Legally Blonde-How Is It Possible!?

[Robert Taylor]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 7:43pm

Saw Legally Blonde--loved it, but that isn't the point of this post.

How in God's name can the cast keep up THAT amount of dancing, singing, energy and comedy eight performances a week? I've seen about 30 Broadway shows, and never before have I felt like I was watching a marathon going on in front of me. Even I felt tired by the end of "Whipped into Shape," and I was sitting on my butt in row E! It's almost alarming, and Laura Bell Bundy definitely deserves HUGE kudos for being able to not only pull it off, but pull it off with such charisma and wit every night.

Bravo, girl, bravo!

[into_the_woods2]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 7:44pm

I KNOW
what a workout, i def could not handle that

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 7:45pm

she works hard, but that doesn't make her talented...

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 7:47pm

Not to mention it was so darn hot in that theatre too.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 7:48pm

"she works hard, but that doesn't make her talented..."

I don't know if you like the show or no but she has boat loads of talent. I want to see you up there for 2:30 hours 8 times a week dancing and singing your ass off. She may get tired and sick but she holds it together pretty well. She is pretty amazing for someone in their early 20s

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 7:49pm

I think Bundy is incredibly talented. I enjoyed her as Elle Woods immensely early on. However, the performance she is giving now is not anywhere near the one she gave last year. The role has worn her out.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 7:50pm

I also think Bundy is way talented, but energy, hard work and stamina are VERY important on Broadway.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 7:57pm

Bundy is talented, no doubt, and I have to hand it to her...the first time I saw the show, in previews, she didn't have the star power to carry it. Last time I saw it in November, she grew immeasurably and was in top form. I don't know if she has the "it" factor so much so that she can carry a musical like Legally Blonde as successfully as others could, but she does have talent and undeniable stamina (the role is INCREDIBLY difficult and demanding, let's be honest). And yes, the ensemble and the cast in general are all very hard workers. Very, very hard workers.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 8:13pm

My favorite LB cast member is the brilliant Orfeh. I've seen the show four times, and the woman does not seem to have an off night. Someone please write her a show! She makes it look so effortless.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 8:17pm

She is pretty amazing for someone in their early 20s

She's 27.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 8:18pm

I totally agree, adam. She is fierce.

[broadwaywriter]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 9:09pm

If she can do what she does 8 times a week, she is talented.

[strelimyn]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 9:12pm

I totally agree. I saw the show two nights in a row a few weeks back. The energy exuding from that stage was remarkable and infectious. As for Laura Bell Bundy, I could tell that she was physically tired and not vocally perfect, but her performance never lost its charisma and energy. One may not personally like her, but they cannot deny her drive. I just don't think she gets the recognition she deserves from performing this role. I shall miss her when she leaves the show.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 9:22pm

Laura Bell is terrific in the role and my hat goes off to her for all she does, 8 shows a week!

[winston89]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 9:44pm

I have seen the show four times and three out of the four times Bundy has been on as Elle. True that there were times when her voice was just flat out shot (I blame the score not her at all)But, she still managed to give a knock out performance.

There is a big difference between saying that you like someone and then saying that they are not tallented. I don't like Patti Lupone. But, I will admit that she is tallented. Like I just said, there is a difference between not liking somone and saying that they aren't talented.

[Robert Taylor]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 9:59pm

I find it absolutely disheartening that the third post in this thread tries to hijack it. I didn't even bother writing a review of the show (as much as I loved it) because I have never EVER seen a Legally Blonde thread on this board that was not nigh-immediately hijacked by haters who reduce the show to a trivial mess full of untalented dumbasses written and composed by a hack and it should be closed by now and will be closing next week despite the fact that it still hauls in half a million a week.

I was foolish enough to think that I might have actually found the one thing that everyone on the board could come to a consensus about with the show, and that perhaps once, just once, there could be an entirely optimistic thread about a wonderfully underrated show. And then, by the third post, it's already insulted.

This is absolutely childish and ridiculous. It's annoying as hell that trolls continually just take over every thread and it makes me just want to stop coming here. If you want to maturely criticize a show or actor it's one thing, but to attack unnecessarily is just stupid. Grow up.

[cfmiller]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 10:03pm

I think if they would have fleshed out the Vivien character more and given Elle some breaks, the show would have been less taxing. And, seriously, how could you not hear the fabulous pipes of Kate Shindle and NOT give her more to do?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 10:05pm

I'll drink to that Robert Taylor!

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 10:07pm

Ok, while we are at it...

