I saw both Lauren and Laura Bell. I have to say Lauren's Elle is much fresher and you really fall in love with her. Not to say Laura's is bad, come on it's Laura Bell Bundy, but she has done the role forever and it's a little exhausted.
I'm still trying to comprehend the opening announcement "At tonite's performance, the part of Elle Woods normally played by Becky Gulsvig will by played by Laura Bell Bundy".
No announcements here. When LBB is in, they add her bio and head shot on a separate sheet to the program, and when Lauren plays they add a 1/2 sheet saying "At this performance the roll of..."
uh oh...already? I kind of wondered this when everyone was talking about the scheduled performances that LBB/Lauren will do--but what if one of them ends up getting sick and can't go on? Will the other one go on in her place or is that when Rihannon will get her shot?
good question. wonder if they'll be ringing up Bailey?? I've actually been wondering why they chose LBB over bringing Bailey into the mix....i know that might sound odd, but wouldnt Bailey be a bigger draw out on the road as she's prob more well known and popular due to the reality show??
Legally Blonde (LB & Bailey) * Hairspray * Spring Awakening * Rent * Little Mermaid * Wicked(BW & the tour) * Lion King * Chorus Line
If it was Bailey on tour I would not have gone, and would have been very mad about the waste of money. I payed for a good performance, not a mediocre one.
Didn't more people tune in to the Legally Blonde broadcast with LBB than to the reality show? LBB is on the cast recording, in the MTV broadcast, and in some episodes of the reality show. She's a bigger draw than Bailey.
Rhiannon is still out until St. Louis, and she won't be able to be THE Elle considering her stamina will probably be low from being off of tour for over a month, she would only be good for a few performances until she got back into the swing of things.
So I just got back from opening night in St. Louis. There were some mic issues, but overall I thought it was a good show. Lauren was better than I expected, but I must admit that when they made an announcement about replacement players I kept waiting for "And Elle Woods will be played by Laura Bell Bundy." Alas I guess she's still in Vegas. I am envious of you that get to see LBB next week. I saw her on Broadway from the front row and you are in a for a treat!!!
My main question is why didn't they open the show with the girls opening the windows of the sorority house????? That was such a neat way to open the show and I don't get why they changed it! I nearly screamed. Ok I screamed a little.
Would love to hear what other people thought about tonight's show!
Two reasons. One, the house set cost too much money for only being used in one scene. Two, they had to scale back sets for the tour so that everything can fit into one or two buses. (I believe they only have one bus for sets, right?)
The cast travels by airplane, and the set and other props travel by tractor trailer like 7 or 8 of them. I've been lucky enough to see the three different Elle's in multiple performances. (From DC and I was home for the holidays, and I go to School in E.Lansing, They are all great for many reasons. Nothing against Lauren she is great but not for one moment do I believe she is a law student. Not her fault just a casting issue. She is 19 and she looks 19. But to be 19 and carry a tour in the interim is great. She is really starting to grow in to the role and given a few more years to mature she will be great. LBB is doing great to jump back in so short notice. She shows signs of rust (to be expected) and she is having to take a breath or two in the last note of so much better. Again to be expected she's been away for what 5- 6 months? And Becky is well... Becky. She sounds great every night she is a machine. Her voice is so pure, no unnecessary riffing She looks and acts like a law student and her timing is great, she really owns the role now, I am more impressed every time I see her. There is a reason the Producers and Casting agency picked her. I am thankful when someone who deserves a role gets it before they stunt cast it. Call me old fashioned I guess
I'm pretty sure Alex is still Margot, so I think Rhiannon is being put back in as one of the Elle covers. Laura and Lauren will alternate it, but Rhiannon is now the "first u/s"
I do believe that Rhiannon can do a good job if she ever goes on, but I also can't help but think of the bad audition she had on the show when she sang Legally Blonde..
All I can say is . . . WOW . . . I've been waiting for a video like this to show up. I saw Becky in DC before she broke her toe, and while she has a great voice, she's just not my taste in Elle.
I love Lauren's interpretation here and always thought she should've won on MTV, although now it's true that she got the best deal out of all of them being fourth.
Congrats to Lauren on doing such an excellent job.
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