Legally Blonde in Houston — Page 2

I'm the wife of "Song and Dance" above and I have seen Laura Bell Bundy once in New York, then he and I saw Lauren last Wednesday, 2/11, and then Laura Bell on Saturday, 2/14 and Laura Bell on Sunday, 2/15. I thought LBB was so wonderful on Broadway that I became a fan of hers instantly. Her dancing, singing, and acting quality were top-notch. My husband didn't see this on Broadway with me, so when we found out Legally Blonde was coming to Houston, we were really excited to see it. Our first visit last week was pretty disappointing to me because I was not impressed with Lauren's performance at all and the most of the dance movements by the cast were very sloppy. My husband still thought it was a well-paced, fun, and enjoyable show. When we found out LBB was going to perform on Saturday and Sunday, we were on a quest for tickets. We had to sit separately on Saturday night, but it was still worth it to see LBB perform again. The first act of the show, she sounded like she either was battling a cold or a sore throat and though her dancing, delivery, and beautiful voice still shone through, you could tell her voice was not as strong as on the CD recording or what I remembered from NYC. However, by the second act, she was back on her game full force. The rest of the cast really stepped up their performances from what we'd seen on Wednesday night and I'd say the quality rivalled what I'd seen on Broadway. The cast put on a very fun-filled show on Saturday night. When Elle walked through the Harvard gate, her sunglasses fell off her head and she did the "Bend and Snap" to pick them up and put them back on. Then when she sat down on the bench, Bruiser was kissing her cheek for a long time and she said "He likes to make out on Valentine's Day" and the whole audience roared with laughter. When she and Emmett left the Women's correctional facility, the tan folder stuck to Elle's dress. I think someone pulled a practical joke on LBB, but my husband thinks it was purely accidental. Sunday night, LBB sounded absolutely perfect and danced beautifully. She is such an amazing actress. I was absolutely thrilled to get to see her again. In my opinion, there is no one that can play Elle like LBB. If we find out another date she's playing in Houston, we will try to go again. She's that good. My hubby's birthday is on Thursday, so I'm hoping to find out that she's going to be playing the role again on Thursday night. If anyone knows the LBB/Lauren schedule for the week, please let me know.

Thank you so much KeyToMyHeart and Merill! I appreciate your review. I hope she will open the show in London, or join the show permanently.

THANK YOU, broadwayguy2! I wanted to say the same thing, but I've already said it in another thread and didn't want to be repetitive. It's so annoying when people state "LBB was sick" like it's fact or they confirmed it with her.

No problem, minute.

Yes, you can't say that she was sick as a factual statement unless you are, her doctor, or take her temp yourself. She could even say she was sick after giving a bad performance to save face, you know? Just assumings he was sick because she botched her songs is ridiculous..

I know Kate is Houston, but I believe she is in rehearsals and starting in an upcoming city.. I know she fly down to Houston to meet up with the tour..

..and that was after, I believe, 7 takes and a rerecording session..

Becky broke a toe and Laura Bell has joined the tour to play Elle, for 'select performances of her choise' in the interim.

Becky on a bad day is miles better than Bundy on a great day.

BroadwayGuy2 - While I agree that someone can't be sick all the time, I would like to clarify that in my previous post I mentioned that I have seen LBB now 3 times. Only for the first act of one of those performances did she sound like she wasn't completely on her game. I saw her again the very next night and she was wonderful. Possibly she just wasn't warmed up for the first act the night that I thought she sounded like she might be sick. I personally think LBB is fantastic and that there is NO ONE else that could ever truly be Elle, I realize that other people may not agree. LBB is an incredible performer - able to ad-lib when something different happens, a super dancer, with a strong, high-energy, and lovely voice. The only performances of LB that I will pay to see are ones that LBB is in.

I have not seen Becky or Bailey perform the role, so I can't comment on how well they play Elle compared to LBB. I just don't think it is fair to say that LBB sounds like she'll under the weather every night, when I know for a fact that she doesn't as I have experienced two where she was spot-on.

Updated On: 2/17/09 at 03:54 PM

Who said that a singer's warm-up is the first song? Anyway, I think highly of LBB, too, but the decline of her voice throughout her original run in Blonde has been well documented. I don't know why she sounded better in the second act. Tea? More time off stage? Fewer songs where she's the primary singer? It's all speculation just like what you've been saying.

Kate Rockwell.

I was commenting more on the string of reviews that make that note about her being 'sick.'

Though I have to question.. You say you have only seen Bundy and refuse to see the others, yet know that no one else can truly BE Elle.. How can you say that until you have sat and seen the others.. live, in the theatre.

I beg to differ.. Bundy doesn't ad-lib so much as ham it up, and she isn't a great dancer.. or even very good. She is a MOVER... at best. Her advantage in Blonde is that Jerry Mitchell is an intelligent, good choreographer and gaveher things that he knows she can do well and look good doing. That does not make someone a good dancer.

Two "spot-on" days and half a spot-on performance do not a great performer make...

HOUFlip,
Apparently, you skimmed it and decided to attack me for a valid statement..
Pulled from KeyToMyHeart's post at 7:07am today.. the last sentence of the first paragraph is "The only performances of LB that I will pay to see are ones that LBB is in."
Key clearly is stating that she doesn't want to make an effore to see any other Elle Woods in order to make a comparison. I put no words in any mouth.

How are the injured actors compensated while they are out of the show? Is there an insurance policy to provide compensation, or do they lose their compensation––or a portion of their compensation––while they are out of the show? Just wondering how it is feasible for them to make a living while out of the show, but still remain committed to returning to the show when well.

Randomly, as I was driving home today at lunch I saw Lauren walking across the street with another cast member (whose face I couldn't see), and recognized her because she turned around. She has a very pretty smile.

I think LBB has a cute Elle, but I would have loved to see Becky Gulsvig's Elle because I've seen videos online and heard nice things about her. Still debating on whether or not to get a matinee this weekend to see Lauren's Elle, but heard from colleagues at work that she was a lot of fun to watch :) She was good in her roles on Friday :)