huskcharmer sees Legally Blonde on Tour

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 10:23am

May Contain Spoilers:

I liked Becky for the most part, but I find her a bit shril/nasal at times. Honestly, I liked LBB a lot, and never had an issue with her aside from that last note in "So Much Better."

We had 3 u/s. One for Enid, one for Kate/Chutney and one for Brooke (naturally, as Coleen was one of the two I wanted to see.) I think something may have happened to Coleen, since there was no slip, but it was on the u/s board and had an announcement.

Across the board, I preferred this cast. I like Rhiannon's Margot...hated the Serena (she was too spastic and mildly lesbian.) The Vivienne was a bit bland, but serviceable. I thought Ken Land was a stronger Callahan, largely because I just found Rupert adorable, where Land was definitey slimy (yet charming enough that you didn't see the slime show up until Act II).

DB Bonds = Adorable! I thought his Emmett was fantastic, it also helped that he's a local (played football, too). I actually got a pretty decent shot of his ass during "Take it Like a Man." I approved.

I actually forgot that Natalie Joy Johnson had been bumped up to Paulette, so when I saw that we had an Enid u/s, I got bummed thinking she was out. And then I remembered that some people didn't like her, so I thought "Well, maybe I'll get a good Paulette, then." And I found myself loving the Paulette until it dawned on me....Johnson was in! A pleasant surprise, indeed.

Show wise, having seen the MTV broadcast, I was kinda looking at the changes in the staging. And honestly, I think the tour staging worked a lot better. I missed the trapdoor only a little bit. I particularly liked ne new staging for "Legally Blonde" and the scene prior to it. (Even if the program listed it as being Callahan's Office/Elle's Door" when it was CLEARLY not.)

Anyhow...I guess those are really my big thoughts.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 12:30pm

Glad you liked it. I noticed that, too about the Playbill. That section was obviously copied from the Broadway version. Compared to the sections in my Little Shop Playbill, the ones from LB are obviously (like I said) from BWay. Little Shop is like someone typed it up. (i.e., Who's Who in The Cast is not Cast of Characters, etc.)

[philly03]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 1:20pm

I thought DB Bonds was much better than Borle for several reasons, but especially that he seemed more believable/true to the movie character-Luke Wilson type, as opposed to Borle in that he seemed too geeky to ever get Elle.

Shame about Coleen - no surpise that she was my favourite part of the tour!

And as a side note - I didn't like Megan Lewis all too much, but when you are being compared to Kate Shindle it's a bit tough to even come close to outshine her!

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 3:46pm

Yeah, Megan obviously sounds younger than Kate but one of the main things I care about are if she can hit the high notes in the Remix.

[broadwayboy101]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 3:47pm

I was there last night as well.

Completely agree about Becky. There were quite a few occasions where I found her voice to be completely annoying due to the shrillness.

While I was slightly disappointed about missing Coleen, I thought that Tiffany Engen was incredible as Brooke; she was one of the few things that I genuinely LIKED about the production (although she looked younger than Becky's Elle, which bothered me a bit).

I'm still not sure what I thought of NJJ's Paulette...I can't decide if I found her too timid or if I loved her.

Compared to the Broadway production (I didn't just watch it on MTV, I physically saw it), there were more things changed than I'd previously read. I'm pretty sure that there was less jump roping from Brooke in "Whipped Into Shape," and the choreography in "What You Want" looked dumbed down a bit as well.

On a slightly random note, I thought I remember reading that Megan Lewis didn't do the high note at the end of the remix? She certainly did it last night (although didn't nail it quite as well as Kate Shindle).

Overall, I found the Broadway production to be superior.

[sgv123]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 4:03pm

I saw the tour twice and from the first time I saw it (Oct. 200 to the 2nd time (June 2009) the cast has improved greatly. I saw it the first time with Becky and then Laura in June. I know that alot of people dislike LBB, but I think that she is great in the role, and I think she is one of the main reasons I liked it better the second time. With that being said, I too feel that the Broadway production was better.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 6:10pm

Just caught the matinee, with all 4 swings in, and Lauren Ashely Zarkin as Elle and Paul Jackel as Callahan. Andreas and Engen traded roles for the performance today...so there were 8 people missing today.

Mostly the same feelings, except Zarkin was "So Much Better" (tee-hee) than Gulsvig. I looooved her.

[Maceman91]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 6:37pm

oh wow! i saw the show last friday and so much must have happened since that evening! Everyone was present when i saw the show.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 6:49pm

How did they change the staging in the song "Legally Blonde"? I was not able to see the tour when it came near.

[Maceman91]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 6:52pm

It is done entirely in the court room, as is the scene right before it where the team is celebrating and Callahan kisses Elle.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 7:08pm

Wow. I would have LOVED to see Lauren as Elle. However I am glad that I saw the entire company in their roles. I wanted to go to the evening performance but now seeing as it is an hour before and I am still at home, I don't think so. lol. I am hoping to see Grease and am praying that Xanadu, 9 to 5 and Young Frankenstein come around! :)

[HollyGolightly2]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 7:22pm

"I thought DB Bonds was much better than Borle for several reasons, but especially that he seemed more believable/true to the movie character-Luke Wilson type, as opposed to Borle in that he seemed too geeky to ever get Elle."


Are you talking looks or acting? Because the first one kind of falls flat since Christian Borle and Laura Bell Bundy are dating.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 7:29pm

Reality is different, love. Just because they are a repulsive couple offstage, doesn't mean they work as one on stage within the context of the show.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 7:29pm

*double post* Oops.
Updated On: 8/9/09 at 07:29 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 7:29pm

How is someone "mildly lesbian"? Would that make her bi-curious?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 7:35pm

Portia deRossi -- mildy lesbian / lipstick.
Wanda Sykes -- dykey.
Ellen -- dyke.
Rosie -- major bull dyke.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 7:41pm

Ah, so you mean mildly stereotypical.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 7:45pm

Someone had to devise a scale.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 7:58pm

I didn't mean stereotypical, so thanks for putting words in my mouth, broadwayguy2.

She was just more, touchy-feelly. She put one hand on Elle's boob, she groped Paulette...it was different, and at the time I wrote out the review "slightly lesbian" was what came to mind.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 8:02pm

I wasn't attempting to. I was making joke in reference to the issue raised, and how it was raised, by BobbyBubby.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 8:11pm

You hate lesbians! Period.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 8:17pm

Well, they tend not to laugh. But I LOVE them when they drive my subway trains, pave my roads, build my buildings and write letters to their senators demanding equal rights while I am drinking in a bar.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 8:21pm

And for lesbians they sure love caulk.
Updated On: 8/9/09 at 08:21 PM

[Parks]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 9:18pm

Apparently I am the only one who found NJJ's Paulette to be very boring. I think Paulette's material just doesn't work as well/isn't entertaining to watch when played down like Coolidge's Paulette from the movie. I enjoyed Orfeh's much more over the top take on the role.

[philly03]

Posted: 8/9/09 at 10:00pm

"Apparently I am the only one who found NJJ's Paulette to be very boring. I think Paulette's material just doesn't work as well/isn't entertaining to watch when played down like Coolidge's Paulette from the movie. I enjoyed Orfeh's much more over the top take on the role."

No - I agree. I'd take Orfeh ANY DAY over NJJ, who seems to be one of those Broadway favourites who HAS to be amazing and nothing short of it because of WHO she is.


And re: Borle/Bundy, I was talking about Borle's looks...and that's what you call ironic!