My second viewing of Legally Blonde

Posted: 4/21/08 at 1:35am

I went on a trip to NYC on Saturday, and I got the chance to see Legally Blonde for the second time. The trip was originally supposed to be for YF but they changed it again and again... till no tickets! Regardless, luckily we got tickets to LB literally an hour before the show started (Had I had more notice about no tickets... I would have planned South Pacific wayy earlier but ohhh well)

Soo... we saw the majority lead original cast plus the new changes. Not too many understudies, none for the major leads. Because it was the second time watching, I was able to watch the actors a lot more v. the overall show.

I really enjoyed LBB and how her character even evolved from the first time. Her overexaggerated-ness of Elle is great for the role... although I think she sounded a little sick to me? Christian was of course, again, great. His acting was spot-on. I think the most impressive person for me this time was Orfeh. I felt she did amazing during the show. Great last time too but her voice sounded great. I loved the UPS scenes haha. Andy Karl is great in all of his roles, including the frat boy hahaha. Kate Shindle is great, I wish she sang more. The trio of Delta Nu was okay... I really think Annaleigh was a better Margot though. Michael Rupert was great too.

I swear, I made eye contact with LBB twice during the show. I sat in Orch A stage left and she could see me when the spotlight was in that area. Anyway, haha it was weird. Overall I noticed that people seem to enjoy and laugh a lot onstage. I think it's really fun to watch. The dancing was even more amazing this time. The ensemble member April stood out to me, with all the dancing/singing she did. I liked the new Aaron Schultz better.
Overall, I liked the subtle changes the actors themselves did with their characters, even in some of the slight singing additions.

Anyway, my friend also enjoyed it. It was her first time in the city and her first Broadway show! I know this shows older but I just wanted to give a review... thanks

~Jkor SP sooooonnnn!!!

[shh282]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 2:01am

I made eye contact with LBB alot when I saw her- it was so funny, Nikki too though she's gone now

is anyone else gone aside from nikki? [you said lead changes- just checking..]

I love Andy Karl as the faux Jamaican - it might be my favorite part of the show, when I saw it live for the first time I don't think I could have been happier.

Posted: 4/21/08 at 2:11am

Just from the last time I saw the show...

Margot, Serena, Aaron Schultz all changed.

And I think Nikki is still there????
Unless I am now delusional

[Anakela]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 2:17am

Nikki's last show was April 6th.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 2:40am

I sat front row once and LBB and I had like eye contact through most of the show. It was amazing.
I stage doored after and she was like "You knew every word." because I kind of sort of lip syched along a bit and I was like "I've seen the show five times. I love it! " and she was like "Awww. Thats so sweet."

She's great.
Glad you enjoyed the show.
I agree with you on Annaleigh, but I miss Noah.

[broadwayrob]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 3:26am

man.. laura bell is STILL under the weather? that sucks. when i went to see it on the 12th she was really sick.. i SD'd before the matinee that day.. talked to her really briefly.. she seemed really quiet, not rude, but quiet.. and you could just tell she wasn't feeling all that great.. she might have allergies.. a new friend of mine was feelin it really bad all day that day.

good to hear she can still rock it out though. true pro :)

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:37am

LBB has been "under the weather" for months now. Her voice has not sounded great in ages. Her act 1 finale ("so much better...than before") is painful to listen too.

[BreeDaniel]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 10:57am

So Much Better, is never going to sound better and Bundy has sounded "under the weather" for most of her time at the Palace. Last time she sounded good was in previews in SF.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 11:48am

She has her on and off days.
It depends on when you catch her.

[dshnookie]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 12:48pm

I saw her last August and she was fantastic. She had no problems with "So Much Better" whatsoever (hm rhyme). Perhaps she started dwindling from Sept. onward.

ClumsyDude15, love the pic. I have to admit I think those ads are so ridiculous but a good marketing ploy nonetheless to attract new viewers. (sorry, got off topic there)

[maya5892]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 12:50pm

She's been doing the role for a while now. I think she's just slowly dwindling. But she's human.

