Legally Blonde understudies- Page 44
Legally Blonde understudies
jonartdesigns
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/04
#1075LB
Posted: 9/12/08 at 12:23amMy guess is the covers for brooke will now be Asmeret and Beth, since I don't think Emily has ever gone on.
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
#1076LB
Posted: 9/12/08 at 12:28am
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?)
broadwayboy522
Leading Actor Joined: 5/6/06
DefyGravity777
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/28/08
#1084LB
Posted: 9/18/08 at 11:37pm
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
#1085LB
Posted: 9/18/08 at 11:41pm
Kate. Rockwell. was. perfection.
Small blips- the swinging around in Positive that leads into the "omigod you're making me sick" got a little tangled, and she messed up one line in Chip- but that's seriously MINOR nitpicky stuff compared to how *amazing* Kate!Elle was- her singing, her acting, her dancing, her interaction with Warner and Emmett and Vivienne and just everyone, and wow such stage presence!! Loved her.
And she had the old So Much Better costume (as in the pink on pink dress, not that new pink on purple thing), which made me happy. And no bunny costume- for those who saw Annaleigh!Elle, Kate had that fluffy lingerie costume too. Those were the main costume differences.
Updated On: 9/18/08 at 11:41 PM
#1086LB
Posted: 9/19/08 at 12:04am
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.
Vanessa2
Swing Joined: 7/23/08
laurenjulie
Swing Joined: 9/19/08
DefyGravity777
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/28/08
. 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.
Fiyero2
Stand-by Joined: 9/1/05
notawhittyname
Swing Joined: 8/6/08
jonartdesigns
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/04
#1099LB
Posted: 9/19/08 at 5:36pmIts odd that Kate is going on, one would think that they'd be cashing in on Autumn going on.
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
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