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Gwen

Underrated/Overrated Elphabas?

Are there any Elphaba's you think are under or over rated? What are your reasons? (Keep in mind: This is not meant to debate who is the better Elphaba. Rather, this is to discuss our opinions of what we think of a portrayel of a character from different actresses, and what we think would make a performance under or perhaps overrated.)
I've taken time to assemble a list of different actresses because I keep hearing the names Idina and Kerry everywhere and I wanted to get some different names including ones I haven't heard of out there. Perhaps there are a few you haven't heard of? Chance to hear reviews on them maybe from others who've seen them.
I haven't given what productions they've done, that's going to take longer. This is all alphatbetical, that takes long enough!--Keep in mind this list includes standbys and understudys also.
Higuchi Asami, Shoshana Bean, Stephanie J. Block, Lisa Brescia, Sabrina Carter, Kristy Cates, Courtney Corey, Erin Cornell, Merideth Kaye Clark, Carmen Cusack, Jennifer DiNoia, Marcie Dodd, Maria Eberline, Kerry Ellis, Ana Gasteyer, Jillian Giacchi, Ashleigh Grey, Jenna Leigh Green, Megumi Hamada, Amanda Harrison, Kathleen Hennessey, Lara Janine, Cassidy Janson, Alexia Khadime, Chelsea Krombach, Caissie Levy, Antonia Marr, Brandi Chevonne Massey, Victoria Matlock, Cassie McIvor, Idina Menzel, Julia Murney, Vicki Noon, Saycon Sengbloh, Coleen Sexton, Charity Smith, Jemma Stevenson, Partice Tipoki, Willemijn Verkaik, Donna Vivino, Shona White, Teal Wicks, Sabrina Weckerlin, Roberta Valentini, Cassidy Johnson, Dan'yelle Williamson.

I've included those from US productions, (Broadway, LA, Chicago...are there any others?) London, Australia and Japan.
littlemisstheatregirl

Victoria Matlock and Idina both hit the nail on the head, as far as I'm concerned.
mastachen

Underrated - Coleen Sexton
Overrated - Idina Menzel by far.
wickedlover4ever

Underrated- I would say Julie Reiber (that was one that you missed Very Happy )
Overrated- Defiantly Idina Menzel (I won't say she isn't good because she is but she is also very overrated.)
~GertrudeMcFuzz~

Underrated: Kristy Cates, no question. She's the best Elphaba I've ever seen, and has such a wonderful personality and passion.
Overrated: Idina. It's not that she isn't good, but there are fans who ONLY like Idina and will not tolerate to watch anyone else in the role. Some of the fangirls are completely crazy about people preferring other Elphabas, and that has made Idina far too overrated.
wickedlover4ever

Yeah I totally agree with you on that. I have Kristy Cates' myspace on my myspace and I sometimes talk to her but I don't want to change the subject so nevermind Embarassed
Felix Felicis

Underrated: Victoria Matlock, Julia Murney and Lisa Brescia
Overrated (though all still awesome): Carmen Cusack, Idina Menzel, and Eden Espinosa.
actor

Underrated: Carmen Cusack, Idina Menzel
Overrated: Kerry Ellis, Stephanie J Block
Salome

how is getting a tony for the role underrated?
Felix Felicis

I agree - that's pretty much the highest rating you can get...

And no way is Carmen Cusack underrated. Every other new thread here is about how awesome she is.
BroadwayObssessed

You forgot Dee Roscioli on your list.

Underrated: Dee Roscioli. Very Happy
Overrated: Kerry Ellis & Idina Menzel. (I still like idina...I just dont think she did way better than some of the others.)
wickedlover4ever

I think it's kinda nice to have Carmen Cusack talked about because she is an on tour person and not all the on tour people get noticed as much Very Happy
Charity

aww

Thanks for including the USJ girls Very Happy

I think Eden is amazing. Its hard to find good video clips of her, but I really loved her in person. Then again, I haven't seen enough of the girls to truly judge tho.
actor

Salome wrote:
how is getting a tony for the role underrated?


Idina Menzel is easily the best Elphaba to date by far and a lot of Wicked fans think that she is one of the worst.

