WICKED IN COPENHAGEN
Final playing week of "Wicked" in Copenhagen, and I wanted to see it so badly. In an impulsive moment I bought the cheapest seat in the house, and the cheapest bus ticket I could find, and went for an adventure. And boy, was it worth it, cause the design for this production was cool beyond words. I'll try to describe it still.
The theatre facade and a poster hanging outside the theatre.
As far as I know, this is the first professional musical production using steampunk for the whole show. I've seen lots of photos from the production previously, but it was first when I saw it live that I realized how well it worked as a total.
The proscenium seen from the very upper floor.
Gone is the giant dragon and the more fairytale approach to Wicked. In comes a more challenging visual package, with gears and screens and whatnot growing out of the stage, embracing the proscenium and parts of the auditorium. Screens of various sizes were hung in all levels, and sometimes they showed the setting of where the people on stage were, sometimes they showed live what the actors were doing. It's the first time I've thought the projections as an integral part of the show instead of a nice addition.
Two costume sketches, along with Glinda in her "bubble" and Elphaba defying gravity.
The costume design was awesome. The cast wore mostly steampunk outfits, with a late Victorian/early Edwardian basis. Crinolines, bustles and other skirt fundaments with drapings and snug bodices were the basis for women, while suits with "steampunk print", and/or WW1 uniform with a "steampunk arm" were the basis for the men. Alas I was slightly underwhelmed by Elphaba's wardrobe. The layering of black fabrics and the addition of sequins were very well done, but the silhouettes made her look so drab (and not just in the first act, when she's supposed to be drab...). However, I liked her wig, which seemed to be dark chestnut with a hint of green. The green makeup was also well executed, with a metallic shine to it. Don't judge from the picture underneath, it's from a press launch.
Maria Lucia as Elphaba and Annette Heick as Glinda.
Glinda's wardrobe, on the other hand.... Holy moses! The bubble dress from the original has been replaced by a giant feather dress with corseted, sequined lace bodice. The feathers were so sparkly, and so soft in movement. It was da bomb. And I say that as one loving the original bubble dress. Her costumes throughout were eye candy, and apart from her school uniform always with these big bell skirts, and most of them glittered like crazy. I could not take my eyes of her because of the eye candy her costumes was. Which is very right for Glinda. She is Po-pu-lar...
Singing wise it was top notch. They really are great with casting at this theatre, both for leads and for general cast. I saw Maria Lucia (Elphaba) as Eponine two years ago, and I didn't understand what the hype was all about. She can sound a bit nasal in the middle register. But as Elphaba she can use her belting voice to the max, and I was seriously impressed ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj6WjgUtI0A ). She did a very nice portrayal too.
A bigger surprise still was TV host Annette Heick as Glinda. She has quite a lovely, light soprano, but she also use her voice with attitude (which can be heard for example in "Popular": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-12guDDEzCA ). But even more so, she was such a quirky and charming Glinda, very good portrayal, and funny at the right places. It's hard to play such a ditsy character without making her too annoying.
I saw John Martin Bengtsson (Fiyero) as Enjolras two years ago. I had never heard about him before that, and was so amazed by how he just owned the stage in every scene he was in. Stage presence o'hoy, along with a gorgeous operatic voice. He was equally good as Fiyero, going from 2cool4school in the first act to quite a hero in the second act, and making the transaction believable. And man, that man can sing. I can't believe the West End or Broadway hasn't kidnapped him yet.
John Martin Bengtsson as Fiyero and Maria Lucia as Elphaba.
Other things to mention... The orchestra was placed on stage, high on a platform. I was a bit sceptic to this. Well, it worked. Main reason is that they were only viewable for selected scenes, like the dance, and hence they became an integral part of the story. I heard they had problems in the beginning adjusting the sound when it came from "above" and not from the pit. But it seemed perfectly fine now. And speaking of the orchestra, it's always so rhythmic and rich at Det Ny Teater. I often find it richer here than in the West End counterparts.
I won't say too much about the actual musical, partly because I think there are too many unmemorable songs in the score, and partly because I think most of you still reading is familiar with the basics... I must, however, say that I enjoy the spin they've taken on the classical Oz story. I like that it's told from another angle. It was cool to finally see it live, and seeing it with full steampunk design was simply awesome. I'm mighty impressed.
Steen Springborg as the Wizard, Kristian Boland as Dillamond.
Marianne Mortensen as Madame Morrible.
