Wonderful "Legally Blonde the Musical" at Ogunquit Playhouse!

Totally enjoyed the show....and Sally Struthers was great as Paulette.

A couple of changes to accomodate an "older" Paulette. She wasn't pregnant at the end....but I guess her new dog was! She did a great job and is funny as hell!

The cast was great....loved seeing Becky, Coleen, Tiffany and Michael Rupert again. Katrina Diderikson was a funny Enid. Also loved Barry Anderson as Emmett.

Go to see this if you can!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH5ezcGc1A8&feature=player_embedded

Paulette is supposed to be 70 now? Did the producers of MEMPHIS cast this?

I'd pay to see her in nothing.

After the flawless London production, I may never risk seeing the show again. Honestly, I didn't realize how such subtle changes could be so effective, but that was one of the best productions of any musical I've seen in the West End. Sheridan Smith was the definitive Elle Woods for me. I did like Orfeh better than Jill Halfpenny, but that was a very minor quibble. It was one of the few instances the West End totally schooled Broadway on its musical and defined Legally Blonde as a classic musical comedy.

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^ The difference, I believe, is the audience. And I don't mean that as an insult it just seems as though West End audiences seem to be more appreciative of lighter feel-good comedies than some of the elitist NY theatregoers. The same would seem to be true of the critics as well.

CATSNY, I totally agree, the London audiences and critics got the show, the changes were minimal, but it just worked better over there.

The tempos in the Ogunquit video seem slow, and Becky looks a little sluggish and tired. But the sets look better than most shows in that theatre.

The West End did not actually school Broadway since BWay's Jerry Mitchell helmed both productions.

Oh, I know. It was just a better production than the original Broadway.

The difference, I believe, is the audience.

I saw the show on Broadway and in London and both audiences were enthusiastic. The real difference was that the London production was in a more appropriate theatre for the size of the show, the direction was MUCH tighter, and Sheridan's acting was far superior. Much more nuanced and poignant. Not to mention, she was already well-established in comedy in the UK. Bundy never really rose above the level of "cute". Basically, Mitchell recognized what needed adjusting from the Broadway production and the casting of a more realistic and iconic Elle Woods brought the show up to the level it was originally intended. I just wish they could bring the show back to Broadway in a smaller house with Sheridan Smith so more people over here could see the difference. The London critics and audiences were simply getting to see a better version of the show than Broadway critics and audiences. To me, it was like seeing a modern version of a classic Golden Age musical comedy. I didn't get that feeling when I saw it on Broadway.

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Updated On: 9/8/11 at 12:05 PM

Sorry but i think that video makes it look horrid.
I agree about the London production, i dont think any production will come close to matching that one.

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It was one of the few instances the West End totally schooled Broadway on its musical and defined Legally Blonde as a classic musical comedy.

Whoa! Dramatic much? I can see how you thought that the production was so well staged that it rose above the material. But I'm sorry love, as tight as any production might be LB will never be classic anything.

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Agree with Mister Matt

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