Legally Blonde: National Tour

Go -- its definitely worth seeing.

Having seen the show twice on Broadway (as well as countless times via the MTV broadcast), I really wasn't in the mood to check-out the touring production, especially after it was revealed that it was a scaled-down tour, etc.

Well... last Friday I was given 2 tickets in the 5th row orchestra center section of the Broward Center so how could I refuse? I went not expecting to enjoy it and boy... was I wrong. The cast is great as is their energy. Yes, the sets were scaled down but you did NOT miss the original Broadway set at all. The staging worked perfectly with what they had (no staircase; no elevator platform center stage or hydraulics).

Becky Gulsvig IS up to all the LEGALLY BLONDE fandom hype surrounding her. So much so I actually prefer HER interpretation now over Laura Bell Bundy's 'in-your-face' interpretation. At first her nasal voice sort of irked me, but it worked its charm quickly. Hope great things come her way as she definitely knows how to hold an entire audience in the palm of her hand.

As for Natalie Joy Johnson's Paulette -- so much more suited for Paulette than Orfeh (characterization-wise, etc.); Megan Lewis (remembered for her crazy-nut behavior during her run in Broadway's GREY GARDENS) is perfection as Vivienne. Kudos also to D.B. Bonds as Emmett and Ken Land as Professor Callahan... and to Tiffany Engen's Serena (nice and spot-on overt Jewish princess take on the role).

The entire "There! Right There!" ("Gay or European") scene totally blew the entire Broward Center to bits, all due in full to Constantine Rousouli (as Nikos) and Kyle Brown (as Carlos). It was INSANE! You could just feel the electricity on stage between the actors as they knew the entire theatre was taking this all in way too much.

I could rant on and on regarding the tour. Again... I was NOT expecting anything from it and here I am -- boasting.

Glad you had tickets close to the stage because unless you dis, itwould not have been worth going. The Broward Center is your typical tour venue, basically an ugly barn of a theatre that they crammed as many seats as they could into a space. It's 4 times the size of the largest Broadway Theatre. I wouldn't waste my money seeing anything there.

I saw the tour last year (October) with Becky and I was not all that impressed. There were a couple stand outs in the cast,but for the most part, I preferred the Broadway version. This past summer I saw it again (with Laura) and I enjoyed it much more than the 1st time I saw it. The ensemble really got their stuff together and the show is a big improvement than what it was last year.

I saw the show and loved it. Then again, I love the show regardless. You have to go to the show not expecting the Broadway show. The tour is scaled down, they changed things, they added things. I didn't like the things they changed.

There's a completely unnecessary scene between the interns and Callahan where Emmett comes in after Elle gives him the make-over that is completely useless. I also felt that having Emmett sing "Legally Blonde" to Elle's face instead of to the door took something away from the intensity of the song. It changes Elle's character.

I saw Lauren, thank God. Hopefully you'll get an understudy. I don't like Becky. She's too old and her voice is as thin and as nasal as it gets. I don't like the way she portrays Elle, either. Ven Daniel was wonderful, Natalie's Paulette is a little weak, but she's absolutely fabulous, I HATED Ken Land. I thought he was TERRIBLE.

The show itself (the book, the lyrics, the music) is amazing but the tour itself feels a little community theatre. You'll have a great time no matter what, though, and I hope you do have a good time.

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I think the reason for the "useless scene between Callaghan and the interns" was to add more time for the courtroom scene change going on behind them. Since all the set pieces are moved on via cast members.

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Question - Why did they have a handbag do the S during SO Much Better?

The sets looked good where I saw it. Never having seen it on Broadway, perhaps they looked less to you, but they were still very nicely done, I thought...

I was noticing on the tour site that Brooke Engen has joined the cast as a Pilar, and Chutney understudy. Am I the only one who assumed she would be the understudy Serena given that she isTiffany's twin?

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