Posted: 4/21/08 at 4:12pm

I didn't mean she sang poorly. I thought she sounded great, but it did sound like she was sick. Her notes were fine, and I liked her seeing her again. I don't think she lost her energy, I think her dancing was great.

But yes, then I have nooo idea who in the world played Brooke, because it says it's her on the LB website and I gave my playbill to a friend who couldn't go to NYC with us. .. yeah

And Margot was played by Becky Gulsvig btw.

[broadwayrob]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 4:18pm

well.. i can't remember the dates.. but you either saw michelle kittrell or beth curry.. both of them are doing the role until nicolette hart starts as brooke on may 7th

yeah when i saw the show on 4/12 lbb's singing voice was great but she sounded sooo hoarse when she just spoke

[shh282]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 4:19pm

she saw Kitty.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 4:39pm

The fact that Laura Bell Bundy is STILL in the show speaks for itself. Its a demanding role in every way as she's virtually on stage throughout the entire show. 8 performances a week AND she's human.

With a workload like that, I wouldn't speak to anyone entering or leaving the theatre each performance. She has only one day off, folks. Let her be.

Also, the reason she's 'quiet' is BECAUSE SHE'S SICK! She has to save her voice and energy for the damn performance. And to those who bitch and whine that she sometimes doesn't come out between shows on matinee days -- READ ALL OF THE ABOVE. The bitch is resting -- she probably doesn't even eat to get some rest.

[broadwayrob]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 4:46pm

um snarky much?

i was just saying that i've known other people she's had conversations with outside the theater and the day i met her she was quiet. which was totally understandable either way *sick or tired or whatever* i wasn't upset about it.. i was just making an observation as to the fact it didn't seem like she was feeling well.. and what impressed me is that she still gave a great performance that night.

and besides a good majority of people on broadway don't come out between matinee and evening performances. they'd rather order in and hang out.. as would i.

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 5:19pm

hope Laura feels better by Wed., I wouldn't mind seeing an understudy but I'd rather see Laura.

[LittleSally]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 5:49pm

I was at the Sat matinee. I had come into town for my birthday and saw Legally Blonde on 4/17 (thursday night) with Becky as Elle. Her voice was wonderful however I felt her acting was rather bland. I didn't feel connected with the character or felt that she changed at all from the beginning to the end of the show.

For the Sat matinee, I got student tickets last minute and felt that I saw how the show truly should be. The box office had said that Laura had been out at least since I arrived (Wed) but it wasn't planned vacation. You could tell that she was sick. She seemed to sing and speak in a deeper register. However, what she lacked in vocal acrobactics, she made up for with lots of physical energy and emotion. I'm so glad I got to see her in the role.

I need to write a real review but for now that's my two cents.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 5:54pm

Any chance there was any Haven!Elle while Bundy was sick? I hope she gets another opportunity to go one before she departs in a few weeks.

[broadwayrob]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 5:58pm

i gotta say.. * and i KNOW this will be an unpopular opinion on here * but i really wasn't thrilled with Haven's performance. She didn't act like a sorority girl.. she played it older *i.e. boring* than she should have i think.

but again.. just an opinion.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:00pm

With Haven as Elle, or Haven as Margot?

Her Elle is leaps and bounds better than her Margot (and she sings Elle better than anyone I've ever heard.)
Updated On: 4/21/08 at 06:00 PM

[LittleSally]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:01pm

broadwayrob, I agree with you. She looked bored. I think I laughed once at something she said. That was about it.

[shh282]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:02pm

I love her Margot
sure it's a different take than other sorority girls but i love it


Adam I get to see her sing some elle tunes tonight so i'll report back thoughts on haven!elle

[allofmylife]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:17pm

Haven Burton looks like my aunt playing the role. There is not one ounce of college girl in her.

As for LBB, it's such a demanding role but actors nowadays often have it "so much better" than previous generations. I mentioned last night that the leads in British West End shows used to do TEN performances a week. This was in a period where they realized everyone was coming to see them, not an understudy. And there were no vacations, you played til you dropped.

[broadwayrob]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:19pm

i think another problem i had with haven.. and i fall prey to this WAYYYY too much.. is that annaleigh was SOO good in that role.. and it's really hard to see someone else.