So nobody has really mentioned this, but I have to ask for kicks. . . . HOW WAS BRUISER? It's always interesting to see how live animals are incorporated into shows. Did the dog bark on command at all? -BJH
He didn't and when he was supposed to be barking from inside the bag it completely freaked me out since the sound didn't seem to be coming from there and it sounded canny. I had no idea that it was supposed to be the dog barking.
Paulette's dog is adorable, and I wish we saw more of him, but it looked like Orfeh was collapsing under his weight in his one scene. :)
yeah i think it could last on Broadway. after so many people harped about how great The Wedding Singer was, i have much faith in this type of show. the songs i've heard seem great and i love Laura Bell Bundy.
and an overture?! that just got me giddy :) thanks for such great reporter work!
One thing really bothers me in reading all this, and I'll preface this by saying that, from what I see here, all the work needed to correct will result in a show that has the potential to be, at best, nice. Nothing great, nothing special. Just nice.
So, assuming that, here's my issue.
The top ticket price for this nice piece of work will be over a hundred bucks if it makes it to Broadway. A hundred bucks for passably nice work.
Well everyone has a different definition of nice and great, different things appeal to different people. If you would pay those same ticket prices to see Hairspray when it opened then I would say you would feel fine paying them for Legally Blonde. After seeing the show for the first time last night I feel confident in saying that when tightened Legally Blonde will be a better show then Hairspray. Not sure if that means anything to you because I'm not sure what makes you feel great.
I don't understand how anyone can say it will be just "nice" no matter what they do to it when they haven't even seen it. I don't know if LB will be good or bad, because I haven't seen it and have only heard one song. I saw Wicked in SF before it went to NYC and I had several issues with it. That show changed A LOT before it hit NYC and all for the better in my opinion. Anyone remember "Which way to the party?"....terrible song. :)
So, give this show a break folks....let it preiview and open and transfer to Broadway and SEE THE THING before you judge it.
shesamarshmallow, are you sure there wasn't like a FUN HOUSE MIRROR behind you? They seemed to say the polar opposite of what you thought on everything, lol.
Light in the Piazza too, but with a much shorter one on B'way. Mel Brooks has spoken on the subject saying that audiences became restless during the long overture because these days they aren't used to it. Like how in films the credits used to always play before the film.
I was so excited that it had an overture but it was short and nothing that gave me the goosebumps that overtures usually do. The curtian has light/projection effects which enhance to the act openings but the overture could be better and include highlights from more of the numbers.
After seeing the show for the first time last night I feel confident in saying that when tightened Legally Blonde will be a better show then Hairspray.
Well for your sake I certainly hope it is a hit. Why would you choose that user name when you hadn't even seen the show yet? What if you hated it? I suspect you are biased in some way toward the show or just ignorant. I also suspect you will be joining the "Who regrets their screen name" thread if this show is a flop.
I don't think you can really compare Hairspray and LB. I wouldn't consider Hairspray fluff because it deals with racisim and whatnot, but in a light/fun way. LB is just about a girly girl who is an indepdent woman who "grows up." I don't see the comparison.
>> I don't understand how anyone can say it will be just "nice" no matter what they do to it when they haven't even seen it
You apparently didnt understand the disclaimer, Karen, so I'll say it again. I'm basing this on what folks in here have written thus far. By all accounts, it wont be a potential classic like HAIRSPRAY, just a fluffy mindless piece of theatre, with a reasonably okay score, some good performances, and a production design that's acceptable for what it is (and if it's like DRS, that's about all it will be). And there's nothing wrong with fluff, not by a long shot.
But a hundred bucks for fluff? If Im shelling out that kind of money, I want something for it. A score that zings, way more naked men, a set that does everything but cut Julienne fries while it sings the national anthem... something that gives that old fashioned "wow" factor. You want two hours of my life and a hundred-plus bucks? You better start working a little harder than this. For that kind of freaking money, I think as a consumer I'm entitled. Once again, from what the early preview writers have said here, the show doesnt have a whole lot to distinguish it from the crowd. It's just... nice.