LEGALLY BLONDE first preview- Page 7

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 12:58pm

im happy to know theres more depth to the story that went over my head.

but money *does* come into it in that she does get her father to agree to pay for her harvard education on a whim.

i am more than willing to suspend belief, but if she was a girl from a poor family, how would that arc happpen?

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 1:15pm

I think Andy Karl steals the show!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 1:48pm

Amen to that, Miss P! He is a total riot, and at least at the performance I was at the other night, the audience first jumped to their feet at his curtain call!

[hiltyfied]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 1:51pm

I had a lot of fun seeing the first preview of this show, and I think it has potential, but it could use some work.

In terms of the score, there were four songs I really enjoyed (Omigod You Guys, What You Want, Chip on My Shoulder, and So Much Better). There were two songs that I absolutely could not stand. The rest were solid numbers that were pleasant to listen to. The lyrics are snappy and the book is pretty tight, especially in the first act. The second act doesn't have the same intensity of the first act because there is less conflict (it focuses on the trial), but it is definitely funny.

I didn't think the choreography was bad, though I've heard criticism of it. It wasn't the best I've seen in my life, but the dancing added a lot of energy to the show.

If there's one area in which I DON'T see much room for improvement, it is in the cast. I think Laura Bell Bundy is very, very good. She makes Elle likable and believable without ever being too stupid, blonde, or obnoxious. Her voice is extremely strong, but that shouldn't surprise anybody. She has pretty good stage presence as it is, but I think with time, she'll grow into the role even more. Christian Borle is a very sweet Emmett with (of course) excellent comic timing. I also liked Richard Blake's Warner - he has a great voice and he nails the character. Michael Rupert is a good Callahan, but his character's songs could stand some improvement. The supporting roles were great too. Leslie Kritzer, Annaleigh Ashford, and Dequina Moore were hysterical as the Greek chorus.

My main issue with the show is that it is a 2.5 hour musical that attempts to follow very closely the 1.5 hour movie. At least a third of the material that makes up that extra hour fails to move the plot along and doesn't develop the characters. I really don't think Paulette should have as big a role as she does in the musical - I am aware that many people are fans of Orfeh, but I wasn't impressed, and her character doesn't add very much. I don't know how much they can do about that, but even with the obvious weaknesses, Legally Blonde is a good musical that will do well. I'm very excited about Opening Night!
Updated On: 4/5/07 at 01:51 PM

[AngelOfMusic185]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 2:01pm

Thats awesome
if ur a christian borle fan...
http://www.freewebs.com/christianborleonline/index.htm

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 2:05pm

Christian Borle's Emmett is my favorite "main" character in the show. I agree with what n69n said about him earlier.

Love Leslie Kritzer, too. Another scene-stealer, whatever she appears in!

[fishergirl819]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 5:39pm

Agreed about Andy Karl, miss pennywise. Absolutely hysterical - the amount of applause and cheers he got from just walking across the stage was brilliant. It's easy to see why so many of the SF reviews mentioned him specifically as a big positive point of the show!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:43pm

I never thought about the problems/complications of making a 1 1/2 hour movie into a 2 1/2 musical. Hm. If they can condense Les Miz and make it work, surely they can expand this.

[HumATune]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:45pm

Ah but n69n, superficial Warner never would have dated Elle if she were poor.

[lindas13]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 9:56pm

it is the 10th... I was saying happy birthday not to be on the day but I thought I would not get to post again until after I see Laura in NY on the 13th.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 10:06pm

well i hope that people will weigh all my postive comments (posted a few pages back) against my two minor issues...which are really about our society as a whole, & not just this show.
Updated On: 4/5/07 at 10:06 PM

[whimsical]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 11:20pm

I agree with just about everything hiltyfied said. Although I'm a little more mixed about Laura Bell Bundy... Updated On: 4/5/07 at 11:20 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 11:20pm

OT, but the movie is on TV right now.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 11:37pm

Haha, Em.

I just stumbled on it as well.

[theatreholic]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 6:20pm

I'm seeing it tomorrow for my birthday.
I'm excited.
=]

[Hank]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 9:46pm

I just received my first Delta Nu Newsletter in my email!
Really cool. Very ditzy, girly, but looks like a lot of fun. There are links to buy stuff too (somebody asked above). Check their web site and sign up.
This show seems a lot like Hairspray, which I loved. I'm looking forward to this one too, and especially to seeing Leslie Kritzer.