PS - both costumes and sets are by Paul Farnsworth. Apparently he's also done the design for the stage adaption of "Ghost", which opens in London in a month. All pics above, except the two first ones and the "smiling friends" one, are by Jonas Lodahl. They're snatched from here:
http://www.detnyteater.dk/presse/pressefotos/
The theatre facade and a poster hanging outside the theatre.
As far as I know, this is the first professional musical production using steampunk for the whole show. I've seen lots of photos from the production previously, but it was first when I saw it live that I realized how well it worked as a total.
The proscenium seen from the very upper floor.
Gone is the giant dragon and the more fairytale approach to Wicked. In comes a more challenging visual package, with gears and screens and whatnot growing out of the stage, embracing the proscenium and parts of the auditorium. Screens of various sizes were hung in all levels, and sometimes they showed the setting of where the people on stage were, sometimes they showed live what the actors were doing. It's the first time I've thought the projections as an integral part of the show instead of a nice addition.
Two costume sketches, along with Glinda in her "bubble" and Elphaba defying gravity.
The costume design was awesome. The cast wore mostly steampunk outfits, with a late Victorian/early Edwardian basis. Crinolines, bustles and other skirt fundaments with drapings and snug bodices were the basis for women, while suits with "steampunk print", and/or WW1 uniform with a "steampunk arm" were the basis for the men. Alas I was slightly underwhelmed by Elphaba's wardrobe. The layering of black fabrics and the addition of sequins were very well done, but the silhouettes made her look so drab (and not just in the first act, when she's supposed to be drab...). However, I liked her wig, which seemed to be dark chestnut with a hint of green. The green makeup was also well executed, with a metallic shine to it. Don't judge from the picture underneath, it's from a press launch.
Maria Lucia as Elphaba and Annette Heick as Glinda.
Glinda's wardrobe, on the other hand.... Holy moses! The bubble dress from the original has been replaced by a giant feather dress with corseted, sequined lace bodice. The feathers were so sparkly, and so soft in movement. It was da bomb. And I say that as one loving the original bubble dress. Her costumes throughout were eye candy, and apart from her school uniform always with these big bell skirts, and most of them glittered like crazy. I could not take my eyes of her because of the eye candy her costumes was. Which is very right for Glinda. She is Po-pu-lar...
Singing wise it was top notch. They really are great with casting at this theatre, both for leads and for general cast. I saw Maria Lucia (Elphaba) as Eponine two years ago, and I didn't understand what the hype was all about. She can sound a bit nasal in the middle register. But as Elphaba she can use her belting voice to the max, and I was seriously impressed ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj6WjgUtI0A ). She did a very nice portrayal too.
A bigger surprise still was TV host Annette Heick as Glinda. She has quite a lovely, light soprano, but she also use her voice with attitude (which can be heard for example in "Popular": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-12guDDEzCA ). But even more so, she was such a quirky and charming Glinda, very good portrayal, and funny at the right places. It's hard to play such a ditsy character without making her too annoying.
I saw John Martin Bengtsson (Fiyero) as Enjolras two years ago. I had never heard about him before that, and was so amazed by how he just owned the stage in every scene he was in. Stage presence o'hoy, along with a gorgeous operatic voice. He was equally good as Fiyero, going from 2cool4school in the first act to quite a hero in the second act, and making the transaction believable. And man, that man can sing. I can't believe the West End or Broadway hasn't kidnapped him yet.
John Martin Bengtsson as Fiyero and Maria Lucia as Elphaba.
Other things to mention... The orchestra was placed on stage, high on a platform. I was a bit sceptic to this. Well, it worked. Main reason is that they were only viewable for selected scenes, like the dance, and hence they became an integral part of the story. I heard they had problems in the beginning adjusting the sound when it came from "above" and not from the pit. But it seemed perfectly fine now. And speaking of the orchestra, it's always so rhythmic and rich at Det Ny Teater. I often find it richer here than in the West End counterparts.
I won't say too much about the actual musical, partly because I think there are too many unmemorable songs in the score, and partly because I think most of you still reading is familiar with the basics... I must, however, say that I enjoy the spin they've taken on the classical Oz story. I like that it's told from another angle. It was cool to finally see it live, and seeing it with full steampunk design was simply awesome. I'm mighty impressed.
Steen Springborg as the Wizard, Kristian Boland as Dillamond.
Marianne Mortensen as Madame Morrible.
PS - both costumes and sets are by Paul Farnsworth. Apparently he's also done the design for the stage adaption of "Ghost", which opens in London in a month. All pics above, except the two first ones and the "smiling friends" one, are by Jonas Lodahl. They're snatched from here:
http://www.detnyteater.dk/presse/pressefotos/