Butler or Bundy?- Page 2

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 2:37pm

"You have got to be kidding.
Neither of these two actresses have shown me "star" quality."

I wasn't kidding, it's just my opinion based on seeing both shows. I'm not a Legally Blonde "hater", I predicted the show would be a big hit early on during the San Francisco tryouts and for once I was correct in my prognostication.

Watching Legally Blonde I just didn't care about Bundy's character. Yes, she's a competent singer and dancer. So what? The stage at LB came to life whenever Orfeh was on. I had the same feeling watching Kerry Butler, and I think the reviews Xanadu received reflect this. I call it star quality, you can call it whatever you like.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 2:53pm

My thought is that Butler is able to create a performance that is able to be seen on her strengths as a performer alone because XANADU has been completely rethought for it's Broadway run. LEGALLY BLONDE, however, is an almost direct stage adaptation of the movie, so comparisons to Reese Witherspoon are imminent. It's impossible to compare Kerry Butler's SPOOF to Olivia Newton John's original performance.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 3:23pm

Just a little touch of stah quality.

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 4:15pm

Is apples and oranges, they are NOT the same person. They are both talented singer/actresses. One seems to possess the X factor and one does not,that's all. Kerry has "it". It doesn't make Laura Bell a hack , it means she's a very good singer/actress who,in my opinion,lacks that extra something.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 4:19pm

I say BUCKLEY, not Butler or Bundy. Gimme Betty Lynn or give me death. :)

Posted: 7/11/07 at 4:20pm

I agree with others who have said that Kerry Butler has that elusive star quality that Laura Bell Bundy lacks.

I disagree. Butler has inexplicably been given opportunity after opportunity after opportunity to become a major stage star and it just hasn't happened for her. That's not star quality. Far from it.

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 4:32pm

Then you missed her In Hairspray and Batboy. Cuz she had it in spades. Sadly she was miscast as Audrey.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 4:36pm

There are no more stars anymore anyhow or the window to become a star strictly from Broadway has closed so greatly, so the argument is kinda silly. Butler or Bundy will not be playing with symphonies when they are older and people will not be paying top dollar to see them sing other than theatre afficianados. Most young people who work on Broadway now, I believe, hope it will lend to lucrative film and telelvision work and they will occassionally revisit theatre. I do not think the longevity that has graced Lupone, Peters, Lansbury, and even McDonald will happen to many others from this point on.

Actually, I think business of Broadway now is looking for big musicals with generic stars that do not matter if they are out sick or leave the show. I think producers want expendable bodies and voices who will not make or break a show with their abscence. I think that is the future of Broadway and very few folks will make a name for themselves with mainstream America by gracing a Broadway stage.

Posted: 7/11/07 at 4:37pm

Then you missed her In Hairspray and Batboy. Cuz she had it in spades. Sadly she was miscast as Audrey.

Saw her in both, as well as Opposite of Sex and Little Shop. I liked her in Hairspray and Batboy, but none of the shows made her a major stage star. Unless I missed that, too?

Sometimes an actress can become a stage star after only one major role on Broadway if they have IT. It hasn't happened for Butler despite several major roles. Yes, she's a working actress, in high demand, good for her. She's not a stage star though.

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 4:42pm

Watching Legally Blonde I just didn't care about Bundy's character. Yes, she's a competent singer and dancer. So what? The stage at LB came to life whenever Orfeh was on. I had the same feeling watching Kerry Butler, and I think the reviews Xanadu received reflect this. I call it star quality, you can call it whatever you like.

Your perception of star quality is different than mine.

[alex2155]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 6:54pm

I completely agree FriedrichVT. They do not have the same party and are not even in the same show so how can you compare them. I've never seen Kerry perform, but I'm sure she is wonderful in her role. And LauraBell is wonderful is her role. I think that review was completely uncalled for.

[Dirty_Rotten_Guy]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 7:04pm

Bettyboy, I wholeheartedly agree with that 2nd paragraph.

And as others have said, Kerry and Laura Bell are very different and very talented actresses. Kerry might have the edge over Laura Bell right now, but Kerry is more than 10 years older than Laura Bell, and I dont know, Laura Bell is just "getting going" if you know what I mean. I dont know, just dont bash me, I love them both :)

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 7:08pm

Give me Bundy any day.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 7:36pm

Well, I feel Bundy was a better choice for Elle Woods (have you heard Butler's recordings? Horrendous), but I don't think that's really the conversation's topic.

I think Bundy is able to carry LB just fine. She's not Chenoweth or Witherspoon, but she fills the almost unfillable shoes rather well.

Whereas Butler had pretty empty shoes to fill in XANADU, although she may be great. Her only thing to be compared to is one of the worst performances ever on the screen.

However, Bundy is compared to Witherspoon, who gave a Golden Globe nominated, highly acclaimed performance in the role.

Butler was horrible as Audrey, truly bad and miscast. Tari Kelly should have owned that role, and she would have been recognized for her work.

They're both very good actresses. They are both finding great work.

[Parks]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 9:20pm

I personally agree with the person who said that Butler in the workshop demos sounded pretty bad. Her voice nearly made my ears bleed. Granted, I believe it was in a higher key (So Much Better), and it wasn't very...full sounding. It was all electric instruments and sounded cheap.

I don't know much about Butler--so I can't judge star quality. I do like Bundy's voice though. Her performance on stage...from the clips of the show that have been online, she looks as if she's about to die on that last note of So Much Better. No smile...just a face of pain. :-/ I can't wait to see her in the show though!...hope I do.

Posted: 7/11/07 at 10:28pm

Her only thing to be compared to is one of the worst performances ever on the screen.

Really? Gee, I didn't think Newton-John's performance goes down as one of the worst ever. Certainly not when the craptacular Michael Beck was acting right beside her in the same movie. I've been saying for years that Beck may be the worst actor of all time. Cheyenne is the one who has it easy.

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 10:48pm

"They do not have the same party and are not even in the same show so how can you compare them."

This is hardly a case of apples and oranges. Legally Blonde and Xanadu are both fluffy fun, pop-oriented musicals and these actresses are similar enough that one was in the workshop for the other's current role.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 11:01pm

I loved Butler in the demo; thought that she sounded great, personally. She put some personality into it, too. I'd love to have seen the show with her at the forefront.

But anyway, the reason it's hard to compare them is because Butler's older. She's had more experience.

[Up In Lost]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 11:22pm

Bundy has been doing this for ages, too. She may be young but she has done a lot already.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 12:59am

"But anyway, the reason it's hard to compare them is because Butler's older. She's had more experience."

Butler still looks very young. Maybe even younger than Bundy.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 1:07am

I never said that she doesn't look young (which is why I think she would have been good in Legally Blonde,) I said that she's older and thus has more years of experience than LBB, even if LBB has been acting for most of her life.

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 1:34am

The styles of the shows are completely different. Kerry's performance is in a campy tongue in cheek ,fluffy musical. Granted, Legally Blonde is fluff but it's earnest fluff. Laura Bell's character is funny but she plays it str8 and honestly.....as she should. I didn't particularly care for her in Legally Blonde, but I will say she was pretty amazing AND funny in Ruthless.