Legally Blonde FINAL PERFORMANCE- Page 2

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 7:12am

Ok, I'm not gonna read the whole thread but I was there and just my brief thoughts...
Show was amazing! Tons of highlights but one I really like was Kate Rockwell with the "LSAT for Dummies" book on her head during "What You Want" and Tracy and Asmeret (I'm not really sure what it's called)surrounding one of the Harvard admissions officers and like party boying/grinding with him during the dance break.

The whole cast was, Orfeh's riffs were phenomenal, as people said. I cried as soon as "Legally Blonde Ballad" started then once Bailey started I really lost it.

I got extremely mad when they didn't give a speech and then just got sad that before I even had time to get to the stage door the curtain had gone up to reveal a bare stage (I have pictures I'll post later).

The stage door was bittersweet and filled with singing. Michael Rupert (which surprised me) and Christian Borle (which didn't surprise me) were the only two who didn't come out.


Also, Richard H. Blake will be the next Fiyero on the National Tour of WICKED, said directly from him at the stage door.

[rentheadca]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 8:37am

I'm so jealous of everyone who went last night!
What's Christian's problem with stagedoor? I thought he'd at least come out on the last performance...

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 8:38am

Wish i could have been there, i just got a naughty live audio of the last performance and it sounded great (though you cant hear the beginning of OhMiGod for all the screaming lol

[Jess03187]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 8:48am

This is so sad! I wish I could have been there. I cant wait to see some of the pictures, the final curtain call is up on youtube if anyone is interested. I would have thought that Christian would have come out for the last too. He must really no like stagedooring lol Where did you get that live audio? I would LOVE to hear it, is it up on youtube?

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 8:52am

NO its in a safe deposit box - very safe- you'll never get your hands on it! -will they SADM2 lol

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 10:02am

Count me among those who think Richard is too old for Fiyero.

Unless he's opposite an older Elphaba/Glinda like Ana Gasteyer.

[Shakespearean]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 10:12am

Does anyone know what Michael Rupert and Bruiser are doing next?

[fishergirl819]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 10:47am

While I don't necessarily think Richard is too old for Fieyro, I agree with Dolly_Levi - it really depends on who they cast as his Elphaba and Galinda. I saw both Norbert and Joey Mac play Fieyro, but their Elphabas/Galindas were a little older too. Putting someone like Annaleigh (who I realize Richard played against in Blonde, but still) on with Richard...then he might look a bit too old.

[BroadwayBelle2]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 10:50am

Too bad Autumn never got to go on as Elle.

[JumpJumpJumpSoHigh]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 12:04pm

Ditto re: Autumn. She was my favorite from the MTV show, and I would've loved to see her go on as Elle.

But hey, kudos to Bailey for being enough of a pro not to miss a performance!

~JJJ

[theminutepast]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 12:09pm

Not quite. She missed several performances which Kate Rockwell covered as Elle. My suspicion is they knew the show would be closing long before they announced it and didn't want to rehearse Autumn as Elle or they felt she wasn't prepared.

[Anakela]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 12:10pm

Hee- Bailey missed like six performances, it's just that Kate got to go on as Elle for all of them.

random thought: so what does happen to the dogs after the show? Like do all five dogs just go home to live with Bill Berloni?

And nothing to do with anything, but speaking of MTV I'm going to see Emma Zaks perform at the At This Performance concert tonight.

[JumpJumpJumpSoHigh]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 12:14pm

Whoops, my bad! I had no idea about Kate Rockwell. That's what I get for not paying attention to things. Well, too bad about Autumn. I really loved her in the Leilani track, though. Lots of stage presence, that girl.

~JJJ

[dburns08]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 12:16pm

My thoughts on last night's performance...

At first entrance into the Palace theatre I was immediately surrounded by more pink valour jumpsuits than I ever thought possible. The energy was undeniable, the die-hard Elle fans stuck out from those tourists who managed to find seats for their first time. Although my student rush seats were in the rear mezzanine, I was allowed a full view of the stage and an even better view of the easily riled and undeniably energetic audience that panned out in front of me.

The lights dimmed and the overture began--screams (literally screams) filled the theatre, prolonged for a good five minutes. It was at the sight of each character or at the delivery of their line that the crowd went nuts. Although the performance got off to a slightly rough start vocally, the energy of the audience caused many actors to improvise, to embellish, and to improve tremendously.

Orfeh riffed every note. I really dont think anything else can be said. And if not for the tremendous Kate Shindle, she would have stolen the show from the ambitious Bailey Hanks. It was during "Ireland" that Orfeh noticed the enthusiasm that the theatre was feeding back to her--her "Reprise" was comparable to a true Baptist Gospel creation.

