#1
Posted: 4/8/07 at 10:47pm
New poster here. I have been watching for years, but felt like I should post after seeing 'Legally Blonde' tonight at the Palace Theatre. Laura Bell came out in the Bunny Costume at the end for Easter, hysterical.
Okay, first of all. I liked the show. I like the show A LOT. I cheered, laughed, sang along and all that schlock that a young showqueen does (not as much as Troop Beverly Hills behind me, screaming anytime one of the boys did ANYTHING) BUT - I have a few questions, and since I havent been following previews or OTT, maybe you guys can help ( I know the show is changing, but we just talking here)
1) Why did it feel like the show became more about the rest of the cast, more especially Emmett, and less about Elle? I felt like her plot was sort of the catalyst to tell the stories of a bunch of cutely written B-Plots. Where was the touching scenes where the pretenses are dropped and we get to breathe in who these people are and how they change her and she changes them. It seemed to be brushed over with hooplah and production numbers(or directed poorly.) Especially missed the scene with Vivian when she tells her that she respects her (in the movie it takes place in her bedroom.)I just felt like Elle wasnt the main character.
2) On that note. Why is Laura Bell's dialogue not AS GOOD as it could be? If anybody saw her in 'Hairspray' you know she is a genius at One-Liners, where were they in this show? Did they just not fit? Because I sure was hoping for some, but it seemed they would just give them to the Greek Chorus. (Although Laura Bell find room for some cute bits with Serious and The Bend and Snap Bit)Its appropriate for everyone else to mug but NOT her? Please... it's Laura Bell, give her a mug and she'll go to town and totally get the audience on her side.
2a)The Greek Chorus - I LOVED THEM (Especially Annaleigh and Dequina) but why did it seem they do more then Elle does with explaining the plot, who Elle was, and what everyone else should do. Isnt it a play about ONE girl who goes and changes a bunch of close minded people, all while figuring out how special she is? I wish Elle was the only one from Malibu in the Bend and Snap number, come to think of it, I wish she was the only girl from Malibu after she arrives in Boston. Although they are funny, they just distract.
3) I hope I say this right. I see that they are trying to make it a two part love story with Emmett, but... why is he ALWAYS the one who inspires the change in her? Why does it never come from within? Or from a strong female like the teacher in the movie - it challenges her to become a stronger woman and find things out for herself. This is the perenniel (sp?) Girl Power story, and I felt like he was the one pulling all the strings. Why is he the one tutoring her? Shouldnt she be figuring it out by herself or with the girls? Why is he with her and Paulette during the dog scene? That seems like it has the making of tons of humorous and inspriring material.I get that he needs a beginning and an end... but, is him being on stage 90 percent of the time the answer?
4)The Cast - Loved it. Except Kate Shindle. Yes she sings her face off, yes she is hot... but where was the cold, proper, New England Ice Princess? She seemed more like Lois Lane in Superman. My own stupid show - go'r opinion, but I would have loved to have seen more development with an actress playing this role, and more of a journey... I think Jenna Leigh Green would have been REALLY good, we could have gotten the COMPLETE opposite OF Elle.
5) I LOVED Ireland (I know what people have been saying, but it was a cute character number), but uh... where was the end of the song? She just kind of ran off on a bad one liner... the audience seemed very confused. BTW - I LOVED the Irish Dance part, but it did seem to stop the show cold for a conclusion to a plot line that we may have forgotten, and by the time we do remember, we've forgotten that Elle is going back to court and that's what we are supposed to be focused on.
6)Nikki Snelson - rock. it. out.
7)I loved the dogs. Nuff said.
All in all. I loved the show, will buy the OCR and listen to it forever, loved the cast, costumes, music, orchestra (go Sampliner), lights, but did not like the Direction. Thats it. Thats what I didnt like. I feel it was a big ball of energy, with no road to follow. So I say, cut Emmett out of half the scenes and numbers he just hangs out in, same with the greek chorus, and give Laura Bell more to do. But I liked the show a whole heck of a lot.
