Laura Bell Bundy and the Note — Page 4

I don't think anyone should compare Bundy to Sutton Foster. There's a world of difference between the two performers. As for the note, it seems to me at this point they should lower or change the ending for her. It's not a random moment in the show, it's the big fat finish of act1 and can't sink everynight. Watching videos on "the" site, sounds like there might have been some "sweetening" going on during the SF production. I saw it here very early on in previews and there was a marked difference in Bundy's voice right away. I don't get the higher is better mentality so many composers seem to be obsessed with and Bundy does not have a tremendous range to begin with.

Reagardless, the musical director really does need to throw her a bone and just take it down an half step.

TabooPhan1: If you were cast in a Broadway show and discovered that you were unable to hit one particular note, no matter how hard you tried, would you resign? Surely you would want to give the audience what they paid for.

It all still boils down to this:

When faced with a note that only a freakishly (as opposed to amazingly) talented singer who is also a stunning dancer could conquer, the producers and directors of Millie chose to save the vocal chords of their star.

The producers of Legally Blonde appear to have other considerations. None of us can with any certainty say why, so we should note the disparity, implore a change and move on to discussing what hair products are used to keep Johnny Depp's mop alive in Sweeney Todd. Seriously, how do they do that?

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"TabooPhan1: If you were cast in a Broadway show and discovered that you were unable to hit one particular note, no matter how hard you tried, would you resign? Surely you would want to give the audience what they paid for."

That depends, do I have a following already like LBB? Cause if I did, I'd tell the producers they had to change the note, cause they're not gonna recast someone like Bundy who's already got a following from Hairspray and Wicked. It's not so black and white, and I don't appreciate your snide comments, considering I've been nothing but respectful to your opinions while I voiced my own. I can understand how this is an emotional topic for some people, but I didn't insult you, I criticized an actress who's in the public domain. Please don't make this a personal argument.

And just so you know, it's not worth signing the contract if you can't sing the part and you end up getting vocal nodes, ruining your voice and your reputation, and potentially doing a considerable amount of damage to your career just to be on Broadway. Keep auditioning, and find a part you COULD play. THAT's what I would do.

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I hear this same complaint so often and it just frustrates me to no end. Excuses shouldn't be made for Laura Bell, if she cannot sustain that note 8 shows a week, FINE. I don't think they should fire her, I think they should give her another way to sing the end of that song. It's not fair to her to have to go out there every night and attempt a note that is just too ambitious for her to hit night after night, and that is not a comment on her talent at all.

Though, to be fair, I saw both Becky Gulsvig and Annaleigh Ashford as Elle, and both held "the note" without a problem. But keep in mind, neither of them have to do it 8 times a week.

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This thread makes me laugh.

People get so WORKED up.

Simmer down now, its not the apocalypse.

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Updated On: 12/6/07 at 05:03 PM

ROFL

"ruining her reputation"

LBB is amazing, i don't walk out of the performance thinking "damn, the experience is ruined for me because of that one note". there's so much more to a performance than hitting a note (8 times a week). she could have allergies (seriously, the weather effects broadway actors too, they are human), it could be that she hasn't really taken a long amount of time off except to SING in a concert. Most lead actors that belt notes like that don't do the amount of dancing LBB does, or even appear in every scene like LBB. I think it's hilarious that people can base her entire performance as 'awful or perfect' on one freekin note.

as for the people saying "i can't believe she's on broadway", you know what? your totally right. I mean, she only was the original understudy for Glinda in Wicked and originated the role of Amber in Hairspray before this. She must suck. (dripping with sarcasm if you can't tell)

but yeah, they should transpose it a bit if she's having trouble so she can rest her voice

LBB is a great Elle.

this thread has totally been blown out of the water. Just because LBB can't hit "OH MY GOD!!" "THEEEE NOTE" does not mean she sucks. She is HUMAN. That is a very taxing role no matter how you look at it and she gives a damn great performance whether she can do it or not. It's only one stinken note you are all discussing.. not an entire song... cut the girl some slack.

Drama Rama- I am a performer who has logged 10 years of professional work, Regional, stock dinner theater, Broadway Nationals, European prodcutions, etc. THe one rule is that the most important person in the theater is not the star, not the person that gets paid the most, not the lead, not the chorus member. The most important person is the person who spent their hard earned dollar (be it 1 or 450) to sit and watch your show. You owe it to them (literally and figuratively) to give a solid performance. This is the responsibility of everyone in the entire show.
When LBB consistently misses this note, she is not performing the role up to its proper standards and the show (and the audiences) suffer for it. In this case there are many people to blame, the creative team, the musical director, and LBB herself. My opinion has nothing to do with jealousy over her being on Broadway as you have implied in your post, but rather Respect for what Broadway is-The finest practitioners of the craft of theater displaying their talents. We deserve nothing less. If she can't do this, she needs to rest or have the musical director fix the melody line. Replacement is drastic and probably won't happen, nevertheless there is no excuse for repeated mistakes at this level,especially in the first year of a show being open.
Case closed.

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Lol, i'm really surprised this thread hasn't died already.

"Lol, i'm really surprised this thread hasn't died already."


Like you?

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I love people saying these other young ladies are as big a star as LBB. They raised the money with her attached, not Ms. Gulsvig or Ashford. The woman is a star no matter what some of the people here choose to say. And she'll be around for a long time, long after one note is forgotten.

Talk about a one note thread, BTW.

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Updated On: 12/6/07 at 11:53 PM