Felix Felicis wrote:

And no way is Carmen Cusack underrated. Every other new thread here is about how awesome she is.


erm ... by the same person.

Cusack is a great actress and she is almost unknown. She is grossly underrated and her Elphaba is a close second to Menzel's.
Gwen

Quote:
Idina Menzel is easily the best Elphaba to date by far


Quote:
(Keep in mind: This is not meant to debate who is the better Elphaba)
wicked_boy

I think Ellis's "growl" is overrated.

I think Block's "raspyness" is underrated.
wickedlover4ever

I think what most people don't know is that SJB was originaly the original elphaba before Idina came in. I do really like Idina but most people probably didn't know that. So I bet if SJB was the original elphaba there would be fangirls for her and she would be the favorite for most people.
WickedXRent

Overrated: Shoshana Bean

Underrated: Lisa Brescia
Elphaba-the-wicked

i have to say.
Overrated- Kerry Ellis (she's great but not that great damn it!)
Underrated: Alexia Khadime
mrs_tiggular

Underrated - Alexia Khadime definatly, i saw her last week and she nearly blew me away!
Overrated - Idina Menzel.
jarrod001

Overrated -Shoshana Bean, Julia Murney, SJB,

Underrated -Teal Wicks, Brandi Chavonne Massey, Saycon Sengbloh,

And Idina was AMAZING as Elphaba.
I saw her on Broadway and she blew me away.
People don't like her for some reason but her performance was bad ass.
Be jealous.
Elphaba22

Overrated: Idina
Underrated: Victoria Matlock
idTAPthat89

I don't think anyone can ever top Idina.
She IS elphaba.
jarrod001

idTAPthat89 wrote:
I don't think anyone can ever top Idina.
She IS elphaba.


Exactly.
jarrod001

Willemijin and Eden aren't over or underrated, they just plain kick ass.
Elphaba22

I liked the way Victoria portrayed Elphaba as opposed to the way Idina did. I thought that Victoria was a better actress than Idina. And I think I liked her better because I've listened to the Wicked recording with Idina on it 10000x and Victoria's voice is so different, it was very refreshing to see/hear her as Elphaba.
Felix Felicis

jarrod001 wrote:
Willemijin and Eden aren't over or underrated, they just plain kick ass.


I beg to differ - Eden is so overrated by LA fans, it's not even funny.
Willemijn, however - underrated, and ass-kicking, yes.Smile
Baker

Overrated - Idina Menzel - great, but she's not the best
Underrated - Coleen Sexton - she rocks
Brilliant - Eden - neither over- nor underrated, just fantastic
Could live without - Kristy Cates - can't stand her
audreydarling

Overrated: Eden's voice...I think she is great don't get me wrong and overall loved her performance but there were times when she would get nasaly. also Julia Murney

Underrated: Kristy Cates (so mad I couldn't meet her at the stage door) and Saycon.
Elphaba22

I met Victoria Matlock at the stagedoor, got her autograph, and i got a picture with her (which i lost when i switched computors Crying or Very sad ), and she responds to my emails. I LOVE HER
I've seen it with her as Elphaba 4 times I think.
^Defying_Gravity^

Overrated: Victoria Matlock, Idina Menzel
Underrated: Willemijn Verkaik

I just didn't seem to like the way Victoria portrayed Elphaba. Not sure why, just she didn't click for me.

I think Idina's good, just there are better Elphaba's out there.

Willemijn is great in my opinion. In time I think she will be appreciated more, just the fact that she's in the only non English speaking production makes it harder for Wicked fans to love her, merely because of the language barrier. She's so full of energy in part like The Wizard and I, and seems to nail the part in my opinion.
wickedlover4ever

I agree with you on that one, i think Idina is good but i definaly like others better and Elphaba22 did anyone ever tell you, you look a little like Annaleigh Ashford?
Felix Felicis

^Defying_Gravity^ wrote:
Overrated: Victoria Matlock, Idina Menzel
I just didn't seem to like the way Victoria portrayed Elphaba. Not sure why, just she didn't click for me.


Victoria Matlock is not overrated. Just because you didn't like her doesn't mean she's overrated.
^Defying_Gravity^

Felix Felicis wrote:
^Defying_Gravity^ wrote:
Overrated: Victoria Matlock, Idina Menzel
I just didn't seem to like the way Victoria portrayed Elphaba. Not sure why, just she didn't click for me.


