[ClareBell]

Is there anybody out there who agrees with me that Ruthie Henshall would make one of the best British Elphaba's to walk the planet??!! I think she'd be amazing, she's got the voice that could carry it off. I saw it in October in London with Idina Menzel and listening to her voice and Ruthie's she could easily carry it off.
Also how about the little known Richard Fleesham for Fyero, he'd do a really good job if the roll.

[Matthew]

Henshall is old enough to be my mom.
Fleeshman is too young.

[ClareBell]

She may be knocking on but she could still carry a performance like that off!!
Fleesham would do a hell of a better job than Will Young!!

[Matthew]

I really really hate Wicked.
I was just stating those facts.

[ClareBell]

I can tell from other posts you don't.
Why is that, I know we're all entitled to our opinion?
What shows are you comparing it to?
It's a show that can be compared against the new style musicals like, Chitty, Avenue Q, Mary Poppins (you get the jist).
But as for shows like Miss Saigon, Les Mis, Phantom ya know the real "Classics" it can not be compared against.

[Matthew]

[ClareBell]

Whats you definition of a Classic then?

[Bianca.]

[Jenko]

i vote no for henshall and the argument that is about to happen.....

[katethegreat]

I think Henshall could pull it off - but Richard Fleeshman? Soapstar Superstar doesn't do anything in my book. He might be less wooden than Garcia, but he's a tv actor - in Corrie at that, please god no!

I feel an argument brewing, this topic was about whether certain people could carry off roles in Wicked - not whether or not people like the musical, or what constitutes a classic. Just leave at that please?

[Da_Dark_Dude]

can i add that fleeshman = baritone, fiyero = tenor, although some baritones can pull of tenor roles (the great anthony warlow springs to mind), somehow i don't ever see a baritone play this role, i dont think it would work.

Steve

[Matthew]

[Monsieur D'Arque]

But is that time period the only time period to ever produce a classic? Will the definition of classic start with Gershwin and end with the first major R&H success? Is not Carousel a classic?

My definition of classic: a work of art which, whether or not initially popular, retains its general success over generations without fading away or being acknowledged as a fad or a guilty pleasure.

Wicked, so far, is not a classic. The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables are approaching the status of classic, as for about twenty years they have been the most popular, generally widely acclaimed, and successful musicals, inspiring fans and imitations through several generations of theatre folk without fading away or going out of style. Sweeney Todd, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, and Into The Woods are probably able to be qualified as Sondheim's classics- a masterpiece does not a classic make, and not all his shows have been mainstays like the ones above with both critics and audiences.

[Little_Nell]

Yes dear, in your opinion.

[Matthew]

I didn't say those were the only classics.
I just meant those are two prime examples.

[TR_Wolf]

She would have an amazing voice, but I do think she may perhaps be a tiny bit too old, even if she's only one year older than Kristen Chenoweth.

I'd certainly love to see her as Elphie though.

[TR_Wolf]

Actually I take that back, Ana Gasteyer is 40!

Any ideas how old the youngest Elphaba has been? How about oldest and youngest Glinda?

I think Ruthie would be a great Elphaba!