On July 12 I traveled to Lansing, Michigan, more specifically The Wharton Center, even more specifically Orchestra-Right, Row C Seat 6. Here in this seat I witnessed perhaps the best performance and show I have ever seen.
Now, while I say this there are a few things we need to take into consideration. 1. I am merely 15 (almost 16) years old, so we need to take into consideration the fact that the number of plays i have seen are few. In fact this is the first "real" professional show i have ever seen. 2. I went into the show being ready for an outstanding performance and I am probably a bit biased toward the show.
When I got into the auditorium I was handed a program with 2 small slips of paper inserted in it. It that said that the role of Glinda would be played by Chisteena Michelle Riggs and the role of Elphaba would be played by Coleen Sexton. When I searched the program to find the bios for the women who would be playing the main roles in the musical, I found that Coleen is the standby for Elphaba, And Christeena is the understudy for Glinda. Now, I believe from what I have looked at, the understudy is the 1st person called when the main person can't make it. the standby is the person called if both the understudy and the main person can not make it. So, while I am sitting there in anticipation of the show I see these things in the program. I didn't really know what to think. I was thinking "We get the 2nd and 3rd rate performers so that might mean that we have a 2nd and 3rd rate show." However, I feel that there performance was 1st rate.
The music was superb. About half of the music was synthisized but you would never know by the sound. It was exellent. The singing was also top notch. I couldn't believe how wonderfully their voices blended together. The set was amazing. They never drew the curtain to change the set. It was all on motors and the actor didn't even wait for the scenes to change to start their dialogue. There was no break in the entire play except for the intermission. The costumes were impeccable. They were a delicious mixture of over sized and under sized, color and texture, and eclectic style. I was truly stunned by the way that all of these elements came together to make a magical show.
If you get the chance to see Wicked, hear the soundtrack, or watch a youtube video of the show do it! You will not be sorry!
Now, while I say this there are a few things we need to take into consideration. 1. I am merely 15 (almost 16) years old, so we need to take into consideration the fact that the number of plays i have seen are few. In fact this is the first "real" professional show i have ever seen. 2. I went into the show being ready for an outstanding performance and I am probably a bit biased toward the show.
When I got into the auditorium I was handed a program with 2 small slips of paper inserted in it. It that said that the role of Glinda would be played by Chisteena Michelle Riggs and the role of Elphaba would be played by Coleen Sexton. When I searched the program to find the bios for the women who would be playing the main roles in the musical, I found that Coleen is the standby for Elphaba, And Christeena is the understudy for Glinda. Now, I believe from what I have looked at, the understudy is the 1st person called when the main person can't make it. the standby is the person called if both the understudy and the main person can not make it. So, while I am sitting there in anticipation of the show I see these things in the program. I didn't really know what to think. I was thinking "We get the 2nd and 3rd rate performers so that might mean that we have a 2nd and 3rd rate show." However, I feel that there performance was 1st rate.
The music was superb. About half of the music was synthisized but you would never know by the sound. It was exellent. The singing was also top notch. I couldn't believe how wonderfully their voices blended together. The set was amazing. They never drew the curtain to change the set. It was all on motors and the actor didn't even wait for the scenes to change to start their dialogue. There was no break in the entire play except for the intermission. The costumes were impeccable. They were a delicious mixture of over sized and under sized, color and texture, and eclectic style. I was truly stunned by the way that all of these elements came together to make a magical show.
If you get the chance to see Wicked, hear the soundtrack, or watch a youtube video of the show do it! You will not be sorry!
