Riedel weighs in on BLONDE, and Bundy vs. Ebersole?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 10:03am

February 9, 2007 -- SAN FRANCISCO - Just as Elle Woods shakes up the hallowed halls of Harvard Law, so, too, the big new musical about her Ivy League adventures is rat tling Broadway.

Omigod, you guys - "Legally Blonde" is a contender.

The $13 million musical about a seemingly ditzy blonde who becomes a crackerjack law student opened Tuesday to unexpected rave reviews - unexpected because, frankly, the theater industry hasn't thrilled to the prospect of yet another musical fashioned from a movie.

On the heels of "The Wedding Singer" and "High Fidelity," "Legally Blonde," which opens in New York in April, seemed more of the same, especially when stacked against "Spring Awakening," a genuinely original musical that's captured the industry's imagination.

But on the West Coast, critics and audiences have found "Legally Blonde" - bright, peppy and relentlessly pink - irresistible.

"Feminism gets a coat of bright pink paint in 'Legally Blonde,' a smart, sparkling homage to girl power," said the Contra Costa Times.

"A splashy crowd-pleaser that could prove grumble-proof" in New York, said Variety.

The San Francisco Chronicle called the show "a buoyant blend of comic invention, captivating performances, bright design and knock-'em-dead dance numbers."

"Legally Blonde" stars Laura Bell Bundy in the role made famous in the movie by Reese Witherspoon.

It must have been daunting to follow in Witherspoon's footsteps. Her performance in the film was compared to Judy Holliday's in "Born Yesterday."

But Bundy, who's played Glinda in "Wicked," has pulled it off, and could emerge as the closest thing that "Grey Gardens" star Christine Ebersole has in the way of Tony competition.

Read on...

Blonded By Delight

Updated On: 2/9/07 at 10:03 AM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 10:08am

Bundy may pose stiff competition, but Ebersole wins no matter what.

[massofmen]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 10:15am

i dunno. It was a magic moment in tony history when Marisa Jaret won the tony over bernadette peters. Anyone with a brain would think that Tracy Turnblad would beat out mamma rose. (this post is DOUSED with sarcasm)

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 10:18am

Marisa winning over Bernadette was a travesty (totally threadjacking, but it had to be said).

[timote316]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 10:21am

I don't take that comment as its going to be Bundy vs. Ebersole. It seems to me that Riedel is just saying Bundy will be a distant second.

[HumATune]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 10:22am

Interesting that they're thinking of cutting/changing "There! Right There!". Honestly if San Francisco audiences aren't offended by it, I don't think it needs to be cut. It’s one of the highlights of the show, so they’ve got to replace it with something fabulous if it goes. I wonder which of the younger cast members are unhappy with it.

I wonder if Ofreh’s part is going to be pared down, since they’re talking of cutting down the Riversdance portion of “Legally Blonde Remix”. If so that’s too bad, but while her character’s a crowd pleaser, you can’t really cut down Callahan, Warner, or Vivienne (not that there’s much to cut for Vivienne or Warner for that matter). Some of the stuff with the Delta Nus might go as well.

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 10:26am

Bundy now has a great chance at a nom and being distant second (and she works her ass off for it). But Ebersole wins or I revolt.
I'll also revolt if they cut "There! Right There!" It's freaking genius.

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 10:38am

Sorry, no tears for Bernadette's loss, she can't sing.

[tazber]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 10:42am

Of course Ebersole wins. In a year with a performance like her's,
just being nominated is the honor.

[sing_dance_love]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 10:44am

I'm just beyond thrilled that Laura Bell looks to be in the running for a nomination in a very very tough leading actress tony year.

As far as "there! right there!", being young and liberal, the problem i had with the number wasn't the material, i wasn't offended at all, but that it seemed to stick out so sorely from the style of all the other music in the show, which was noted in a review or two also. I of course, would hate to see it cut since its so hilarious, but i think it could stand some changes to make it more cohesive with the rest of the sound of the show.

That said, i still beyond loved the show, and hope its even better once it gets to bway!

[folkyboy]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 10:49am

something in me said this show was gonna be good. Riedel just made me very excited

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 10:56am

Let's face it--the reason Bernadette didn't win the Tony was that she just wasn't a good Rose.

Laura Bell Bundy might pull off a surprising good performance in a surprisingly good show, but Ebersole is giving a legendary performance. I'd keep my money on Ebersole.

[JumpJumpJumpSoHigh]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 10:58am

I love "There! Right There!" and lordy I hope it doesn't get cut. But I kind of agree about the Riverdance spoof -- although not for the same reasons. I think Paulette deserves the stage time, but not IN THE MIDDLE OF "Legally Blonde Remix," where so much is already happening. To my mind, they're treating her as just what Reidel said: a secondary character, whose big turnaround to happily-ever-after deserves nothing more than a few lines and a dance number in someone else's song. Considering she had her own entire song to set up the Ireland thing, she deserves at LEAST her own scene (even a small one) to discover Kyle's middle name and confess her love for the Irish to him.

That said, I was still really amused by them all striking the "Lord of the Dance" pose....

~JJJ

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 11:06am

hmm...very interesting. makes me happy though.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 11:10am

Lets not turn this thread into a Bernadette vs. Marissa hijacking please - I'm so over it.

Riedel loves pretty blondes - he also championed Christina Applegate as a true threat to win the Tony. Harmless crushes - but they mean nothing.

If anything, I bet the runner up in the musical race will be Donna Murphy in LoveMusik.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 11:35am

I'm definitely hoping that they won't cut "There! Right There!" That song is fabulous (no pun intended), and honestly, it's a crucial part of the movie. I understand if they changed the song's premise to "Gay or Straight?", as opposed to European, since that would obviously rid it of the offensives.

As for cuts, I would suggest cutting the Karl rap of "What You Want", and perhaps some of "Take It Like A Man" (or all of it -- I'm not a fan of the song). Otherwise, everything seems pretty crucial.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 11:36am

If you put Bundy into the mix, who gets knocked off the bottom? Audra, Chenoweth, Murphy, or Monk?

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 11:38am

Cheno or Murphy.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 11:56am

I say Monk. The others are the clear stars of their respective shows (with the exception of Murphy, of which I'm not sure since I haven't quite seen LoveMusik...), but Monk isn't. "Curtains" is more of an ensemble piece with her playing a role with the same weight as Ziemba or Paice (maybe just slightly larger).

[jv92]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 12:03pm

Perhaps we have found a winner for Best Director and Best Choreographer, but my prediction of a Ebersole win isn't chaning. Ebersole gives a performances that will be LEGENDARY. As talented as Ms. Bundy is, when you're up against a performance as good as Angela Lansbury in Sweeney Todd or Merman in Gypsy, you don't win.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 12:06pm

Sorry, no tears for Bernadette's loss, she can't sing.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[moljul]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 12:44pm

"As talented as Ms. Bundy is, when you're up against a performance as good as Angela Lansbury in Sweeney Todd or Merman in Gypsy, you don't win."

Well Merman didn't win for Gypsy so you never know.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 12:55pm

Yay for LEGALLY BLONDE.

Yay for LBB.

[SayitSomehow]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 1:06pm

Isn't it speculated that Stephanie J. Block will be a distant 2nd as well?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 1:11pm

Where did you hear that?

I seriously doubt it.