#obviously Elphie has to play a role too but I think it’s different from Glinda

[roseofcards90]

Completely unrelated thought but I've always loved just how ironic Wicked's opening is. "No one mourns the wicked" SAYS THE WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN MOURNING HER DEATH EVER SINCE

Like just the complete irony of the song where Glinda keeps trying to emphasize to the people that no one cares about the wicked witch of the west while simultaneously being the sole person to continue to tell her best friend's story, not only to the world of oz but also to herself because she realizes she is the only one who is mourning this loss. She is the only one who knows most of the truth beneath the various amount of lies people have made for Elphaba for years and years. But alas, she must play this part to the very end and live a lie, unlike Elphaba who embraced and accepted herself a long time ago

[lesbian-in-leather]

I mean…..I’d be interested to hear what you have to say about the wicked movie casting 👀

Okay SO

First of all I'd just like to say no hate to the actresses, Ariana Grande has always seemed like a lovely person and I literally had not heard of Cynthia Erivo until this morning so this isn't like a personal attack on them however I do have several issues with them being cast as Glinda and Elphaba

Cynthia Erivo is in her mid thirties and she should not be playing someone in her late teens/early twenties. I'm rlly sick of grown-ass adults playing teenagers for a lot of reasons, and it's just super unnecessary. I've seen loads of people talking about how old Idina was when she originated the role, completely failing to ackowledge that casting for the stage is completely different from the screen

Age-appropriate casting is super important for films and tv, and I feel like DEH should have taught the industry that but apparently not. Wicked obviously takes place over a longer timeframe, so I could have accepted someone who appears to be in their mid twenties who could have been aged up/down with costume and makeup at various points in the story, but come on. Erivo is too old I'm sorry she just is (also they could have just cast a Young!Glinda/Elphaba and an Older!Glinda/Elphaba like surely that would make sense for a film but no why would they do that)

Moving on to Ariana - visibly I could accept her as Glinda, she can play down and be aged up later (obviously she needs to be blonde but I am presuming they'll at least keep that aspect of the musical)

My first issue with her is her voice. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the high notes people talk about her singing are whistle notes - which are impressive, but it's not Glinda. Wicked was so masterfully written and the music is all super symbolic, and Glinda's high notes are so important to her character arc and I'm just. Not confident that she can pull them off (also she does have a tendency, even with musical theatre songs, to sing in a pop-music style which I am absolutely opposed to for a musical). In addition, as someone who struggles with audio-processing anyway, her diction can be quite questionable and again, that's such an important part of musical theatre

Acting-wise I'm not sure how I feel about her - I've seen her in a few things, and I know she can act, and I also know that this role means a lot to her so I think she will genuinely do her best to be true to the character. I absolutely don't blame her for auditioning, and I hope she doesn't get too much hate directed at her, because it isn't her fault she was cast but I really wish she hadn't been

Also I just feel... we didn't need to cast famous people? We could have had some undiscovered stage actresses and boosted their careers, but no. And I know people argue it's not stunt casting because Ariana has a background in musical theatre, but let's be completely honest. If they weren't already famous, they wouldn't have gotten these parts. Because vocally/potentially character-wise, Ariana is not right for the role, and Cynthia is the wrong age to play Elphie!!

Even if they did want to cast Names, they could have done better. I know Dove Cameron was rumoured for a long time and she's a bit of a controversial topic, but I genuinely think she would have done an exceptional job as Glinda (if she has the range, I'm not sure, but focusing on her acting ability). Or, if you want Big Names involved, they could have played other characters - Glinda and Elphaba could have been new actresses or stage actresses that wanted to be on the screen, and the Names could have been other characters!! Morrible and the Wizard would have been excellent roles for appropriate stunt casts because 1. They're adults and therefore you don't have to age them up to use someone that's well known (because most well known people are going to be at least a little older purely because it takes time to become A Name) and 2. They aren't the main characters! DON'T STUNT CAST THE LEADS

Wicked is one of my all time favourite musicals and it means a lot to me and a lot of other people, and I just feel this film is going to ruin some of the most important parts of the musical that made it such an incredible sucess

A huge part of the narrative is that they start as dumb teenagers - Glinda is a privileged trust fund baby that's never had to question her worldview, and Elphaba is an insecure teen that just wants to fit in. It's why Elphie changes herself so dramatically, and why it's so easy to forgive Glinda later on because we see her realise she was wrong. Ariana and Cynthia can't play the same age, and by aging the characters up we'll likely lose the innocence of those plots

Judging from the lack of thought they put into this casting, I also find it very hard to believe they'll allow any romantic implications between Glinda and Elphaba, even as subtext, which is just bullshit. I knew they wouldn't make them canon, but I'd hoped we'd at least get to keep the subtext

[francescajohnson]

Hey everyone! I know I’ve been MIA for a while, purely because I’ve been so busy and I hate that (like I love it because I’m working a lot, and doing shows and not getting all in my head bc I don’t have enough to do, but I miss you all when I’m gone), so I thought I’d share some pictures of what I’ve been doing (some of you were asking anyway, and so many people have been so ridiculously supportive of me throughout this whole journey, so I just wanted to thank you so much for everything and say that you really helped me through everything, bc these were trying times, but I’d like to think that it was all worth it)! As you can gather from the photos, I recently was given the chance to play “alternate” Elphaba in Wicked! It was quite possibly the most rewarding thing I’ve done in my entire life, I had dreamed of this moment since I was about 14 years old (literally over 10 years ago), never thought it would actually happen, but it did and I’m beside myself. I’ve got a few stories, but this is going to get long, so under the cut!

