Legally Blonde understudies- Page 2

[americanboy99]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 3:20pm

Oh, Lord.

If I had to see Amber Effe as Paulette, I may die.

I CANNOT stand her.

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 5:08pm

Why? What have you seen her in? I think she's fantastic in the little she has to do in Blonde.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 5:33pm

And, Leslie Kritzer was the unofficial Paulette understudy.

At least she's the only person that's done Paulette on Broadway besides Orfeh that I've heard about.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 6:06pm

Last Sunday I saw the 3 "Bruisers" heading to the Palace for the evening show. I guess the one that was being carried was the "star" and the two on the leashes were the understudy and standby.

[yankees1253]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 7:39pm

tracy jai edwards is now playing serena in the show. kevin in one show did act two of callhan because michael got so sick through the first act.

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 7:52pm

Leslie actually only went on because they were unprepared with costumes for the other two understudies (since Orfeh has excellent attendance) and Leslie fit into the costumes.

[Anakela]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 8:15pm

^^ which still cracks me up, because it's not like Leslie was wearing the entire outfits (ie: jeans instead of the skirt in "Ireland," etc.), that I wouldn't figure it'd be too hard to find a similar workaround for one of the official Paulette understudies to be able to go on.

Understudies I've seen go on:
Noah Weisberg as Emmett
Andy Karl as Callahan
Kevin Pariseau as Callahan
Tracy Jai Edwards as Serena (before she was Serena)
Tracy Jai as Vivienne

I still need to see Andy as Emmett, and any of Laura Bell's understudies. Oh, and a Brooke understudy- I can not imagine someone other than Nikki Snelson doing that part- her understudies have not gone on yet, right?

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 8:24pm

"Leslie actually only went on because they were unprepared with costumes for the other two understudies (since Orfeh has excellent attendance) and Leslie fit into the costumes. "

Riight. And, Leslie just HAPPENED to know the role. Happens all the time, I'm sure.

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 8:34pm

I've worked with both Becky and Galen. They are both strong performers who will give excellent performances when they go on!

[alex2155]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 8:38pm

well I'm not saying it was only because of the costume thing, but Leslie probably did know the role whether she's rehearsed it or not. I'm sure everyone in the show knows everyone else's part, not because they need to learn everyones role, but because it just happens when you are rehearsing and performing the same show everyday.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 8:42pm

"Riight. And, Leslie just HAPPENED to know the role. Happens all the time, I'm sure."

...Um, so you're proposing that they rehearsed Leslie to go on for Paulette incase Orfeh called out without properly rehearsing her understudies? Or getting costumes for any of them? Because that's MUCH more likely...

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 8:59pm

Oh, I have no doubt that both of her understudies are wonderful performers. I've seen one of them perform before and she was fantastic.

Still, I just find it odd. However, I'll stay in my little fantasy land, but I definitely see that it's a little out there. Maybe I still just nurse my "42nd Street" dream a little too much.

[Anakela]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 9:11pm

Riight. And, Leslie just HAPPENED to know the role. Happens all the time, I'm sure.

Actually, as much as I love Leslie, I've heard from those who were actually there for that performance that it was obvious in one particular area that she was especially *not* rehearsed for the Paulette track- something about her not knowing where she should be when during the dancing during Legally Blonde (Remix), and Laura Bell having to direct her at some points. So I'd totally believe the 'needed to fit the costumes' reason over the 'super secret understudy plan' reason.


fyi: Noah will be going on as Emmett for the second week of Christian's vacation, September 5th - 9th.

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 9:37pm

Yes, Leslie seemed a little lost at points, but she pulled it off extremely well for someone who was told on very short notice.

Nikki and Annaleigh are the only big roles that haven't missed a show. I've seen almost every understudy that has ever gone on for a lead and for the most part, the understudies are all amazing.

[broadwayboy522]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 9:42pm

Kate Shindle does such good job with Legally Blonde Remix I was just wondering how does Gaelen and Tracy compare?

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 10:00pm

Saw Traci as Vivienne.
Horrible. Way too perky with the acting and her singing was just bleck. No one is as good as Kate... 'cause ya know, I heard Gaelen...


