Bailey's first without the 6 pages ragging on her Bio... — Page 2

Updated On: 5/2/09 at 01:48 PM

Larry Miller actually made a conscious shift from third person to first person in his bio for "The Dinner Party." Masterful.

Hey, it's still on Playbill! And he even calls third person second person, adding to the complexity.

http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/whoswho/biography/10429.html

btw, the Donna Hanover reference was quite timely at the time

Everytime I see Ven Daniel's name I always think it's Vin Diesel...lol.
Sorry that was off-topic.

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I saw the show last night and I agree with Rup on just about everything but I'll go further about Ven Daniel's. Everytime he was in a scene, it was really quiet, not even close to all the hoopla that happened for Andy or even Matt Risch. I love Andy Karl and yes, I'm someone who mostly always likes the original better but Ven does nothing to erase my memories of how fantastic Andy Karl always was. His acting is almost comically bad, he's got short popeye legs and he's just not funny, sorry, that's my opinion and I stand behind it. But enough about him, Bailey Hanks is fine. Is she great, not at all but maybe she'll grow into the role. I think she is a weak singer, a great dancer and a paint by numbers sort of actress. She makes everyone on stage look older than they ever have, especially Christian Borle and Kate Shindle. Richard Blakes character is supposed to be sleazy so I didn't much "notice" anything off there but her sorority sisters look very out of place. Orfeh's scenes with Bailey worked effortlessly and looked right but that's more a testament to Orfeh making adjustments for Bailey, at least that's how it looked to me.

I wasn't at all the "crazy" shows that have happened in the past few weeks so I've only heard but last nights audience was seemingly sedate by comparison. They gave Bailey nice entrance applause, very enthusiastic Ireland reprise applause for Orfeh but there was nothing all that wild happening the whole rest of the show. People slowly stood for Bailey at her bow. I don't stage door so I can't give you any news about that and who did or didn't come out to sign but to answer a question on another thread, some of the older pics (like Bend & Snap scene) are still in the front of the theater by the big Bailey poster.

All in all, I wasn't terribly disappointed but I was far from blown away. Sorry I don't have more to say about Autumn but I barely noticed her. Lucia Spina was a better actress than Natalie Joy Johnson imo and is pretty much a dead ringer in the looks department.

Seeing her the 29th. Will report. Does anyone know if Autumn has also started? Was she in it on Bailey's opening?

"Orfeh's scenes with Bailey worked effortlessly and looked right but that's more a testament to Orfeh making adjustments for Bailey, at least that's how it looked to me".

That's precisely it Foster. Bailey's energy is so so different from Lbb's and Orfeh seems to be the only one not "put upon" by it and has made a seamless transition.

I saw Bailey last night. I thought she was phenomenal. Her voice was especially beautiful in the songs "Take it like a man" and "Legally Blonde"... I could have used a little less head voice in "Legally Blonde", but it was really pretty and kinda refreshing to hear. Oh, and her belting in the remix was fierce. I didn't find any problems with her acting. She was very convincing and so watchable. Of course, there are little things I could nitpick on, but I'm not going to because all in all, I was so impressed. She is not the most talented girl on Broadway, but she's very right for this role and she killed it. And her voice has improved a lot.

As for the new Enid, she was HILARIOUS. I couldn't even tell she was new until I finally opened my playbill at intermission. Also, I love the new Brooke. Awesome voice. I wasn't too in love with UPS guy. He's really good looking but he definitely twinkles a little, if ya get my drift. He also doesn't have that low funny voice like Andy. Ah well, he floats the producers boats. Not mine.

But yeah... Bailey was great. I liked the girl.

She sang "Legally Blonde" in the upper register? Interesting.

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Kelly2, I didn't find anything too obvious as far as a change in Orfeh's performance with the new Klye, she's too good for that but you could tell we as an audience, weren't too thrilled and let down.

I saw the show this past saturday in the evening (7/26) There were a lot of understudies on, including for the role of Emmett and Paulette and Paul Canaan was also not there for anyone who cares lol. Bailey and Autumn were both on however.
Bailey was fantastic! I thought she was adorable and the dancing, singing, and acting were all terrific. I had only seen the show with Becky on as Elle so I can not compare her to Laura Bell but I thought she was great. And she signed for everyone after the show and took pics with them.
Autumn however, was kind of awful. She was off a LOT on the dancing and just didn't seem to be enjoying herself. Each time she was either late or early with her moves it brought my eye right to her and it was sort of distracting. At one point during I think it was Positive she was totally facing the wrong way, looked around and then turned to where she was suppossed to be. I believe on the MTV show one of the judges (I can't remember which one) asked how she felt about being a sorority girl and I think he really nailed down a problem with her. she isn't as like smiling and happy as the rest of the girls, either because she is bitter or just not into that sort of role.

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Paul Canaan left the show, I think. Rusty Mowrey is replacing him.

If I remember correctly, Amber Efe was on as Paulette and Barry Anderson was on as Emmett. Also Tiffany was on as Margot. As much as I can't stand Bailey's performance, I would have sat through it for those three.

I thought Autumn was pretty solid with the dancing when I saw her.