Ob 14may14 wickedreview

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 14, 2014 - Page 37

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www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Observer Showbiz Every Week in the Melbourne Observer

Radio: 3GG sold to new owners ............................. Page 38 Theatre: Julie Houghton on new shows .................. Page 39 Country Music: Rob Foenander reports ....................... Page 38 Jim and Aar on: Top 10 lists, larest movies, DVds ............ Page 42 Aaron: Cheryl Threadgold: Local shows, auditions, people ........... Page 43 PL US THE LLO OVATT”S MEGA CRO PLUS CROSS SWORD

WICKED: IT DEFIES GRAVITY Review, photos by ASH LONG

● John Frost, Australian co-Producer

● Rhonda Burchmore and Sarah Yarwood

● Brian Nankervis

● Syd Zygier and Deborah Conway

● Clive Scott, Sofitel General Manager ● Jemma Rix with Lucky Durack ■ It is stunning. It is magical. It is Wicked. This 10th anniversary show defies gravity. Let Wicked cast its spell on you. The opening night crowd at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre on Saturday gave a raucous standing ovation to the Wicked cast and crew who excelled against the odds. We have no hesitation in giving this show the top rating: ★★★★★ Jemma Rix owns the role of Elphaba, providing magic moments including Defying Gravity, No Good Deed and I’m Not That Girl. Lucy Durack, defying a serious back injury, reprises her role as leading lady Glinda, with a powerful voice, flawless dancing and funny lines. Durack casts her wand effortlessly across numbers including No One Mourns The Wizard, What Is This Feeling, Dancing Through Life and the show-stopper Popular. The pair charm their way with For Good. Maggie Kirkpatrick is first-class as Madame Morrible, with much applause for The Wizard And I. The in-joke (and there are quite a few) of Kirkpatrick’s character being sent to prison attracted much laughter. There are more in-jokes about the girl from Kansas, and the staging even includes a yellow-brick road. And ... Reg Livermore, what a wonderful wizard he is. We have not always been Livermore’s biggest fans. We saw his disastrous Turns with Nancye Hayes at the Playhouse in 2011! But the Wizard roles requires a touch of evil and Livermore delivers. Wizard producers are strict with their instructions to cast members to be precise with their moments - which could be a challenge for Reg - but he was obedient, on opening night anyway! The cast includes John O’Hara as the witch’s father (and as an understudy to Livermore). Ellen Sutton plays the mother. Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose, is played by Emily Cascarino, against Boq (Edward Grey). Other major cast members are Nathan Carter (Dr Dillamond), Steve Danielsen (Fiyero), Matt Holly (Chistery) and Angela Lumiicisi (midwife). Congratulations to the ensemble, including: Justin Anderson, Dion Bilios, Danielle Cook, Danielle Evrat, Mitch Fistrovic, Tom Handley, Emma Hawthorne, Katie McKee, Justine Puy, Christopher Scalzo, Pharic Scott, Ryan Sheppard, Ellen Sutton, Monica Swayne and Sophie Wright. Dance captains are Deanna O’Leary and Ryan Sheppard. On swings are Daniel Assetta, Rachel Cole, Daniel Downing, Kassie Martin, Deanna O’Leary and Joseph O’Leary. And a special word for the orchestra under Musical Director David Young, assisted with Loclan Mackenzie-Spencer, under the Resident Musical Supervisor Kellie Dickerson. Creatives include Eugene Lee (settings) assisted by Edward Pierec, Elaine McCarthy (projections), Karen Johnson Mortimer (resident director), Mark Myars (dance supervisor), Susan Hilferty (costumes), Tom Watson (wigs and hair), Cameron Flint (technical director), Thom Widmann (production supervisor), Kenneth Posner (lighting), Alex Lacamoire and Stephen Oremus (music arrangements), Tony Meola (sound), James Lynn Abbott (dance arrangements). The Australian dance arrangements are in the hands of Emma Delmenico. Allow yourself to visit the Emerald City. You will enjoy a world-class five-star show. ★★★★★

● Bianca Pirrotta and Steve Bastoni

● Nicole Livingstone and Ella Smith

● Collette Mann


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