Review: "Legally Blonde" 1/28 Matinee

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 12:45pm

I recall, in the Broadway.com video, Jerry Mitchell saying "I want this room, everyday, to breathe passion...I find that the theatre is most exciting..when I walk away thinking 'damn they were passionate about what they were doing'". I found that was the case at this performance, I really felt the energy and passion which made some moments of the show more enjoyable than others.

**Spoilers**
"Legally Blonde" has a very specific targeted audience, which is for the most part, teenaged girls and those were the people who were gawking at intermission and after the show about how wonderful it is. It's fluffy, fun, and pink. With that being said, here are some of my thoughts.... The show is still in previews out of town; it needs work. The book is probably the biggest problem in the show. Many jokes did not land in the show; maybe only one or two people laughed at a lot of jokes in act one. Characters still need to be fleshed out in the story. I felt that a few scenes dragged on and were really unnecessary in the first act (that also goes for musical numbers for that matter). The second act dialogue picked up a bit and caught my attention a little bit more.

The score, which mostly comprised of rock and pop songs, wasn't my particular cup of tea, though some numbers were better than others. The lyrics in particular irked me at moments in numbers such as "Chip On My Shoulder", "Ohmigod You Guys", "Serious", and "Blood in the Water". Although, a select few songs were catchy and interesting such as "Ireland", "What You Want", "Legally Blonde", and "Bend and Snap" (though the number needs to be tinkered with).

The staging was okay. It was a little choppy at times, many scenes where people seemed to be just standing about. The choreography was excellent for the most part and was the more rousing aspect of the show.

Kudos to David Rockwell and Greg Barnes! The sets and costumes were nicely executed, very flashy and lovely to look at. Kenneth Poser also did a wonderful job with the lighting design.

The sound design needs to be worked on. I couldn't hear lines and lyrics throughout the show because they were either drowned out by the orchestra or the mics were not loud enough.

The performances, were overall fantastic. Some that stoodout:

-Laura Bell Bundy really carries the show and she has the energy and talent to match. She really shines throughout the whole show. Lovely voice, moves nicely, and acting was done nicely.
-Orfeh, given that her material is a little weak, is a scene stealer. She has a fantastic stage presence and wonderful delivery on her lines. Fantastic voice.
-Christian Borle really gives it what he's got. He seems the most comfortable in his role and wins you over with his character.
-Kate Shindle developed character nicely. She was a wonderfully b****y Vivienne. Has a very powerful and crazy singing voice and range, almost topped the whole cast in many back up numbers.
-Nikki Snelson has little stage time, though she makes the time worth while.
Supporting Members: Dequina Moore, Leslie Kritzer, and Annaleigh Ashford were fantastic dancers and wonderful singers; their stage time is truly wonderful. Natalie Joy Johnson is wonderfully energetic and riveting as Enid. Manuel Herrera and Matt Risch were standouts in the ensemble, though in the courtroom scene, Risch's singing sounded a little strained. The dogs: Chico and Chloe were adorable and garnered the most attention in the show.

If you decide to attend "Legally Blonde", I'm sure you'll enjoy the talent, if not anything else.


Updated On: 1/29/07 at 12:45 PM