Victoria Matlock is not overrated. Just because you didn't like her doesn't mean she's overrated.


I agree that she doesn't have a huge fan base as some of the other actresses have, such as Idina, but when she was doing the show, I just found loads of people going on about her, when I personally didn't like her. Now she's faded a bit it seems, but when she was around, I kept finding people going on about how good she was. Maybe it was just coincidence, but most Wicked fans I spoke to went on about her, and I kinda got a bit sick of it seeing as I don't really like her. But I see what you mean.
Its_Glinda_Now

Underrated- Caissie Levy defintiely! She gets such a bad rap on youtube and such, but she is absolutely amazing!! By far my favorite, if you need convincing pm me and I'll send you some of her audios! Wink

Overrated- Definitely Idina, I understand that she is the "original" but that in no way makes her the best!
jarrod001

Ughh Caissie's voice is horrilbe and deffinatley not mature enough for Elphaba.
Its_Glinda_Now

jarrod001 wrote:
Ughh Caissie's voice is horrilbe and deffinatley not mature enough for Elphaba.

I respect your opinion, I just don't happen to agree with it. lol Have you ever seen her live?
jarrod001

Its_Glinda_Now wrote:
jarrod001 wrote:
Ughh Caissie's voice is horrilbe and deffinatley not mature enough for Elphaba.

I respect your opinion, I just don't happen to agree with it. lol Have you ever seen her live?


No, and I pray to Jesus I never will.

She sounds like a 14 year old in her room singing to Wicked.
kcraft43

WAY OVERATED-KERRY ELLIS
WAY UNDER RATED-CARMEN CUSACK
wicked_boy

kcraft43 wrote:
WAY OVERATED-KERRY ELLIS
WAY UNDER RATED-CARMEN CUSACK


I'll fix it for you...

I think Kerry Ellis is too overrated.
Carmen Cusack is way too underrated.
Elphaba22

aww, thanks! I don't really think i look that much like her, but she sure is pretty, so thanks!
I've actually been told multiple times that I look like Britney Spears, and i'm not really sure what to think of that Shocked
wickedlover4ever

Oh I don't think you look like Brittany but just in your forum picture you look like Annaleigh lol Very Happy .
ilovebway

Julia Murney and Victoria Matlock are most definitely underrated.
wickedlover4ever

I just saw Wicked for the 4th time in Michigan with Donna Vivino and Melissa Bohon and I think they were both great so I'm going to have to say Donna Vivino is underrated!
regan

I thought Kerri Ellis was okay--her singing voice was very good, but her speaking voice was too high-pitched for me.

My favorite Elphaba ever was defintiely Stephanie J. Block, who has a phenomenal voice and the stage presence to pull off the acting. Underrated.
wickedlover4ever

regan wrote:
I thought Kerri Ellis was okay--her singing voice was very good, but her speaking voice was too high-pitched for me.

My favorite Elphaba ever was defintiely Stephanie J. Block, who has a phenomenal voice and the stage presence to pull off the acting. Underrated.


I agree, she is the greatest but a lot of people don't like her for some reason. Very Happy
Felix Felicis

regan wrote:
I thought Kerri Ellis was okay--her singing voice was very good, but her speaking voice was too high-pitched for me.


The high-pitched voice is brought on by the Ameican accent; her voice is much deeper with an English one.
Yakko

I'm surprised that Shoshanna Bean has not been mentioned yet. I've been a fan of her interpretation. And you can tell that she has a blast with the role.
jarrod001

Yakko wrote:
I'm surprised that Shoshanna Bean has not been mentioned yet. I've been a fan of her interpretation. And you can tell that she has a blast with the role.


I don't like her Elphaba...

BUT I FRIGGIN LOVE HER BLESS THE LORD.
I listen to it every two seconds...
wicked_boy

^ I have her autograph!
Fiyero823

I LOVE how you ignorant people are labeling them Overrated or Underrated based on your opinion....There's no logical opinion for overrated and underrated....

