Legally Blonde understudies — Page 44

Emily went on on Sunday, both shows.

My question is: is Casey Leigh Thompson still gonna be a swing? Or was she only there as a swing thru Beth being out? Thompson is so much FUN to watch on that stage, an amazing amount of energy, and such stage presence, I hope she's sticking around... (She is/was a swing, right? Or was she ensemble?)

boo... I'd figured as much, though- thanks for the info!

Yay for Kate!!!!! Since she will have been on her one time, since all the other Margots seemed to only go on once, maybe Autumn will get a chance to go on the next time Bailey's on!

Is Autumn going on as MArgot since Kate is going on as Elle?

I was there tonight....

I saw the message on this board about it, printed out the discount code, and literally ran out the door. Got to the Palace about 7:20, and was able to get a ticket in Row F of the mezzanine on the aisle. Not bad.

The understudy board tonight read:
Elle Woods- Kate rockwell
Margot- Emily Padgett
Pilar- Tiffany Engen
D.A.- Dani Spieler

I thought it a bit odd that they wouldn't use Autumn as Margot at least, but whatever. There were a LOT of disappointed people before the show. They appeared to be allowing patrons to exchange, but not return tickets.

Anyway, on to the show.

I want to try and be very kind towards Kate because 1) it was her first time on, and 2) I really like her Margot.

That being said, she's just not suited to the role of Elle Woods yet. She was clearly very nervous in the first scenes, but started to settle in as the show went on. A lot of her lines were rushed, which I expect came from trying to remember them all and not flub them. Because she was rushing, a number of the jokes weren't landing like they should. She also doesn't yet have the charm and presence that Bailey and other Elles have had. Her biggest struggle came with some of the singing, however. Her early numbers were ok, but it started going downhill near the end of act 1. "That note" was ok at first, but she lost it in the middle and never recovered. You couldn't hear her after she lost it. The song is still in the lower key, and it doesn't sit very well for her voice. Other problem songs were Take it Like a Man (where she sang a lot of lower notes which made the harmonies sound strange), and the Legally Blonde ballad. Overall, she doesn't give a bad performance, but she has a lot of work to do. The talent is definitely there.

The rest of the show was fine, as always. Emily Padgett was a GREAT Margot, and the standout of the understudies on tonight. Orfeh, as she is apt to do, stole the show. The loudest applause tonight was after the Ireland reprise. Those riffs...my goodness. Shindle is still wonderful as well.

I hope Bailey is feeling better very soon, because they need her back at the Palace.

Updated On: 9/18/08 at 11:37 PM

Kate also wears the long sleeved jacket in What You Want.

Just to update people who were asking earlier...there are some changes to the understudies in the Playbill. Matthew Risch has left the cast, so a few things changed.

Barry Anderson and Josh Franklin cover Emmett. Josh Franklin and Kevin Pariseau cover Callahan (until recently, Kevin was listed as the only cover). Bryan West (the new Dewey/Kyle/GMC) and Jason Gillman cover Warner. Beth is listed as a Brooke understudy, along with both Asmeret and Emily. She also covers Pilar and Margot but no one has been removed from those covers. So, Margot now has four understudies (Beth, Emily, Autumn, and Tiffany).

Matthew was replaced by Kyle Brown, by the way.

i am going on sunday for the matinee as part of my bachelorette party. is Bailey sick or just took a night or two off?

Is Bailey sick? Does this mean another Elle u/s tonight?

Bailey is sick . I'm going to see the show on Sunday evening. I hope she's feeling better. I've been sick myself for the past week.

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Is it possible Kate is the new first Elle u/s due to Becky's departure?

She is, as is Kate.

I hope she feels better!! I'll be at the show Sunday night with Defying Gravity777 and don't really wanna see Kate again...