LEGALLY BLONDE first preview- Page 2

[FutureAladdinOnB'Way]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:28pm

Details please lol

[Parks]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:29pm

Oh, good! I'm glad it's doing well . Can't wait to see it...someday.

[Violet Tree]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:30pm

Is rush at 10 am when the box office opens or 2 hours prior to curtain? I am also trying to get a feel for time. I plan on going Friday and I want to make sure I get there early enough.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:33pm

i know i want details also!!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:33pm

I just got home from the first preview. I got a rush ticket and the rush seats are in the first two rows of the orchestra.

OK, about the show... I honestly cannot say I wasn't having a good time toward the end of Act II. The show has a lot of potential.

The Pros:

*Christian Borle gives a tender, sweet performance as Emmett. He totally wins the audience over and is absolutely charming. I hope there is enough room to fit him into the Featured Actor category at the Tony Awards. It could really go either way in such a busy year, but out of all the performers, I say he has the best shot at a nomination.

*Featured performers like Andy Karl and Leslie Kritzer become immediate audience favorites. Unfortunately, their parts are pretty small.

*The dogs. Maybe it's because I am a total and complete dog person, but those adorable freakin' little pups are the cutest things on Broadway right now.

The Cons:

*Unfortunately Laura Bell Bundy just doesn't have the star quality to fill the stage of the big mega-musical that this show is trying to be. She is very petite and gets lost among the very larger than life ensemble in the group numbers of which she is supposed to be the focus. She clearly has a fantastic voice, but she doesn't get even one chance to go all out and utilize it. Her singing is left to snippets and low tempo ballads. The Act I closing number is clearly trying to be her big "it" song, but she doesn't get to show off her voice much in the number at all.

*The choreography is easily the least impressive Jerry Mitchell has created for any show he's choreographed that I've seen (HAIRSPRAY, THE FULL MONTY, NEVER GONNA DANCE, LA CAGE, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS). He is known for finding something new and innovative to incorporate into his choreography and has never failed to "wow" an audience except here. The choreography is something out of a high school show. The bare basics. And for a show like LEGALLY BLONDE, I'd expect him to turn it up to HAIRSPRAY levels. He probably will get a Tony nomination for his choreography, as this is not a big year for choreography, but in a year beaming with directorial triumphs, in my opinion he has no shot at a nod for his directorial debut.

*The score, with the exception of two numbers ("Omigod You Guys" and the title song) is pretty dull. Most of it is made up of talk-to-the-music numbers, or numbers that are big and great but don't feel like they fit into this show.

*The book, though very long and choppy, does carry the show through just fine. It's a fairly decent adaptation of a film.

I would place LEGALLY BLONDE somewhere in between HAIRSPRAY and THE WEDDING SINGER. I don't believe it should get a nomination for Best Musical, because if it is nominated, it WILL win, and I've seen at least two shows this season that are far more deserving of the title than this one. LEGALLY BLONDE is the stuff of road voters' dreams. Based off a popular film, filled with ditzy, girly, pop-culture themes, leaving the audience bopping and singing out of the theatre. It is a clear winner with the road voters among all of the creative, artistic shows that make up the rest of this season's new musicals.

I think that the critics are going to be mixed. I can see why the San Francisco critics responded so positively, but New York critics aren't going to overlook the big flaws that fail to make this musical complete.

Updated On: 4/4/07 at 11:33 PM

[harris007]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:36pm

damn it i really wanna see this, anyone got any sofa space lol

[FutureAladdinOnB'Way]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:37pm

I want to see this badly too!!

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:38pm

hmm wow...i am suprised you did not like it that much.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:42pm

Foster, how do you think Brantley will like the show?

And how full was the house?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:42pm

Im my opinion Laura Bell Bundy was the most surprising thing to me.
I know she has done many things before but I had never seen her before and she blew me away.
She totally commands that stage and her Acting, Singing and Dancing were terrific.
Besides Steph Block no other actress has impressed me as a triple threat like Bundy.
Ebersole is channeling and scoring in GG, and Audra and Murphy are singing/acting wonders, but we have lacked the kind of performers like Bundy and Block.
So great to see fresh talent like this.
Updated On: 4/3/07 at 11:42 PM

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:43pm

Okay, I know she's in the ensemble, but how is Kate Wetherhead?

[perfectliar]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:44pm

I have tickets for the May 12 matinee but I don't know if I can wait that long to see this!

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:47pm

Kate was amazing in SF.

I'm expecting pretty negative reactions in the first crop because we Californians raised expectations.
I disagree about the score, though. It's definitely one that benefits from repeat listening.

What about "Positive", guys?

[Violet Tree]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:48pm

I saw it on Monday and I liked Kate Wetherhead. I could hear her a lot of the time stick out vocally over the rest of the ensemble.
Updated On: 4/3/07 at 11:48 PM

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:50pm

I'm glad to hear she's doing well!

Does she have any lines or anything?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:50pm

I think Brantley will respond similarly to the way he responded to MARY POPPINS.

I think he'll say that Jerry Mitchell's directorial debut is a disappointing one.

It's a big, fun show, the way MARY POPPINS is, but the sum of its parts fail to cohere.

Updated On: 4/3/07 at 11:50 PM

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:52pm

Kate is Chutney and she is one of the Delta Nu Sisters.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:54pm

Does she have a little solo or anything? lol. Sorry for the questions, but I'm not in NY to see my Kate!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:55pm

Kate and all three Greek Chorus girls hit their roles on the head.
The supporting roles are so well cast.

Brantley will probably love Bundy, he has a weakness for talented Blondes.
I think he wants to be one.
And I hope he recognizes that Jerry is the most promising Director/Choreographer we have right now.
The opening of Act II is brilliantly staged.
Updated On: 4/3/07 at 11:55 PM

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:56pm

oh CPD your getting me beyond excited.

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:57pm

Kate basically coaches Elle through the LSATs and she has a verse in "What You Want".

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:58pm

Thanks guys! I am really excited for her!

I am very sad I won't be able to see her though.

[Violet Tree]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:59pm

I agree completely. Especially Leslie Kritzer. Very enjoyable to watch.

[Mrs.LinkLarkin2]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 11:59pm

Want To Be A Foster, if it's a mix of The Wedding Singer and Hairspray it's bound to be one of my faves! Cause those two are my favorite shows ever!

[Kelly2]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 12:01am

Is the bonecake line back in the show?