Overrated: Idina....She can barely breathe during Defying Gravity....
Underrated: Kristy Cates, Stephanie J. Block, Teal, Julie Reiber, etc...
Mistress

wickedlover4ever wrote:
regan wrote:
I thought Kerri Ellis was okay--her singing voice was very good, but her speaking voice was too high-pitched for me.

My favorite Elphaba ever was defintiely Stephanie J. Block, who has a phenomenal voice and the stage presence to pull off the acting. Underrated.


I agree, she is the greatest but a lot of people don't like her for some reason. Very Happy


I love you people...SJB is my fav too. *drool*
Felix Felicis

Fiyero823 wrote:
I LOVE how you ignorant people are labeling them Overrated or Underrated based on your opinion....There's no logical opinion for overrated and underrated....

Overrated: Idina....She can barely breathe during Defying Gravity....
Underrated: Kristy Cates, Stephanie J. Block, Teal, Julie Reiber, etc...


Ignorant? Seriously? Did you see Idina at all during her London run?
Her breathing and phrasing during 'Defying Gravity' improved 100% from Broadway - she sounded phenomenal.

And to call SJB underrated is just plain incorrect - she is frequently ranked in the top 3 Elphabas whenever little surveys and things are done, along with Eden Espinosa and Julia Murney.
mastachen

Fiyero823 wrote:
I LOVE how you ignorant people are labeling them Overrated or Underrated based on your opinion....There's no logical opinion for overrated and underrated....


LOL
wickedlover4ever

I dont think Stephanie is underrated but I just like her!
.:!BeYoNcE!:.

Overrated - Stephanie, as proven by this thread. She overracts completely, over 90% of her spoken lines are shouted in the OTT diction.
Underrated - Kristy Cates I suppose. Julia Murney is pretty overlooked because apparently she sounds like a "goat". I feel Saycon Sengbloh and Brandi Chavonne Massey are also quite underrated.
SomeoneLikeYou

Sorry about reviving this thread, but I really feel a need to tell you all about Coleen Sexton, one of the most underrated Broadway girls ever.

Her Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde was incredible. And she will be playing Brooke in the Legally Blonde tour.

And Elphaba? Superb. Go to YouTube and type in CS Defying Gravity, or something to that extent. The quality of the audio-only clips is crappy, but her talent still shines through, and you'll see why I think she blows most Elphabas out of the water.

Applause

wickedlover4ever

SomeoneLikeYou wrote:
Sorry about reviving this thread, but I really feel a need to tell you all about Coleen Sexton, one of the most underrated Broadway girls ever.

Her Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde was incredible. And she will be playing Brooke in the Legally Blonde tour.

And Elphaba? Superb. Go to YouTube and type in CS Defying Gravity, or something to that extent. The quality of the audio-only clips is crappy, but her talent still shines through, and you'll see why I think she blows most Elphabas out of the water.

Applause



Yeah i saw her on tour and she was really good. She has more of a high pitched voice when she talks which is fine. And her singing is very good. She also has good connection with all the cast!
Ffinnegan223

underrated: Brandi, Victoria, Teal, Colleen, and Julia

Correctly Rated(i'm happy w/ where they're rated): SJB, Kerry, Sho, saycon, Dee, Wille(germany amazing!!!!)...

Overrated: IDINA!!!(it sounds like it hurts when she SCREAMS! her breathing is AWFUL!!! her acting is one note) Lisa, Jennifer Dinoia, Julie Riber, Eden espinosa(i love her but i can hear short commings unlike 90% of idina fans)...
actor

.:!BeYoNcE!:. wrote:
Overrated - Stephanie, as proven by this thread. She overracts completely, over 90% of her spoken lines are shouted in the OTT diction.


Applause

Ffinnegan223 wrote:
Overrated: IDINA!!!(it sounds like it hurts when she SCREAMS! her breathing is AWFUL!!!


WHO CARES?!?! Whether someone can f ucking breath or not is not what theatre is about!

Ffinnegan223 wrote:
her acting is one note


No.
mastachen

actor wrote:


Ffinnegan223 wrote:
Overrated: IDINA!!!(it sounds like it hurts when she SCREAMS! her breathing is AWFUL!!!


WHO CARES?!?! Whether someone can f ucking breath or not is not what theatre is about!



