.org"><span style="color:windowtext"><br>
</span></a></span></p>
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