Firstly, let me apologise for the amount of time it took to get this on here, over a month!! It’s a disgrace really but anyway, here it is!!

After the explosive and rifftastic night of Wicked London cast change in which Wicked lost all of its principal line up and most of its ensemble, nothing was going to top that.  Especially not a new cast, only 4 days into their run, full of reality TV stars and other unknowns.

It was my first time of sitting in the stalls and Wicked and what an experience that was in itself! Second row from front in supposedly ‘limited view’ seats (B13/14 – we only missed 2 minor things) the view was immense.  As soon as Louise descended from her bubble I knew I would never again sit in the Dress Circle.  As soon as she opened her mouth, I knew I would never again judge a cast before I’d seen them.

I had maticulously avoided all the audios of this cast’s first week in the hope that they would shock me on stage – I am very, very glad I made that decision! Louise shocked me out of prejudice and into expectation and when Rachel sang ‘The Wizard and I’ I already had goosebumps…Defying Gravity was going to be interesting!

Lewis Bradley was on as Fiyero as (luckily) Lee Mead hadn’t started at this point.  I specifically booked to not see Lee as I’m not a huge fan, plus I wanted to see the new cast ASAP!   Lewis played Fiyero in a much more ‘prince charming’ way – a really fresh approach after Oli’s perfect ‘public schoolboy’ (which is still sorely missed!).  Many people have rightfully compared him to Prince Charming from Shrek in the character – I would definitely agree with this and, although I didn’t like it as much as Oliver ‘Hot Thighs’ Tompsett, I am still a massive Lewis Bradley fan!!

George Ure is now Boq – what a great decision by the producers to keep George in the production while losing many of the other performers?? His GeorgeCam kept us entertained in the transition weeks when we were saying goodbye to one cast and attempting to welcome a new one while still many were waving their snotty, tear stained tissues farewell to the 2009/10 cast.  George plays a very different Boq to the one Jessop did and I was just cracking up throughout, I’m not sure why I found it so funny when people around me didn’t but hey!  He’s a legend!!

A special mention must go to members of the ensemble!! Jen Tierney is still in the production and is a strong member of the ensemble, always spotted putting her all in it.  Also to Niall Sheehy who was on that night but is a swing so can be found in various roles depending on who’s sick/holidaying/skiving/stuck because of ash etc etc etc!!

One thing you definitely get from sitting in the stalls that is impossible to grasp in the Dress Circle are the ensemble’s faces.  I love watching the crowd when all other eyes in the auditorium are on Glinda or Fiyero – they bring an extra energy to the show that makes you feel a part of it even more.

As always, Defying Gravity, was the highlight, Rachel even threw in a couple of riffs and, without a doubt, brought the house down.

With my prejudices in shreds, I was as happy as can be at Stage Door meeting the cast, even if I did call Clive Julian and missed Lucy Newton and Niall Sheehy – oh well, there’s always next time.

Next time is very far away as money is very tight but even so, I’m in the same seats, row B, for my first time seeing Nikki Davis Jones in the role of Elphaba, secretly I’m hoping that it will be a JonesShaw show – fingers crossed!!

Tickets can be bought here.

Have you seen the new cast??  What did you think?

xXx