Legally Blonde in Houston- Page 3

[sayokay]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 4:23pm

Leave LBB alone! She is an amazing performer, she got a Tony nom for christ sake! It's not so much her singing, it's her command of the stage. She has amazing stage presence, that in my opinion, NO OTHER Broadway performer has. When you see her in a show, you feel CONNECTED to her. Her voice might not be the strongest, but she's an amazing comic, and a GREAT actress.

[Colleenya]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 6:57pm

I've seen the show seven (count 'em...seven) times.

Saw Laura Bell twice in NY, and Becky on tour five times.....I loved both ladies, and if I got a chance to see Lauren in the role, I'm sure I'd love her too.

When you LOVE a musical.....you LOVE THAT MUSICAL!

I am old enough to have seen several "classic" musicals.....most with the orginal leading ladies. As much as I love having seen Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, and Patty Lupone (to drop a few names...LOL!)I have never been disappointed with a replacement or understudy. Or actors in many, MANY revivals.

Welcome Becky back, people. She is very deserving.
Updated On: 2/18/09 at 06:57 PM

[broadwayboy522]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 10:04pm

I agree with Collenya about how deserving Becky is of this. I was so glad she got the tour because she is such a strong Elle. She doesn't go over the top, doesn't try and get additional laughs, can really act the part, definitely has the best vocals of any Elle and the stamina to prove it. Becky has proven that she can handle the role eight times a week and can consistently sing the part amazingly every night, something LBB couldn't do. I'm not denying that LBB doesn't have a good voice but she just didn't have the vocal stamina to keep up with the show.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 11:03pm

I can't see how finding LBB subpar means that I have some sour grapes about her.

I am indifferent to her as a person.. I simply saw her in the show several times and found her to be VERY subpar.

[toddlisatyriem]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 1:13am

sayokay... I agree with what you say about LBB having a star quality. Her voice isn't spectacular, but she definitely has that "IT" factor. Bailey had it the 2 times I saw her also. When I saw Becky, while admittedly she had the best Elle voice out of them all, she just didn't POP with the role. She is VERY understated, which personally challenged me to connect with her. You can tell that she is a TEAM player and interacts well with the rest of the cast and plays a more mature Elle than the rest, but everyone has there favorites for different reasons. I would like to see Lauren's elle. Not sure what I would think of her, but curiosity would buy me a seat.

[KeyToMyHeart]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 4:32pm

My husband and I have now seen Alex Ellis play Margot 3 times and Kate Rockwell once. (I saw Haven Burton in the role on Broadway, but I honestly do not remember her performance.) Alex was super as Margot. She was adorable as the super-ditsy Delta Nu. I realize that Kate is new on this particular production of Legally Blonde, but since she has played Margot before, I had much higher expectations of her portrayal of Margot. Her performance was not bad and she did not make any mistakes. But there was nothing sparkly about the performance. If it had been my first time to see Legally Blonde, I probably would not have noticed this character much at all. Alex Ellis returned to her spot as Kate/Chutney and did a great job in that role, too. But we really loved seeing her play Margot. I wish we could see Alex do it again.

[Azuah.]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 12:47am

EXACTLY.

Alex should have totally gotten the role, and they should have hired a new ensemble member. (i.e. Dani Spieler)

[Byron Abens]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 5:26am

"How are the injured actors compensated while they are out of the show?"

Provided the injury occurred while working, they are covered by workman's comp, same as any person injured on the job. They need to follow all applicable rules and regulations as well as apply for a disability leave.

Now, if the injury occurs outside the job, then the actor is out of luck. If they miss 16 consecutive performances, or 24 out of a span of 48, without applying for and receiving a disability leave then the producer is allowed to terminate their contract.

If you want to know all the nitty-gritty details you can read them in the Production Rule Book on the Equity website, numbers 34 & 35.

[li]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 10:57am

"How are the injured actors compensated while they are out of the show?"

"Provided the injury occurred while working, they are covered by workman's comp, same as any person injured on the job. They need to follow all applicable rules and regulations as well as apply for a disability leave.

Now, if the injury occurs outside the job, then the actor is out of luck. If they miss 16 consecutive performances, or 24 out of a span of 48, without applying for and receiving a disability leave then the producer is allowed to terminate their contract.

If you want to know all the nitty-gritty details you can read them in the Production Rule Book on the Equity website, numbers 34 & 35."

Byron, thank you!

[toddlisatyriem]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 4:17pm

Alex should NOT have been hired as the new Margot... here's why.

While Alex may play the role of Margot perfectly, the producers need another Elle backup so that they won't be in the same trouble they got into when Rhianna and Becky got hurt. While you may not like Kate's Margot as much as Alex's.... Kate does play Elle well, which obviously Alex doesn't or they would have just hired an ensemble member and promoted Alex to Margot. Bringing Kate in for Margot not only takes over that role, but is a backup for the Elle role in case Becky or Lauren are unable to perform.

[broadwayboy522]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 5:19pm

I guess I can understand why they brought in Kate because of the reasons toddlisatyriem said but I feel the same way about Kate. She's fine in the role but doesn't make it very memorable. It's a role that can be really memorable and be made hilarious but the only people that have really been able to make Margot memorable were Annaleigh Ashford, Alex Ellis, and from what I've heard about her Rhiannon(I've only seen anything of Annaleigh or Alex). Well I think it'll be nice to see Kate in NC but I'm hoping since Alex is from that area she'll get to go on for Margot during the stops.