Wonderful "Legally Blonde the Musical" at Ogunquit Playhouse!

[PVDColleen]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 7:55pm

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

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 8:09pm

Looks pretty decent, but there's no clips of Struthers in the video. I wonder why...

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 8:16pm

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

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 8:19pm

I love Orfeh. I'd pay to see her in anything.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 8:21pm

I'd pay to see her in nothing.

[PVDColleen]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 8:32pm

I also noticed that they didn't feature Sally in this video....although you can see her briefly in the courtroom scene.

I was totally prepared not to like her as Paulette....but she was great. As I said, she's funny as hell and she was a different Paulette from Orfeh.

I am also a BIG Orfeh fan!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 8:56pm

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.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 11:00pm

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

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 11:09pm

^ 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.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 11:33pm

This video lacked energy to me. And given that the majority of the cast is from just the previous tour it surprises me.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 11:48pm

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.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 12:27am

Remember Orfeh's single? I had it on my iPod for a few months.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 12:05pm

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.

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

[E.Davis]

Posted: 9/9/11 at 1:54am

I agree, Becky looked a little tired.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 9/9/11 at 9:31am

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.

[JMPlayer6]

Posted: 9/12/11 at 3:04am

I saw this today (Sunday 9/11). I thought that the production, as a whole, was quite well done. And Sally did a fine job. I was pleasantly surprised that her singing voice was pretty decent, much better than I expected it to be.

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/12/11 at 3:16am

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.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/12/11 at 8:27am

But I'm sorry love, as tight as any production might be LB will never be classic anything.

Whoa! Dramatic much? I can see how you think being a snarky bitch might fool people into thinking you're intelligent. But I'm sorry love, it doesn't make your opinion more valid than anyone else's.

The London production didn't "rise above" the material. It showcased the material better than Broadway did. And the material is terrific. But it's ok if you don't like it. I think Sweet Charity is a bore.

Updated On: 9/12/11 at 08:27 AM

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 9/12/11 at 9:58am

Agree with Mister Matt