I saw Legally Blond in the beginning of March. I have no idea who she was but in most every scene she was in, she wore sunglasses on her head.

Can anybody tell me her name in the show or/and her real name? Her energy really stuck out!

Thanks.

[A Fleur De Toi]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 10:10pm

easy, Robert Taylor. i havent been on BWW that long, but still within that short time, I've seen threads hijacked and attacked for simply about being the more "popular" musicals eg. Wicked, Spring Awakening and god forbid! Legally Blonde. Basically musicals with scores that tend towards being "pop" are denounced as immature and pandering to the masses. Im with you on this, its is annoying as **** and makes me wonder why one does just stay away from threads about particular musicals if one ****ing hates them so much.

anyhow, with regard to the REAL purpose behind this thread- I was also thinking along similar lines! How the heck does LBB do it? To sing and do a cheer routine at the same time? I couldnt even run and talk at the same time, much less sing.

If that's not talent, i dont know what is.

But wait! Of course I know the answer. Talent has only one name and no other. It is called LuPone. But of course. Who else could even match up?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 10:19pm

Even the great one was never the triple threat that Bundy is. Actually I think Bundy is the strongest Actress/Dancer/Singer on the Boards right now.

[A Fleur De Toi]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 10:27pm

good gracious me, CurtainPullDowner! To utter such blasphemy! Such ignorant words will earn you a lifetime of LuPwning from the Elders. You had better denounce Bundy right this instant and go watch LuPone in Gypsy 500 times to atone for your sin.

[winston89]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 10:29pm

SweetQintheLights, The character I think your refering to is Margot. Who in March was played by Haven Burton, who left the show to go do the out of town tryout for Shrek and then take it to Broadway (she is playing Gingy)

Robert Taylor, I agree with you. I too have seen many threads where people talk about this show (or Spring Awakening. Or just any show that has a more modern score.) And, it seems like the conversation is getting somewhere and then someone jumps in with a comment like "I don't know why anyone would like this show. It sucks." Now, I will admit that there are shows out there that have a modern sounding score that I just flat don't like. I will admit that I loath spring awakening. But, I would never just say it sucks flat out. I would let a conversation start from that and say why I don't like the show and let that open the door for conversation.

I feel that it shows immaturity when posters jump to such conclusions without even backing up a word that they are saying. I don't like to speak for others often because there is a chance that I would be wrong. But, I wouldn't be shocked to hear that I am not the only one who comes to this forum to have a mature discussion about Broadway and theatre in general.

I don't think that you have to like a show like Legally Blonde Or Wicked or Spring Awakening. I can even understand that you wish that there weren't people out there who think that Wicked is the be all and end all of musical theatre. I am not going to lie and say that I never find thoes people at all annoying because sometimes I do. But, there is nothing wrong with a show that has a score that is liked by a younger audience then a more older one. I find nothing wrong with the fact that more young people are going to the theatre then before. I remember reading an article in Time last year that talked about how a new thing for young (tween ish) girls to do for an outing was going to see a Broadway show. I didn't cringe at the fact that they saw Legally Blonde, Wicked and Hairspray over and over again. I was happy to read that theatre going has become something that young people do for fun and are going more often. At the end of the day I am just happy to see more people regardless of their age going to the theatre. And, I find nothing wrong with creating a show that will appeal to the new tread of young people going to the theatre. If there are people that don't like it then that is fine with me. We are all here to discuss theatre. But, It baffles me as to why people would click on a thread just to bash it. If someone likes Legally Blonde then let them have their fun. If someone doesn't more power to them. But, at least let them say why they don't like the show in a mature way as opposing to sounding like a second grader when saying you don't like the show.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 10:30pm

I saw Legally Blond in the beginning of March. I have no idea who she was but in most every scene she was in, she wore sunglasses on her head.

Can anybody tell me her name in the show or/and her real name? Her energy really stuck out!

Thanks.



---------------------------------------------------------
I think you are thinking of Tracy Jai Edwards(Serena). Did she have dark hair or was she blonde? Tracy has dark hair and Haven had blonde hair.

Updated On: 6/9/08 at 10:30 PM

Posted: 6/9/08 at 10:35pm

i think it's beautiful that people disagree to agree. That's what art should do. So Legally Blonde,...is a work of art. yay! go figure! People are free to open dissect it, study it, put it under a microscope. That's the beauty of it all. so rip it apart, raise it up, grab a bottle, drink it up..a toast to life. To life!
and Art!