Now I’ve actually done this show already this year, I tried out with a much bigger, well-funded society, was called back for Elphaba but didn’t make it, but I was dying to be in a production of Wicked so chose to do the ensemble. That production was literally the Broadway version, but with community theatre actors. Sets, lighting, everything was phenomenal, and I counted myself so blessed to be a part of it! I mean I was bummed I didn’t get to play my favourite lady, but was still stoked bc the production was so good! And the phenomenal human who did play Elphaba was literally a dream in every way, so I’m really glad I was there for it. That was in June. Then auditions for this production came around, people were like “you literally just did this show for 6 months” and some were like “you might actually get it this time so please try out”. Long story short, it’s a much smaller and less funded society, so I knew the scale and production would be very different, but how could I pass up the chance to maybe play Elphaba? Well, I tried out and was given alternate Elphaba, which meant I was given two shows to perform, and obviously was a stand-by if needed for the other shows. I was hesitant, because I selfishly wanted more at the time, but I could not be happier that I said yes and decided to do it. 

The girls who were “the” Elphaba and Glinda were so supportive and lovely the entire rehearsal period, it was a pleasure working with and learning from them, and I actually found my friend-soulmate in my Glinda, she is literally sunshine in human form and has the most stunning voice and acting ability, I could not have worked with a more perfect Glinda if I wanted to. 

So, we headed into the shows with our rehearsals done and very excited, my Glinda and I expecting to have our two shows and bonding in the audience for the others, but I didn’t really expect anything else to happen. Cut to the second show, and our Elphie had ridiculously terrible bronchitis, and after a lot of discussion and tears, she asked me to do two of her shows for her. Now I know it’s community theatre, and “not a big deal”, but literally those were two of the most stressful days of my life. It was weird being thrown on at the last second, it was weird having to do shows with another Glinda (though she was spectacular too and was so selfless and helpful on the stage, I love her a bunch for all that she did and how supportive she was), it was weird performing for people who weren’t there to see me and were disappointed when I walked out onto that stage, and worst of all, I felt absolutely guilty and rotten going on for someone who had worked so hard and been through so much, and was forced to go home and rest. Every other alternate I’ve known never had to actually go on, so there were a lot of new and uncharted emotions that I was working through (especially bc the first of these shows was my actual first time as Elphaba), but I wrangled a ticket for my beautiful brother, who raced over to be my one audience member that I knew. While I was feeling sick about everything, the cast was absolutely phenomenal, and so supportive, there were so many tears and hugs after that first time I went on (honestly, it was mostly me that was crying), and at the after party, the cast and crew voted me in for “the Diamond in the Rough award for the Most Valuable Person” as a cast award, at which point I cried again. 

So anyway, after those stressful days of stepping in, we finally arrived at my show where I actually had people there to see me, and my for Glinda to see her. That show was quite honestly the most special of my entire life. I’ve never had so many people from all parts of my life come together, and they all got along so well, and there was cheering and screaming and standing ovations and crying (and entrance applause - I’ve never been so close to crying uncontrollably than at that point, and it was at the very start of the show, so I had to quickly snap out of it, but I was so overwhelmed with emotion)! It was just such a special moment because everyone there knew how much the role meant to me, and how much I identify with Elphaba, it was just such a truly life-changing moment (ah I’m crying again now) and I couldn’t be more grateful. Our next show was much the same, and I’m so glad in the end that our Elphie had her rest bc she came back and smashed the rest of her shows, which made me so happy!!! 

So yes, I could write a tonne more, but I doubt anyone is still reading at this point. Pretty much the gist though is that I’ve found so much love for these people, and for performing again. It’s always been such a love of mine, but there’s always so much drama and unnecessary bitchiness that I don’t have time for it? When it’s supposed to be something I’m taking the time out to do that I love?! But this experience was the farthest thing from that, and I’m a better person for having taken chances and being more adventurous and learning from these amazing people around me, and I couldn’t be more humbled and awed by them and everything they do. There may be audio and more actual stage shots to come, I’m not sure, but my brother (my biggest fan) took some stuff and says it’s worth listening to, so I hope he’s right! We shall see.    

Oh an I also tried out for Little Women recently and was cast as Jo!! That’s not until April, but I’m very excited about it because it’s another “love of my life” role, that I’m blessed to be getting the chance to play (I hope it goes well)! 

So thanks for reading, if you got this far, I know it was rambly, I’m in my post show depression phase, so it’s probably not coherent at all and just a mess of thoughts, but it was a very special time for me, and I thought I’d share it with other people who mean a lot to me (and know just how much this was a dream of mine to do!!)! Much love, and I hope you all have a fantastic holiday break!!!