Okay, first of all. I liked the show. I like the show A LOT. I cheered, laughed, sang along and all that schlock that a young showqueen does (not as much as Troop Beverly Hills behind me, screaming anytime one of the boys did ANYTHING) BUT - I have a few questions, and since I havent been following previews or OTT, maybe you guys can help ( I know the show is changing, but we just talking here)
1) Why did it feel like the show became more about the rest of the cast, more especially Emmett, and less about Elle? I felt like her plot was sort of the catalyst to tell the stories of a bunch of cutely written B-Plots. Where was the touching scenes where the pretenses are dropped and we get to breathe in who these people are and how they change her and she changes them. It seemed to be brushed over with hooplah and production numbers(or directed poorly.) Especially missed the scene with Vivian when she tells her that she respects her (in the movie it takes place in her bedroom.)I just felt like Elle wasnt the main character.
2) On that note. Why is Laura Bell's dialogue not AS GOOD as it could be? If anybody saw her in 'Hairspray' you know she is a genius at One-Liners, where were they in this show? Did they just not fit? Because I sure was hoping for some, but it seemed they would just give them to the Greek Chorus. (Although Laura Bell find room for some cute bits with Serious and The Bend and Snap Bit)Its appropriate for everyone else to mug but NOT her? Please... it's Laura Bell, give her a mug and she'll go to town and totally get the audience on her side.
2a)The Greek Chorus - I LOVED THEM (Especially Annaleigh and Dequina) but why did it seem they do more then Elle does with explaining the plot, who Elle was, and what everyone else should do. Isnt it a play about ONE girl who goes and changes a bunch of close minded people, all while figuring out how special she is? I wish Elle was the only one from Malibu in the Bend and Snap number, come to think of it, I wish she was the only girl from Malibu after she arrives in Boston. Although they are funny, they just distract.
3) I hope I say this right. I see that they are trying to make it a two part love story with Emmett, but... why is he ALWAYS the one who inspires the change in her? Why does it never come from within? Or from a strong female like the teacher in the movie - it challenges her to become a stronger woman and find things out for herself. This is the perenniel (sp?) Girl Power story, and I felt like he was the one pulling all the strings. Why is he the one tutoring her? Shouldnt she be figuring it out by herself or with the girls? Why is he with her and Paulette during the dog scene? That seems like it has the making of tons of humorous and inspriring material.I get that he needs a beginning and an end... but, is him being on stage 90 percent of the time the answer?
4)The Cast - Loved it. Except Kate Shindle. Yes she sings her face off, yes she is hot... but where was the cold, proper, New England Ice Princess? She seemed more like Lois Lane in Superman. My own stupid show - go'r opinion, but I would have loved to have seen more development with an actress playing this role, and more of a journey... I think Jenna Leigh Green would have been REALLY good, we could have gotten the COMPLETE opposite OF Elle.
5) I LOVED Ireland (I know what people have been saying, but it was a cute character number), but uh... where was the end of the song? She just kind of ran off on a bad one liner... the audience seemed very confused. BTW - I LOVED the Irish Dance part, but it did seem to stop the show cold for a conclusion to a plot line that we may have forgotten, and by the time we do remember, we've forgotten that Elle is going back to court and that's what we are supposed to be focused on.
6)Nikki Snelson - rock. it. out.
7)I loved the dogs. Nuff said.
All in all. I loved the show, will buy the OCR and listen to it forever, loved the cast, costumes, music, orchestra (go Sampliner), lights, but did not like the Direction. Thats it. Thats what I didnt like. I feel it was a big ball of energy, with no road to follow. So I say, cut Emmett out of half the scenes and numbers he just hangs out in, same with the greek chorus, and give Laura Bell more to do. But I liked the show a whole heck of a lot.
Updated On: 4/9/07 at 10:47 PM