Kate Shindle hit notes inaudible to humans. Really. Especially in the "Finale," Kate improvised her riffs and ended the song with a glass-shatteringly high, indistinguishable note. She held her own vocally, of course, as she always does--which made up for her consistent down-playing of scenes in the beginning of the show.

Bailey Hanks is adorable. She has the cute spunk and energy to recreate any Laura Bell role in her future...except, of course, for G(a)linda. It was obvious Bailey was having the time of her life on stage. When she ventured into "Legally Blonde" it was obvious she was bawling her eyes out and yet pushed through, making for the best version of that song I've heard yet--despite a few rough spots vocally. She held her own last night--she added quirky and crazy movements here and there, further defining her take on Elle Woods. Especially during her Harvard scenes, Bailey knew exactly what to do to compliment her small stature and squeaky voice (maybe even straying towards a southern drawl at times when speaking fast).

Legally Blonde--although more peppy and perky than some of its Broadway neighbors, less hard-hitting and controversial--is a brilliantly fun, incomparable musical that more than deserves its success. The audience obviously loved it as well--everyone departing the Palace with sore throats from screaming so loudly.

[dkonbroadway]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 12:25pm

good cappies review db

[fishergirl819]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 12:26pm

dburns, how was rushing for the final show? How early did you and the others get to the theatre?

[dburns08]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 12:37pm

I got there at about 9:30am for the 12noon box office opening. Apparently there were avid fans who had "camped out" from the night before--who littered the front of the theatre with blankets, pillows, empty McDonalds bags... lol. But when I got there, there were probably two dozen people in front of me--maybe 15 of which were attempting the student rush. By the time the box office opened, the line had tripled in size.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 12:46pm

Sounds like a performance I am glad I missed.

I feel sorry for the people seeing it for the first time who had to strain to hear lines and songs because of shreaking loony fans.
Updated On: 10/20/08 at 12:46 PM

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 12:54pm

In reference to Christian not stage dooring, yes it's disappointing to the fans who come, but from what I've heard, he has issues with people and large crowds in general, so last night's stage door would have been a nightmare for him. And he wasn't the only cast member that didn't stage door, so he shouldn't be singled out for it.

Richard as Fiyero...I've always felt that Norbert looked WAY too old to be Fiyero and he originated it.

And correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Norbert older than Richard when he originated the role of Fiyero? Regardless, I'm biased towards Richard and while I think he may have looked too old for Link in Hairspray, I think Fiyero will work out fine for him if he is opposite people who mirror the age he looks.

I'm sure that his dancing and singing will be excellent regardless though. For those of you who saw him in "Wedding Singer" - "All About the Green" definitely showcased his dancing.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 1:30pm

I was there too last night. Bailey was crying all the way through the second act. During the courtroom scene she had tears coming down her face. Orfeh and Kate blew my mind. Orfeh's riffs and Kate's high C were nuts. There was alot of crying during the curtain call. Especially Bailey,Kate S. and Tracy Jai. I SD'd and when Cara Massey got to me I told her I would miss the show. She looked at me and said "I have never had as much fun as doing this show 8 times a week" "And she's going to miss it alot"

Kate S. told us she was going to Maui for 2 weeks. I told her I was jealous...LOL.

[theminutepast]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 1:45pm

There are clips of Orfeh's "Ireland reprise" and "Find My Way" solo from the last performance on that site.

[Vanessa2]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 2:32pm

I was there too and I am sooo glad I decided to go. I'm not going to go into too much detail because everyone pretty much said it all already, but wow Orfeh blew me away, that note Kate hit during the Remix was INSANE and Bailey's "Legally Blonde" was truly touching. I noticed her crying then and during the curtain call, but that was it. I had seen Bailey as Elle in the beginning of August, and she has just improved so much! Obviously, she was having a lot more fun than usual last night, but in a 2 month period she has really made that role her own.

Stage door was crazy! These teenagers kept singing "Omigod You Guys" every time a cast member came out. It was getting annoying, but the cast seemed to enjoy it, lol. And it was so sad seeing Kevin Pariseau crying, but he assured us there were tears of joy.

I'm truly going to miss this show. I saw it 3 times and it never failed to put a smile on my face.

[toddlisatyriem]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 5:07pm

Kate updates:

Shindle said that she was on her way to Maui for 2 weeks and taking a well deserved vacation if you ask me.

And I believe it was Rockwell that said that she was the next Sandy in the Grease tour. (Everything is starting to blur and it is DEFINITELY one of the blondes in cast, but now I'm stressing on if it was Rockwell that said it.) Did anyone else catch that at stage door?

[BRDWYrobb]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 6:40pm

aaah it was amazing!
i guess this is wat everyones talking about...


http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=87926285474&ref=nf

FIERCE

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 7:15pm

toddlisatyriem, that makes sense since Kate was on the reality show "Grease: Your The One That I Want".