Deedee Magno Hall - The Wicked Witch of the East

Deedee Magno Hall (Nessarose), Carmen Cusack (Elphaba), and Brad Weinstock (Boq) perform The Wicked Witch of the East on the 1st national tour of Wicked. December 12th, 2007.

[Fairygoblet]

As a wheelchair user myself, I've always viewed Nessa as kind of a tragic character. She resents but also benefits from people coddling her and when she finally gets the independence she craves, she does not have the maturity to handle it, precisely because she was coddled.

[mathshascalculus]

Holy geez, one of the best acted Nessaroses I have ever seen

[rosiequartzie]

It's really fitting how 'No One Mourns the Wicked" plays when it's revealed the Governor died. The man force-fed his pregnant wife toxic flowers that ended up killing her and crippled his youngest daughter for life, and put all the blame on his oldest, simply because he didn't want another green kid. He didn't even know Elphaba was an affair baby, he simply hated her for a "disfigurement" she had no control of, and when compared to the other weird shit in Oz (Magic and talking animals), isn't even that bad. Honestly if he was always like this, then it's no wonder his wife cheated on him. No one mourns the wicked, indeed...

[MHS-usqv]

Something I really love about Deedee's Nessa is that she actually embodies naivety and childish innocence. A lot of the other performances I've seen show her to already be tyrannical and cold, like she's already accepted that she's evil and Boq doesn't love her, and there's not much of a range of emotion in this scene when Boq reveals everything.
But with Deedee you can see how she's trying to convince herself that she's still only one step away from getting Boq's heart, by finally being able to walk and leave Munchkinland, and you can literally hear her innocence shatter as he reveals he's never actually loved her, and this whole romantic world she's constructed is just a niave fantasy she's held onto because Boq is all she had left.
Her rage and remorse are just so raw, but beautifully controlled.

[elphbwckd]

Deedee is incredible. I've seen many good Nessa's that are amazing, but Deedee brings this character to another level and makes every one of her short scenes stand out.

[JLuvsWickedJRL]

There is so much about this performance that is perfect. The shady delayed “Madam.” Deedee basically rolling her ankles with every step like the slippers are controlling her steps and she has to balance herself, Carmen’s look of exasperation when Nessa fucks up. And Deedee is the only Nessa I’ve seen who’s actually screamed in horror when seeing Boq transformed. That desperate “It was ELPHABA” was everything. Just a perfect scene.

[sansational]

She is so talented here. I discovered her recently because of Steven Universe where she voiced Pearl.

[JohnJacobJingleheimerSchmidt]

I love when Nessa calls for Boq and Elphaba is like "BOQ?? THAT fucking guy is still around???" 😂

[stormbob]

Carmen's "I can't with this B..." look after Nessa casts the spell is priceless. "I'm so done with you right now, you impulsive, impudent child."

[CountryCowboy]

“THE WICKED WITCH OOOFFFF THE never fails to give me chills. Wow!

[firby]

how could they not put this song on the cast recording...

[princessroyal]

Y’know what’s ironic? Both sister had a wish to be known as something other than what people saw on the surface. Elphaba wanted to be more than just the girl with green skin, and Nessa wanted to be more than the tragically beautiful girl in the wheelchair. Both of them got their wish. Elphaba left Oz as the wicked witch of the west. Nessa died as the wicked witch of the east, remembered for her crimes against the Munchkins.

[BokunoRico]

DeeDee's acting here may be the best I've ever seen in my entire life.

[layla]

7:34 This might very well be my favorite scene in the entire show. The dramatic music, the loud metallic thump of Boq’s new body, Nessa’s scream…it’s like something out of a horror movie. I love it.

[mylifefornick]

One of my favorite scenes. It’s so heartbreaking for Elphaba, she realized that Nessa is just like the others.

[xrrgr]

1:35 her delivery on “that’s a WICKED thing to say” was incredible

[laurafrakinroslin]

Sincerely the best Nessa I’ve ever seen/heard even if I ignore the Steven Universe connection. Deedee is just so good at the kind of shrill emotionally vulnerable characters who need to sing about things

[unclegumbald]

She did a REALLY good job in making it look like the shoes were controlling her legs!

[Alissi-P]

I think something about Nessa’s character thats often overlooked is that she has no one. Nobody truly cares for her. Her father died, Boq literally only stays with her out of obligation, and she can’t get her older sister who she grew up having care for her to stay around her for more than literally the span of this song. That’s why near the end she begs Elphaba not to leave her, and why, once Boq wakes up, she blames everything on her. Boq is now the only person she has left, and if he knew the reality of what happened he’d despise her more than he already does. She spent her entire life only ever having people feel bad for her, because no one ever saw past her disability. All she wants is someone to love her for who she is, and in the end she doesn’t get that. Even after she’s dead, all she receives is pity.

[ToaAxiomMan]

I can't unhear Pearl singing this