Legally Blonde Tour Review - 10/25/09 Detroit

Okay, so tonight I saw Legally Blonde in Detroit. I had seen it previously on Broadway with Bailey and on tour with Laura Bell Bundy. There were three understudies tonight. Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone was on as Elle, Cortney Wolfson was Brooke and Casey Leigh Thompson was the Stenographer. My oh my, Monteleone is a diamond in the rough!!! I was very hesitant because she was on the Grease reality show and was really bummed that Becky was out, but when she made her entrance and started singing, my jaw dropped. Her voice was PERFECT for Elle. Her belt was so clear and she had a nice mix when needed. I really hope she takes over for Becky when she leaves. She gelled with the cast very nicely and really acted different than the previous Elles I have seen. She definitely embodied Reese Witherspoon the most. Cortney Wolfson (and her six pack) never ceases to amaze me. The cast was on fire tonight! I don't remember Megan Lewis' voice being that incredible. I knew she was good, but I thought she was out of this world during the Remix. Other standouts were Jeff McLean, who really grew into Warner, the first time I saw him I wasn't very impressed as well as Ken Land as Callahan. Overall, the cast was an A++ and the energy that this cast has really radiates off the stage. You can see how much fun they have performing it and it is awesome to watch. It certainly is not groundbreaking theater but it is an entertaining night to say the least!

When I saw the show I had understudies for Brooke and Elle as well... I'm starting to see a pattern. I personally did not like the show. The sets were very disappointing and the venue where I saw it had a very weak sound system, however I did enjoy the show and had fun.

"She definitely embodied Reese Witherspoon the most."

There is so much wrong with that, I don't know where to start...

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It seems like every time I read a review on here of the tour, the person has seen an understudy for Elle Woods and Brooke.

Do Becky Gulsvig and Coleen Sexton no longer show up to work?

Wish I would have seen an understudy for Becky. Cute girl, but her nasal voice was like fingernails on a chalkboard for me.

I think the jump rope number at the beginning of Act 2 is amazing. That's about the only think I really enjoyed about the show. Oh, I liked the UPS guy and Emmett. But, whenever Becky sang, I tuned out.

Updated On: 10/26/09 at 12:02 PM

Double post. Sigh.

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Updated On: 10/26/09 at 04:05 PM

That's why I'm endlessly greatful (grateful?) that the Broadway Gods were on my side the day I saw Legally Blonde and gave me Lauren instead of Becky.

I'm sure she's a lovely person, but I just hate that woman.


....are you kidding me? I saw both Lauren and Becky and i thought Becky was wayy better in basically every aspect.

Becky has said in some interviews that she is with the tour till the end of next summer so she's signed on for another year. It just seems she always out because as already said she missed 6 weeks because of her injury, a weekend for the Tony Awards, vacation earlier in the summer, and now another vacation. In early October it was the first time she had missed because she was actually sick. So it seems she's just getting a lot of vacation time now but I way I look at it she gets vacation and allows her voice to rest or she doesn't get as much vacation and misses because she gets sick or her voice gets worn out.

"It seems like every time I read a review on here of the tour, the person has seen an understudy for Elle Woods and Brooke.

Do Becky Gulsvig and Coleen Sexton no longer show up to work?"

I am beginning to wonder the same thing

"It seems like every time I read a review on here of the tour, the person has seen an understudy for Elle Woods and Brooke.

Do Becky Gulsvig and Coleen Sexton no longer show up to work?"



It does seem that way. When I saw the show in June, Coleen was on vacation.

Updated On: 10/26/09 at 08:42 PM

STUCKinOHIO- that is a bummer! When i saw the show the orchestra was too loud especially the drums! and the show totally had no UMPH. My performance was completely sold out though

Out of all the Elles I saw (and I saw all of the Broadway Elles, with the exception of Annaleigh Ashford), Becky was by far my least favorite. I'm not at all surprised she's still boring audiences around the country.

STUCK, I agree completely that Detroit is not a theater town AT ALL! It bugs me the lack of theatrical entertainment we get! But I do what I can to immerse myself in it and fly out to NYC every chance I get :) The Fisher needs a renovation BADLY! I had 3rd row off of the balcony and heard just fine. I thought the pit was a little too loud at times, so maybe there were some sound issues during your performance. Who was your Elle?