Why did you type who cares in caps? Because someone disagreed with your view that Idina is God's gift to musical theatre?

Knowing how to breathe is important for a theatre actress to succeed and not kill her voice, and yes Idina does suck at that. To say that breathing isn't what theatre is about shows that a) you've never acted on stage before, b) you have and you don't really know how to sing or c) you're really not as good as you think you are because you have no idea what the hell you're talking about.
wicked_boy

I think we've all been seeing different Idina's.
mastachen

It's one thing to think Idina is good.

It's another thing to completely disparage someone else's opinion like he is doing. And if he denies it then he is either a) stupid or b) thinks that the rest of us are stupid. I vote for c) all of the above.
actor

mastachen wrote:
actor wrote:


Ffinnegan223 wrote:
Overrated: IDINA!!!(it sounds like it hurts when she SCREAMS! her breathing is AWFUL!!!


WHO CARES?!?! Whether someone can f ucking breath or not is not what theatre is about!



Why did you type who cares in caps? Because someone disagreed with your view that Idina is God's gift to musical theatre?


Please don't put words into my mouth. Thankyou.

mastachen wrote:
Knowing how to breathe is important for a theatre actress to succeed and not kill her voice, and yes Idina does suck at that.


Knowing how to breathe is not vital. If someone gives a good performance they give a good performance. And knowing how to breathe is important to succeed? Idina is one of the most successful actresses to come out of Broadway.

mastachen wrote:
To say that breathing isn't what theatre is about shows that a) you've never acted on stage before, b) you have and you don't really know how to sing or c) you're really not as good as you think you are because you have no idea what the hell you're talking about.


Saying that breathing is what theatre is about shows that a) you know shit all about theatre or b) ... nope I think that's it.
DaddyDiesel

Underrated: Colleen sexton,
Overrated: Shoshanna BEan, To be honest I find her variations to the songs over the top.
DaddyDiesel

actor wrote:
mastachen wrote:
actor wrote:


Ffinnegan223 wrote:
Overrated: IDINA!!!(it sounds like it hurts when she SCREAMS! her breathing is AWFUL!!!


WHO CARES?!?! Whether someone can f ucking breath or not is not what theatre is about!



Why did you type who cares in caps? Because someone disagreed with your view that Idina is God's gift to musical theatre?


Please don't put words into my mouth. Thankyou.

mastachen wrote:
Knowing how to breathe is important for a theatre actress to succeed and not kill her voice, and yes Idina does suck at that.


Knowing how to breathe is not vital. If someone gives a good performance they give a good performance. And knowing how to breathe is important to succeed? Idina is one of the most successful actresses to come out of Broadway.

mastachen wrote:
To say that breathing isn't what theatre is about shows that a) you've never acted on stage before, b) you have and you don't really know how to sing or c) you're really not as good as you think you are because you have no idea what the hell you're talking about.


Saying that breathing is what theatre is about shows that a) you know shit all about theatre or b) ... nope I think that's it.
I also find that Idinas breathing takes away from her singing. To behonest when she gasps for air like that it almost looks as if she is struggling with the line she is singing. For me it takes a lot away from the song her gasp is so audible it could be written in the music. But I digress...

Do I think she is overrated? A lot of wicked fans seem to hate her and alot of them think she is the only elphaba ever. So I think that equals it out for me.
mastachen

actor wrote:


Saying that breathing is what theatre is about shows that a) you know shit all about theatre or b) ... nope I think that's it.


I think your putting words in my posts now...because nowhere in my post or the original poster that you were rude and condescending to mentioned that breathing is what theatre is about. I just said that good singers are supposed to have good breathing techniques. If you dispute that then I really don't know how to help you.
actor

mastachen wrote:

I think your putting words in my posts now...because nowhere in my post or the original poster that you were rude and condescending to mentioned that breathing is what theatre is about.


Question

mastachen wrote:
To say that breathing isn't what theatre is about shows that a) you've never acted on stage before, b) you have and you don't really know how to sing or c) you're really not as good as you think you are because you have no idea what the hell you're talking about.


Exclamation
actor

DaddyDiesel wrote:
I also find that Idinas breathing takes away from her singing. To behonest when she gasps for air like that it almost looks as if she is struggling with the line she is singing. For me it takes a lot away from the song her gasp is so audible it could be written in the music. But I digress...


