Legally Blonde Reviews- Page 9

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 1:51am

Wow, that's not offensive or a harsh generalization. I have seen Legally Blonde multiple times and I read multiple newspapers, as I am sure many others on the boards that saw the show do.

I understand what you were trying to say, but a lot of people do pay attention to the reviews.

[another_take]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 1:51am

New York Sun review is positive.

http://www.nysun.com/article/53429?page_no=2

Newark Star-Ledger is mixed-positive.

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/ledger/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-1/117790754015530.xml&coll=1

Where is the Post review?

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 1:53am

"the nutrition of LOVEMUSIK"...

Strong performers and the music of Kurt Weill do not good nutrition make. Poor direction, terrible book-writing and a very misguided revue, no matter what substance lies in the subject matter, still remain just as calorie-filled as the sweet and sugary "blonde" shows.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 1:56am

I haven't seen BLONDE, but I disagree with your assessment of MUSIK.

[FutureAladdinOnB'Way]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 1:57am

Thanks another_take, glad to see a couple more positive reviews...

[queenbee2]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 1:59am

CaryMeToRent-

Of course it's just a generalization. Certainly not meant to be "offensive".

Here's another generalization. The poeple on these boards are also not the people that the producers are aiming this show at.

-QB

[B3TA07]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 2:01am

I "find" that "generalization" to be "offensive."

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 2:06am

Queenbee, I know. I was just busting your chops. :-P
B3TA...you can't really find that offensive. The demographic that the producers are aiming for don't, for the most part, read the NYTimes. I think that's what Queen Bee meant to say.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 2:13am

I don't mean that it's a "sugary" show, munkus, I just mean that it's not exactly grand/upscale theater either.

[massofmen]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 2:25am

again,
after it garners no tony's (maybe one for set), little mermaid will open and other new shows that will take the thunder away from this one and this show will have a short life of a year to a year and a half or even less.
There are no "defying gravity" numbers that will have girls singing in their rooms and then plastering them all over youtube. There is no beautiful duet (changed for good) that girls can sing with their BFF's in the highschool show choir.
There is no "dorky girl" wins boy themes which is a HUGE reason Wicked works (as one comic once said everyone thinks they are cool, but really only 5% of the country is cool). Most of the people that watch wicked are not "cool" hence they relate. Hey, I am not cool. It worked for me. How many people can really relate to a sorority girl getting the man, going to harvard and being rich as hell. umm...1% of the population? Again, which is why Hairspray works. Dorky overweight girl gets hot boy. this country is 70% overweight. all those people can relate to Tracy Turnblad and WISH they could all meet Link. This does not happen in this show. (also the music in hairspray is about 10 times better than the music in LB. Great opening and closing numbers)
Yes the Grosses are up but look at the avg tix price for LB. It was like 60 bucks and their gross was not even 700,000. Their weekly nut has to be around 700,000 just to cover operating expenses. They better hope people start paying more for a tix or come xmas, the palace will be hosting the Linda Eder Concert once again.

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 2:31am

Legally Blonde could easily get nominated for a lot. I don't really think they have a chance for set against Poppins, but a lot of people seem to be fond of the choreography and of Jerry Mitchell. I would say that perhaps Mitchell has a shot at director or choreography...

Little Mermaid is one show. It won't even be in previews until the end of the year. It's not a concern for at least six months.

I could easily see girls singing "Ohmigod you guys" around their room just because it's stuck in their heads.

Or "So Much Better" for that matter.

I have watched countless friends attend the show and walk out trying to hit the note Kate Shindle wails on in the "Legally Blonde remix"

And while there is no dorky girl wins boy scenario, think of it as the dorky boy wins girl scenario. Christian Borle is extremely endearing and I found myself rooting for him and I knew what was gonna happen.

Also, Paulette's story is triumphant as well. Dorky and socially awkward hairdresser gets sexy UPS guy. Its that scenario...with a twist.

[cooperross]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 5:31am

Wicked had two women with genuine star power to kickstart it (especially Cheno) -- and, as the reviews indicate, a star vehicle without a star is just empty.

WICKED taught all those homely or awkward or "outside" teenage girls (and gay boys) that they could overcome and wind up with the handsome prince. Legally Blonde's message isn't going to be as appealing. It won't hit the zeitgeist the way WICKED did.

[scooter38432]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 7:48am

I think the mixed to negative reviews are right on target.

I was thoroughly disappointed in the show (particularly with the book and the score which were a mess).

My three favorite performances have been repeatedly singled out in all the reviews I've read: the two dogs and Kate Shindle.

