BROADWAYWORLD: Wendla is a character who shows naivety without ditziness, a rare personality for fictional teenage female characters, which makes actress Madeleine Tommins' convincing portrayal of Wendla all the more impressive.

TALKIN' BROADWAY: As Wendla, Madeleine Tommins summons up memories of the role's orginator, Lea Michele, though her performance is entirely her own. She looks sweet and vulnerable . . . and brings a beautiful voice to such songs as "Mama Who Bore Me" and "Whispering." What's more, the relationship between Eric Regan's Melchior and Madeleine Tommins' Wendla is deeply touching and heartbreaking and the two performers have a palpable chemistry.