Events Calendar
In This Section
Ben & Jerry's new flavor named for Hannah Teter
Home-grown plants star for holidays
A system to rate the environmental sustainability of landscapes
Turkey gobbles up holiday attention
Cultured marble needs extra care
Buy a real tree on the Internet
Beauty on the ground in fallen leaves, fungi
Most Read Stories
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
NFL star Chris Spielman's wife loses cancer battle
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
College student mistaken for deer, shot to death
Man allegedly paid teens to spit in his face
Angel Food Ministries helps stretch grocery dollars
Poor machine maintenance blamed for fire at Akron business
Retired firefighter who broke color barrier among those being honored
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
For your Saturday entertainment …
Akron Zips:
Two blowouts, one night
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Holmgren expresses interest in Browns position
Kent State Sports:
Singletary update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Indiana Pacers – Here’s to LBJ and Free Throws
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Bowling season starts today
All Da King's Men:
Headed For Disaster
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Federal Judge Declares DOMA Unconstitutional
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Colloquium at University of Akron
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
Musical's costumes, songs, scenery and lighting add up to spectacle that's electric
By Elaine Guregian
Beacon Journal arts and culture writer
Published on Sunday, Feb 10, 2008
People jammed the State Theatre of Playhouse Square on Friday night to see Wicked, and what they got lived up to this musical's reputation.
Since opening on Broadway in October 2003, this prequel to The Wizard of Oz has been a hit. No wonder. The story has enormous heart, tempered by a sense of humor that keeps sappiness at bay. And the spectacle! Grand opera would be glad to live up to this standard.
Looks count in Wicked, in more than one way, so let's start there. Set designer Eugene Lee begins before the curtain even goes up. Hanging in front of it is a huge, old-fashioned drawing of a map with Oz glittering at its center. Glinda (the Good Witch) makes a dramatic arrival in a delicately wrought metal bubble. Later, the Emerald City shows up as a gluttony of green. Add the energy of a crowd of hyped-up townspeople and Kenneth Posner's lighting, and the effect is electric.
The costumes by Susan Hilferty are over-the-top extravagant, especially for those flying monkeys. Glinda, or in her earlier schoolgirl incarnation, Galinda, sparkles in whites and pastels, crowned by an insanely perky coif of gold curls. Kudos to Tom Watson for his wigs and hair, including that macho pouf he designed for the evening's heartthrob, Cliffton Hall as Fiyero.
Watson and Hilferty also struck gold — make that green — with Elphaba (Carmen Cusack). Early in the story, before she becomes known as the Wicked Witch, she stands apart from her classmates with her green skin, broomstick-straight black hair and equally severe black dress. What's a relief, and maybe key to this musical's success, is that Elphaba doesn't beat herself up about being different.
In the song I'm Not That Girl, Elphaba laments not being the pretty, popular type that boys such as the studly Fiyero like. Amazingly, Elphaba doesn't change herself to attract Fiyero. Fairy tale or not, it's the kind of story you want to believe and would gladly tell your adolescent girls. Cusack's cocoa-colored voice is enormously appealing whether she's talking or singing.
Katie Rose Clarke plays Galinda/Glinda in Reese Witherspoon mode. She's proud of her popularity and unashamed of being bubbly. Still, we don't hate her because she has a sense of humor, and her share of problems.
Canton native Lee Wilkof sounded great in his big tune, I'm a Sentimental Man. His portrayal of the weak Wizard found a good foil in Alma Cuervo's opportunistic Madame Morrible. As Elphaba's wheelchair-bound sister, Nessarose, Deedee Magno Hall made a believable character change after a spell went bad.
Both local musicians and a touring group are used in the pit, led by conductor Boko Suzuki. The orchestra kept up its power and musicianship throughout the 2 3/4-hour show.
High-volume amplification has become the norm for shows like Wicked. It's possible that distortion from too much amplification can be blamed for the words sung by the ensemble being hard to distinguish. There was never a problem following the plot, but too often it was tough to make out what the crowds of gesturing, dancing people onstage were saying. Individual characters projected clearly.
From the buzz in the audience on Friday, not to mention the bags of merchandise that patrons stashed in the theater, it seems that this winning show will have a loyal audience for its long Cleveland run.
Elaine Guregian can be reached at 330-996-3574 or eguregian@thebeaconjournal.com.
People jammed the State Theatre of Playhouse Square on Friday night to see Wicked, and what they got lived up to this musical's reputation.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