I'm glad I'm not alone in my criticism of this show.

Oh, for all you LB fans out there, don't worry. It'll run for a while. The adolescent girl quotient will keep it afloat for some time.

Due to the lack of competition this year, LB will probably do well with Tony noms, but other than one for Kate Shindle -- which doesn't seem likely because she's underwritten -- they're just slot fillers (i.e. The Wedding Singer).

The show will sell well even without any Tonys.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 7:50am

The Post is up...
Having briefly skimmed it, i'd say it's mixed.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04302007/entertainment/theater/whither_spoon__theater_clive_barnes.htm


"THE movie "Legally Blonde" had two fantastic things going for it - "Reese" and "Witherspoon."

The musical based on that 2001 movie, which opened last night at the Palace Theatre, has neither. It's a loss - a palpable loss.

It does have Laura Bell Bundy, who's pretty damn good, and it has an awesome wattage of girl-power which, unless you happen to be a boy, a man or a woman, could count for a lot.

Heather Hach's book, based on the screenplay and the original novel (who knew?) by Amanda Brown, makes all the right moves and has a good feel for both fun and wit, even though theater necessarily lacks the open-ended possibilities of a movie.

And unfortunately, the score never picks up the slack, although the lyrics by the husband and wife team of Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin are markedly sharper than their usual.

I loved - in moderation - the effervescent and radiant Bundy, I loved even more the crazy, measured charm of Borle as the smartest kid on the block, and Rupert's crisply supercilious law professor, while Orfeh proves adorable value as a beautician who doubts her beauty and a stylist needing more style.

A pleasant if noisy night out - but for those who have seen the movie, the wraith of Witherspoon hovers dangerously close."

Updated On: 4/30/07 at 07:50 AM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 7:51am

Daily News is negative:

"Call this 'Legally Bland'

Musical, like, tries real hard, but totally misses fun of film"


http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/culture/2007/04/30/2007-04-30_call_this_legally_bland.html

[courtnyj]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 7:58am

Ummm...what the hell? I just saw a commercial (?) for Legally Blonde on TV. They sang this odd song that's not from the show. It sounded like a really bad cheesy jingle. Yuck! A terrible commercial!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 8:26am

The Post review is pretty nice...there are some nice snippets from it that can surely find their way onto the marquee/ads.


Barnes was very kind to the cast...I think Borle just might nab a Tony nod.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 8:29am

Don't get your hopes up.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 8:31am

well it has got quite a few good 4 or 5

a few negative and a lot of mixed

not a bad night

Posted: 4/30/07 at 8:33am

im also glad Brantley called out the product placement; it really bothered me, since there are basically advertisements built into the show for JET BLUE™, RED BULL™, MATCH.COM™ , STARBUCKS™ & others...which i assume can be replaced by whichever corporation wants to buy advertising space in a broadway musical that quarter.

again, disclaimer: i enjoyed the show....while i was watching it.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 8:36am

Correct, it's a definite mix of positive and negative, though they all pointed out the same thing:

1. It's a show for the tweenage girl crowd.
2. The score is serviceable, at best.
3. Laura Bell Bundy is no Reese Witherspoon, and that hinders the show.
4. Very nice directorial debut from Jerry Mitchell, but the Hairspray/Wicked stereotypes are the slightest bit too prevalent.

Definitely not a bad night for them, you're right, but they didn't get the kind of reviews that would cause lines at the box office...

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 8:40am

yeah yankee your right

though i do think they are way of calling it a show for tweens(though it is marketed that way its def a show for everyone.

I did like a lot of the score for a fun factor.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 8:48am

I agree with most of your points, yankee, except for the one about Laura Bell...


Some critics stated that because she wasn't Reese, the show was bogged down a bit, but most stated that just because Reese wasn't in it, the show was bogged down. Not to say that she SHOULD be in it but because she was so good in the film version, it would be hard to duplicate that kind of performance and have it translate well on stage. I don't think many critics blamed Bundy for not being as good as Witherspoon, I think most pointed out that almost ANYONE who could take on the role wouldn't be able to do it with the same verve as Witherspoon...that's what I got out of it, at least...

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 9:58am

As mentioned a few pages earlier by Michael Bennett, Ben B. has the slightest bit of subtext: the show would work better if someone like Chenoweth had the lead.

I personally agree with that idea...

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 10:05am

Should be interesting to see how this turns out now - the Tony buzz for LB seems to be gone (negative reviews will do that.)

Makes you wonder if the producers wish they hadn't committed to Bundy so early in the process - Brantley certainly seems to infer it'd be a better show with someone else.