Audrey 3-08-05

My fifth time seeing the show and I always feels like the first time. Sob, sniffle. Please bear with the overly long review. Please bear with the grammar and typos too. Spoilers abound.

Before show: So I walk in the Gershwin theatre and look to the infamous sign and I see a notice that the role of Glinda will be played by Stacie Morgan Lewis. Which was odd because if Jen was out why wasn’t Megan playing Glinda? I thought Stacie was an understudy for Nessa. I checked the playbill and saw that she understudies both roles. Anyway I was okay with it as long as Shosh was in. However this one guy comes in and says very loudly to the people with him: “Sorry guys, we have an understudy.” Which made me really mad because that was really unfair to Stacie. Right before the show started I heard a burst of applause backstage which I assumed was for Stacie going up in the bubble.

No One Mourns the Wicked: The ensemble seems to get better every time I see it. There was no applause whatsoever for Stacie when she came down. I clapped a little because I felt bad for her but other than that zilch. However she is a very pretty Glinda with a beautiful soprano.

Dear Old Shiz: Somewhat delayed but still enthusiastic applause for Shosh. Me and two guys in the mezzanine were whistling for her. She is so cute green by the way. She was cracking me up while Galinda was talking to Madame Morrible because there are three ensemble girls in the stage right corner that were staring at Elphie and Shosh was making like she was going to jump at them to scare them. Carole was cracking me up because after the tragically beautiful line she turns around and she and Shosh are nose to nose. Then Carole just growls at Shosh.

Wizard and I: Excessive breathing a little but still awesome.

What is this Feeling: Good, I love this song. I also love the way Shosh does the blonde line. She pauses, looks out at the audience and says in this completely deadpan voice “Blonde.”

Something Bad: Same old. Stacie is doing an awesome job thus far.

Dancing Through Life: Is it just me or does the transition music sound like Christmas music? Anyway David Ayers cracks me up. With the blonde hair and his voice (speaking that is) he sounds like a surfer dude out of California. I kept waiting for him to randomly go “tubular” or something. Jeffrey was good but I still miss Chris Fitz. I love how Galinda and Fiyero are totally making out when Madame Morrible shows up. “Ohhh, Madame Morrible…” and then David spent the entire training wand exchange fixing his hair. So then Elphie shows up and she’s death glaring at Galinda when this little kid behind me goes “Okay, what are we doing here?”

Popular: Stacie is a hysterical Glinda but by far the funniest thing she did all night was after the “Fiyero and I are going to be married” line instead of squealing she turns around and bites Shosh on the shoulder. That was so random and it completely made my night. No ad libbing but she was funny in her own right. My buddies in the mezzanine seemed really into her.

I’m Not That Girl/ Lion Cub: Still get cracked up over Sean McCourt in a toupee and Shosh’s spazzo toss. A little trouble on the last low note in the song but otherwise good. Train station was normal but good.

One Short Day: I noticed during the Ozmopolitan bit that Stacie seemed to be backing upstage too far and then sure enough the curtain for Wiz-O-Mania comes down right in front of her. She handled it very well, popped right through and made this little “oop” noise. I was definitely warming up to her. She’s adorable!

Sentimental Man: Shosh holding on to Stacie by the skirt while the Oz-head was coming in was so cute. Carole was so funny. After saying “You benefit too” she turns around and waves the back of her skirt at Shosh.

Defying Gravity: Awesome! Not much to say but awesome!

Intermission: People were talking about Shosh in the lobby and what a great voice she has. And of course there’s me thinking “well duh!” Just kidding.

Thank Goodness: Stacie was awesome! Her belting was great and she hit a very pretty note at the end there. Nothing like the notes Cheno could hit but not everyone can be that fabulous.

Wicked Witch of the East: Michelle was a bit heavy on the gasping but her acting was better than normal.

Wonderful: Shosh has the best facial expressions in the world. That is all.

I’m Not That Girl reprise: More trouble on the last note but the next song was starting so it was hardly noticeable.

As Long As You’re Mine: Shosh was holding herself back and not completely singing out so as not to overpower David but otherwise fine. It was nice to see some genuine face sucking at the end. Joey, Idina and everybody always seemed so…married. Not Shosh. She practically grabbed him. That’s my girl! Come on, how often do you get to make out with a green witch or future scarecrow?

Fallen House: Shosh was in prime bitch mode. She looked about ready to bite. I love her. Stacie was hilarious during the wand twirling because she was muttering “Bring it on Elphie. Bring it on!” I love them both. And David because he was taking the rope entrance so seriously.

No Good Deed: Pardon my fangirling but HOLY CRAP BEST IVE EVER HEARD THIS SONG. Better than the other four times I’ve seen it with Idina and Eden as well as various recordings legal and not so legal. Almost God-like.

March of the Witch Hunters: Same but very good.

For Good: I always cry during this part. Shosh was hilarious making fun of Dorothy crying because she did these high-pitched, nasal fake cries and then one where she waggled her tongue. Hard to explain but hilarious. The song had me so weepy though. It’s so sweet!

Finale: What was with the woman in front of me laughing while Elphie was melting? I was bawling. Out of all the Fiyeros David looks the most like a scarecrow. Which I guess is a good thing. Great job everyone.

Curtain Call: I was very proud of the audience because we were all on our feet for the ensemble. They need love too. The Girls got huge applause and then Stacie got her own bow. Afterwards Carole wanted to talk. First another round of applause for Stacie because it was her first night as Glinda! Wow! She got a standing ovation. She bowed, waved, got a little teary and then started twirling around doing a Homecoming Queen wave. So cute. What was even cuter was that she and Shosh were holding hands the entire time Carole was talking. Awwww! So Carole does the whole BCEFA thing and talked about things they were giving away for certain amounts of donated money. There was the Wicked Cookbook with Carole’s own recipe “Spicy Munchkins.” LOL. Then there was the poster signed by the entire cast.

Me: We should get that. (nods)

Mom: $100? Um, no.

Stage Door: Waited in the 14 degree weather with an 8 degree wind chill. That’s insanity. Got blown off by Carole Shelley and George Hearn which earns me some bragging rights because they were two feet away from me. Then the guy at the door announces that Shosh went home because she wasn’t feeling well. So everybody leaves except me and two guys that were as crazy as I am. We were disappointed but we wanted to see Stacie. “Oh yeah, I think she’s still here because she doesn’t have a car mumble mumble mumble…” He goes back inside. Comes back out and takes down the barricades obviously trying to get us to leave. We don’t. Then a blonde girl we don’t recognize tells us that Stacie will be right out. Sure enough she comes out right after talking to someone in red. I was looking at her really closely trying to make sure it was her because she was wearing a matching pink hat and scarf pulled over her face. It was her and she looks exactly like her headshot. She’s about my height which is five four and still had Glinda glitter on her face. While she was signing my playbill she said bye to whoever she was talking too. “Yeah see you later Saycon.” I looked up then but Saycon had already went around the corner. Stacie was sweet though! I hope Shosh feels better soon.