Defying Logic: Cynthia Erivo at the Mann.
My friend saw her at the Mann Music center. Not one song from Wicked.
Full disclosure: I did not see Cynthia Erivo at The Mann Music Center in Philadelphia last week. I did however see Ms. Erivo in the screen adaptation of ‘Wicked’ and was blown away by her performance. She made it her own, while honoring Idina Menzel and the stage show. She can act, sing and was just incredible.
So as my coworker, who was in attendance, told us about her show (accompanied by the Philadelphia Orchestra), and how wonderful it was, and how her fans were moved to tears, she then said, “Yeah, and it was weird, because she didn’t sing anything from Wicked.”
Wait, what?
And then she added, “And it would have kind of made more sense, except that the Mann Music Center had all of these photo-op stations covered in Green and Pink, alluding to the “Wicked” performer.
Indeed.
Look, Ms Erivo can sing whatever she wants. But her rise to world wide fame is due if not exclusively, then PREDOMINATELY to her role as the Wicked Witch. Would anyone dispute that? So what on earth is going on here? Not only is it deliberate, it feels…malicious. Almost inviting the rebuke, taunting her fans and laughing while counting her money.
It goes to the heart of the trust we as fans put in the performer-fan relationship, and I am calling out Ms. Erivo for violating that trust.
Let’s imagine Paul McCartney performing a three hour show of just his solo material. (And not telling the audience beforehand that he was doing so.)
Or James Taylor leaving out, “Fire and Rain” from his Tanglewood set.
(He even pokes fun at himself in his 1985 song, “That’s Why I’m Here” when he sings:
“Pay good money, to hear ‘Fire and Rain’ again and again and again.”
And he does.
Every time.
Because he and his audience (as have other audiences with their beloved artists the world over) have reached an understanding: We come out each year, we expect - and mostly tolerate - a few tunes off the new album but otherwise, play the familiar, play the hits.
And he, and others readily and in most cases, happily oblige.
So what gives, Ms. Erivo? Curious to understand how you and your handlers omitted the songs from, ya know, WICKED!! I mean pick ONE!
Is it a rights issue? Is the band not prepared? (It’s the Philadelphia Orchestra, not some pick up band) I don’t know. But there are definitely legions of young Wicked fans, who are leaving disappointed that their beloved singer is not singing even one song from the show they love. (Idina Menzel found the time in her set to sing ‘Defying Gravity’ with an Orchestra. Didn’t seem to cramp her style.)
And finally: Mr Erivo seems…well, singular. The painfully long nails, the strange way she acts in interviews, the over the top outfits. It does track. I wish her well, I wish her success, and I wish, that she would find a way to sing, ‘Defying Gravity’.
And one more detail from my friend who was there: The Pizza at the Mann? Six slices? Sixty dollars. That’s a violation on a whole nuther level. And not such spectacular Pizza that you say, “Oh that was totally worth sixty dollars.” Is any Pizza anywhere worth that much?!
So next time you’re heading to the Mann to see Cynthia Erivo, bring your own food, enjoy a tailgate with friends, and while you’re there waiting to see Ms. Erivo, blast the soundtrack to “Wicked”. It will be the only time you’ll hear it that night.
End of Rant.