Legally Blonde

Oh brill, looks like it's getting some good reviews then.

3* from The Stage (although a large majority of the review focused on details of the plot which I don't necessarily agree with(jibes and comments about 'muddied feminism', it seems to me that the reviewer didn't quite 'get' the plot, which is rather wonderfully blatantly feminist) and much in the way of comment about this particular production. Never mind.)

4* from Whatsonstage

I've persuaded my family to see this next weekend so I'm going twice now! Fantastic!

They have changed the 'party' part in 'What you want' from being Jamaican to being Bollywood. There are also a few other subtle changes to make it more current (Class of 2015, references to The Apprentice, references to Hollyoaks). That's all I can remember off the top of my head.

I saw this on Wednesday, at the matinee. I felt the whole thing was quite lacklustre (although I do blame the audience also - stalls 3/4 full and the circle 1/4 full meant that it was quiet) and the energy from the cast just wasn't there until the second act. Lucie has a lovely voice but for me had very little character - she wasn't funny or heartfelt. Jon Robyns shone above anybody else on the stage and I was waiting for his scenes. Overall, this is my fifth time of seeing LB (3 times in London and 1 on tour with Faye Brooks) and I enjoyed this version the least. 

After Oliver last year - anyone know what the Christmas musical is this year at the Curve?

And, in my opinion, if it is Grease it's a bit of an uninspired choice again.

But that's on tour somewhere else surely. Electrifying... Grease Lightning. That's probably the link.

If it actually were Grease, I need to pay Leicester a third visit this year. I don't even dare admit it, but I've yet to see Grease on stage...

No worries. Dragging topics offtopic is usually my job though

Back in my hotel room after seeing the show tonight. What a great show this is. I've so missed Legally Blonde and I can't wait to be back tomorrow.

The cons:

Why the hell did they change the arrangements of some songs? Don't fix what isn't broken - the original score was perfect, and the changes made it worse. I didn't quite like the slow start of So Much Better, and the Bollywood stunt in What You Want was completely out of place.

I felt that Ian Kelsey was miscast as Callahan. He seemed to feel uncomfortable and out of place.

Tupele Dorgu was just an average as Paulette. She wasn't really likeable, more of a caricature and overacted pretty badly. And is it just me or did anyone else find her also unhealthily skinny? Seriously, she needs to gain at least 15 pounds. I do think they should have gotten Jodie Jacobs back, she's in a completely different league.

The pros:

The band - eight musicians with a brass section - sounded great.

Lucie Jones. Need I say more? Great voice and acting. Couldn't take my eyes off her. She's perfect for the role.

Jon Robyns is one of the best Emmetts I've seen. I still prefer Alex Gaumond, but he's very close.

As futuristic as the set might look at the beginning, it actually worked very well and I was unnecessarily worried when I first saw a photo a few days ago. It's not the set we're used to (e.g. no sorority house), but I thought it was cleverly done.

Unobstructed view from the front row with plenty of leg room (at least in the centre seats).

(Further) Changes to other productions:
The "Gentlemen, behave. This is Harvard Law, and not match.com" part was cut from the selection committee scene in What You Want.

Vivienne's party was changed into a formal (gown/tuxedo) party, and Elle didn't grab Enid's glasses when she pretended to be Gloria Steinem.

After the court adjourned to the crime scene, the judge wasn't sitting on a toilet but still behind her bench.

Misc:
Someone should really tell Vivienne that "to thine own self be true" was actually written by Nigel Bottom, and not William Shakespeare.

Bruiser didn't bark, it was prerecorded.

Rufus felt extremely uncomfortable on stage and dragged his owner off-stage.

What was the purpose of the hipster in dungarees in Paulette's salon? He looked completely out of place.

In the first class room scene, I firstly mistook the other girl for Vivienne, as Vivienne was wearing a white dress. I mean she's supposed to be wearing black even when nobody's dead, right?

Enjoy.....I am sure you will.

Seen it two more times today and I did notice a few more changes they've made in this production:

Instead of asking her dad to fund her studies at the golf course, Elle asks him at his medical practice. Also, her dad is shown as plastic surgeon injecting botox in a patient's face who also has odd lips.

The Greek chorus in Positive is wearing boxing clothes and gloves, and didn't do the Delta Nu "choreography".

Both the Legally Blonde Remix and There Right There seemed to be shorter than usual and ended abruptly when I was expecting the songs to go on.

I noticed lots of one word changes during the show - but too many to remember them all. A few examples: Nikos left a Lady Gaga CD in the poolhouse (instead of a Cher CD), Elle's neighbour was Beyoncé (instead of Richard Simmons (was it Simon Cowell in the London production?)), Elle talked Mariah Carey (instead of Beyoncé) out of buying a truly heinous top at Macy's (instead of Fred Segal's).

The student formerly known as Aaron Schultz was renamed to Fergus McCall and had a Scottish (?) accent. Nonetheless, Vivienne said during her party that she must convice Aaron Schultz to join their study group.

In Serious, Warner says that his brother has a fiancée, but when Elle browses Elle magazine, she sees pictures of their wedding.

Emmett is already wearing a tie (even before Elle is taking him shopping), and guys get beat up on his street for wearing a particular tie instead of a shirt.

I really enjoyed myself with the show. As for positives, the production looked great and had some great casting (Jon & Jamal most notably).
Although Lucie had a great vocal, I didn't feel she had the comedic chops and didn't laugh once at her / with her performance. I was not a fan of the Paulette casting choice either. Or Callahan.
The feeling I was left with was "flat". The whole experience felt flat and like something was missing. Maybe I was spoilt with the westend production, but I also preferred the touring version and the production at Kilworth House last year. The Curve stage is fairly epic if you don't fill it, and I think this version could do with a smaller stage. I just didn't get much chemistry between the cast. In fact, just seeing Jamal made me long to see Bend It again!
Although that all might sound fairly negative, I did enjoy it and hope it does well and hope the cast grow into the show.

I’m really hope you enjoy the musical, for me it’s really become a favourite show of mine. It’s the show that Broadway just didn’t seem to get but for a movie to stage production I think it actually excels the film (which I struggled to watch recently as I missed them breaking into song at the key moments!)



I saw twice on the West-End and the recently twice at ‘Upstairs at the Gatehouse’, I nearly booked for this but saving the reserves for other theatre outings instead as I was pleased as punch with the recent fringe production.

Saw this tonight and LOVED it! The music was fab, the set was nice all be it simplistic, the cast was very good. I adored Lucie Jones as Elle, especially her voice. And Jon Robyns was a fabulous Emmett. I am a fan of course but I thought he really was fabulous. 'Chip on my shoulder' was my favourite song of the night. Noticed a lot of riffing from them both, which worked for me even though I don't love rigging normally (it was in the riff-y bits anyway so... ).

I'll echo most of what others have said about Callahan and Paulette, although I thought she sang Ireland very nicely.

Overall just a fabulous production of a really wonderful show, I'm so happy to br seeing it with my family this weekend too.

Also I caught the internship paper, yay!

That's incredibly professional. Which one did the rap in Bend and Snap?