Idina corrected her audible gasping years ago.
Ffinnegan223

actor wrote:
.:!BeYoNcE!:. wrote:
Overrated - Stephanie, as proven by this thread. She overracts completely, over 90% of her spoken lines are shouted in the OTT diction.


Applause

Ffinnegan223 wrote:
Overrated: IDINA!!!(it sounds like it hurts when she SCREAMS! her breathing is AWFUL!!!


WHO CARES?!?! Whether someone can f ucking breath or not is not what theatre is about!]

Ffinnegan223 wrote:
her acting is one note


No.


ummmm... ok... wow so yea theatre is about performing, performing is about technique, and hers is awful. if it wasn't, her voice would not have taken as big a hit as it has. she sounded ok in the beginning of the show but her voice quickly went down the more she performed, because she doesn't know how to use it!!! the same thing happened to eden except hers isn't nearly as drastic. the thing about all you "die hard" idina fans is that you can't see the truth right in front of your face. heres the thing. i like idina. i like her as maureen, as Kate, i liked her as amnaris, and loved her in See wut i wanna see. but as elphaba she is not nearly as amazing as you people say she is. when ever she has a bad day every1 of u will stand up an defend her to the death! "she was nervous, she was sick" but the minuet another elphaba, WHO ISN'T IDINA, messes up you will all be the first to point out one flaw and be all "ewww she is awful she's no idina" BULL SHIT! 70% of Idina's recordings sound like shit! and no it's not cuz there recordings! every other elphaba in the world sounds exactly the same live to recording. are u gonna sit there and try and tell me that shes the exception? and for that matter almost every recording of her is her on a bad day, is that also a coincidence?

o and as for her acting she is the only elphaba i have seen the neither grows in character, or matures in age from beginning to end. she is the same angry jaded person through the entire show. other elphabas show an age difference, or optimism turning into disappointment due to betrayal. Idina is just mad from beginning to end! and while that works for elphaba it is, much to your dismay, is ONE NOTE!!!!!!! but again deaf brick wall!!
wicked_boy

I saw Idina. I loved her in the role.

Am I a Fanzel? No.
Do I enjoy her other work? Mostly.
Ffinnegan223

actor wrote:
DaddyDiesel wrote:
I also find that Idinas breathing takes away from her singing. To behonest when she gasps for air like that it almost looks as if she is struggling with the line she is singing. For me it takes a lot away from the song her gasp is so audible it could be written in the music. But I digress...


Idina corrected her audible gasping years ago.


no she didn't she sounds worse now than she ever did, wicked destroyed her voice. if u think she has improved u are sadly mistaken. she has only gone down hill but then again screaming at the top of ur lungs 8 times a week and smoking as much as she does it's not that shocking.
DaddyDiesel

actor wrote:
DaddyDiesel wrote:
I also find that Idinas breathing takes away from her singing. To behonest when she gasps for air like that it almost looks as if she is struggling with the line she is singing. For me it takes a lot away from the song her gasp is so audible it could be written in the music. But I digress...


Idina corrected her audible gasping years ago.
No she hasnt. I have a friend who saw her in concert very recently and he had that complaint. "She was really good but at times she had audible gasping for air which took away from a couple numbers." Direct quote.
aerosmithangel

Others who have played Elphie may have been better singers than Idina but as far as ACTING goes, Idina IS Elphaba, and THAT is the difference in the performances. And as far as the Kristen/Idina thing goes.. again it's about the chemistry that they brought to the roles together, not that they individually are irreplaceable in those roles. I've seen many great people play these roles... but none of them touched what Chenzel had.

Smile
Mistress

Although I agree the Chenzel actually had pretty decent on-stage chemistry, I must point out two other couples who, in my humble opinion were stronger in that category...Megan Hilty And Shoshana Bean (that porbably has something to do w/the fact that they're really close in real life) and Julia Murney and Kendra Kassebaum, who played off each other brilliantly...probably the funniest pairing...SJB and Annaleigh Ashford didn't seem too bad either.
wicked_boy

Megan and Sho really do have a good connection onstage and off.
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