Btw, I saw Becky as both Elle and Serena, and her Elle was fabulous, and her Serena, was well, eh... not.

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 1:28am

Really? I saw Becky as both Serena and Elle and thought she nailed both roles.

As for the Vivienne understudies, I Wasn't the biggest fan of either one of them. I am a huge fan of Tracy Jai (and expected to be blown out of the water) and did appreciate some of her line readings, and Gaelen had a delicious evil streak to hers, but neither came close to the awesomenesss that is Kate Shindle.

[sleepyguy1717]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 2:38am

Anakela, how was Noah Weisberg as Emmett?

[Anakela]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 10:09am

Anakela, how was Noah Weisberg as Emmett?

Totally adorable. He seemed to be a tiny little bit nervous at first, and Christian is totally the more rehearsed polished performance, but Noah and Laura Bell had some great chemistry onstage, (she ruffled his curls!), and he has a voice that I never realized was in that body, and he really made Emmett his own- ie landing a laugh on 'the room just got colder' in "Chip on My Shoulder" that I've never really heard Christian land, etc. Needs a little more rehearsal time with the dressing/undressing in "Take it Like a Man." :)

By the time of the 'I'll see you later' line towards the end, before "Find My Way," it was completely awww time.

[PlayhouseBeauty]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 11:45am

Hey All...I just wanted to say that I have seen legally blonde twice...the first time i saw it all the principles were in except Kate Shindle, I saw Tracy Jai instead...I thought she was very good but she was no Kate Shindle...Kates Legally Blonde Remix is amazing...the second time I saw it I saw Andy Karl as Callahan and for some reason I did not like him as Callahan...maybe its because I saw him as Dewey/Kyle the first time and he was just so funny in those roles...His voice was good but he didn't look old enough to play Callahan...They didn't give him any gray in his hair as i believe someone asked on the board before...Well I guess thats all I had to say...


PS...Im new here, i look foward to talking more on this board...hope everyone has a great day

[Anakela]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 12:30pm

Oh I *loved* Andy's Callahan- no, they don't age him up or anything, but I thought AndyCallahan was just so sleezy, where even though he didn't strike me as 'old' I could completely believe that he'd spent his career grabbing what he wanted when he wanted it, and sexually harassing interns, and everything...and plus, (shallow) he was just hot hot hot- his "Blood in the Water" was just- gah! (/shallow)

Tracy Jai was an ok Vivienne- I was honestly more distracted by her midriff-baring outfit in her first scene than anything she herself did onstage- but Kate Shindle really does have Vivienne down to an art, she just oozes attitude, even when she's not speaking.


eta: have either of the Warner understudies gone on yet?

Updated On: 8/27/07 at 12:30 PM

[fishergirl819]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 12:44pm

Richard Blake took a few days off in...June, I believe, for his wedding anniversary. Jason Gillman went on.

Anakela, can I just say it was VERY good to meet you Thursday night. I was just told that you were the one I was talking to after the show about how amazingly hot Andy's Callahan was, haha. So it was VERY GOOD TO MEET YOU!

[zepka102]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 1:12pm

I saw Gaelen go on as Vivienne. She was really good in the role, up until the remix. She's a great singer, but when she hit the high notes, it felt like it was more screaming. Outside of that, I enjoyed her.

Kind of off-topic, but I just wanted to say that seeing both Kate and Gaelen in the role, I do NOT like Vivienne's wig!

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 2:06pm

I adore Andy's Callahan. I thought it was just perfect in so many ways and he was super hot. I kind of wanted Elle to give up all her morals and let him hit on her :-P

[Anakela]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 2:07pm

Anakela, can I just say it was VERY good to meet you Thursday night. I was just told that you were the one I was talking to after the show about how amazingly hot Andy's Callahan was, haha. So it was VERY GOOD TO MEET YOU!

Hah, ok, I totally know who you are! yeah I used to try and keep my online self and real-life self separate, but I've found that's harder to do these days. But yeah, AndyCallahan can harass me anytime. :)

How was Jason as Warner? Richard Blake just has this...smugness? smirkiness?...when he's onstage that I love, that I wonder how his u/s do with the Warner.