Laura Bell Bundy and the Note- Page 3

[morosco]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 6:13pm

I think it's an overreaction to say that she shouldn't be on Broadway. We're talking about only ONE difficult note and not an entire performance. And has been noted in this thread I agree that the majority of the audience probably doesn't even notice.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 6:56pm

Most of the "notes" in Sweeney are being butchered but that film is getting raves. There you go.

[Juliash]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 6:59pm

Singing your t*ts off sounds extremely painful////

[Elphabuff2]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 7:00pm

I'm sorry, but...I don't even think she can act! I want to slap her Elle Woods right in her face during the first act. Of course Warner would dump her! I felt nothing for her and thought of her as a shallow, bossy, vindictive, spoiled-rotten sorority girl!

I'm not saying don't give her a break; just don't give her credit she doesn't deserve. She's a great dancer. To me, her singing really isn't that bad, end note aside. Her acting-atrocious.

People didn't overwhelmingly complain about Idina's act one closing note because her acting was spot on.

Doodlenyc, your first part of your post is horrible...and it made me laugh.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 7:41pm

God, not to really stir things up but everyone here raved about the all-playing/all-singing revival of Company

I hated it.

They hit more sour notes than should be allowed on stage and his playing of the piano during "Being Alive" made me cringe and ruined one of the best songs ever written for the stage.

LBB just blows one note (okay maybe three)...

[blaxx]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 7:58pm

And it's important to remember this is Broadway, pretty much as high as you can go musical-theatre wise. It's not a community or regional theater show where I'm supposed to understand everything it's not pitch perfect. I know that live theatre may lead to occasional mistakes, I've seen hundreds of Broadway stars being less than perfect. But I don't pay a full price ticket to "understand that the poor human girl does too much, therefore she may not hit some notes tonight". Sorry, that's just not how it goes.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 8:35pm

Sorry Bobby but Legally Blonde ain't Sondheim so your repeated comparisons are ridicuous. It's not a deep classical piece, or any sort of drama good or bad. It's a splashy MUSICAL with an absolutely abyssmal book, so the only thing the lead and supporting cast of Blonde have to do, and do well, is SING and sell the songs, not recite text from The Seagull. Just sayin'.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 8:52pm

Yup, it s the zenith of a career to appear on Broadway. And I'll bet that a sour note has plagued actors all the way back to Jolson.

Gertrude Lawrence sang entire numbers off key, night after night. They called her "Wrong Note Gertie" and nobody hated her the way the vitriol has been poured on this site.

Been there, blew that.

And STILL I believe we may be stretching the instrument to near-breaking points.

I blame Star Search and that freak of nature Sam Harris. If all you want is screeching, Idina's your girl. If you want cute, fun triple threats, Laura's doing a good job. I mean, it isn't Sondheim or Weil so I'm not going to cry over a slipt note.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 8:57pm

Unless she is sick there really is no excuse for this kind of poor musicianship. She is creating a role in a new Musical with ticket prices upwards of $100. I know many Actresses, with and without Broadway credits, that can hit that note. Having gone through the Broadway Audition/Callback process more times than I can count, I know for a fact that Creatives try and vet actors as much as possible. The wild card, and hardest aspect of the audition process is always whether or not a person can stand the rigors of giving 100% 8 times a week. I find the use of Pitch Correction, sweeteners, and recordings, to be against everything that Broadway is. I know it is done in phantom, but a lot of that is because the actor's onstage aren't necessarily actually the actors playing the roles during the title song. This isn't the case in Legally Blonde. Short of replacing LBB, the only solution is the song needs to be lowered (which is done all the time fyi)or they need to find an alternate melody line for her. If I were to pay top dollar and she were to hit that note badly after all these months of knowing about it and hearing about it, I would be royally pissed off.

[henrybutler]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 9:20pm

i do NOT blame lbb, i think she is extremely talented, wonderful in the role, etc. So i dont think this has to do with lbb's shortcomings as a singer but the MATERIAL being unrealistic and overly-hopeful. Sure, its a great idea to end the song with this powerhouse note, but realistically, that is a FEAT, to pour that note way up there out after a full first act's marathon and a full solo song of belting AND THEN TO HOLD IT FOR NEARLY 7 BARS. so, the result has been less that joyful sometimes (judging by a video from that sight, pretty uncomfortable) for the audience BUT MORE SO for lbb, as it sounds painful for her own chords. SO, i agree with other post-ers, here, why havent THE WRITERS realized their mistake, said "oh, well, that would have been nice, but far too idealistic to end the song that way, this is a human performer after all, lets come up with a suitable ending." that should have been the change that was made after they heard a struggle with it. so why hasnt that happened? why does it have to be continual pain for lbb and an anti-climax to the first act?
Laura bell bundy isnt the problem here, i think. SHE ROCKS. and i love the show. :)

[gumbo2]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 9:27pm

Alright, can we take a step back from blaming the writers of this? Maybe I'm missing something here, but it seems like there are a ton of roles/songs that are much, MUCH more difficult than this. I can see where people are coming from--if the creative team is witnessing night after night that she is having trouble with this one note, it might be in their best interest to change it. But I don't think they've written anything ludicrously difficult to sing. Sure it's tough, but not even close to some other shows.

Just my two cents.

[sleepyguy1717]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 9:35pm

I agree with gumbo2. Doesn't the character Aida have to belt an F at the end of Dacne of the Robe?

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 9:51pm

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Aida so much closer to an opera. Oh wait a minute, it IS an opera. Do opera singers participate - no LEAD four exhaustive dance numbers in the first act? And deliver dialog with anywhere near convincing acting? (Ever been to the Met? I have and the acting is usually... operatic).

I love people who haven't walked across a stage in LBB's shoes saying she's to blame. Change the damn note like they did for Sutton Foster and let's move on (and she won a Tony for that role, lowered note and all).

[sleepyguy1717]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 10:02pm

I'm talking about Tim Rice's Aida. Not the opera it was based on.

And I think they should change the note as well. Or so it says in my above posts.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 10:04pm

Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida is in no way an opera. It is a contemporary Pop musical with a Script.
It is based on the Verdi Opera of the same name, but it is NOT an opera.

[Pianist3912]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 10:20pm

I don't know how anyone could derive anything concerning opera from the mentioning of "belting." :-S

[AKDPerformer]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 11:29pm

blaxx-What you said was pretty much dead on. Kudos for that :)

We as MT fans and audience members should expect nothing else but the best when purchasing expensive tickets in NY. That's the reason why Broadway is Broadway. Being in a regional show/community show/school show are the chances you have as a performer to hone your craft and potential/improve/work/strive to give all you got so when you finally audition for Bway you should be close to perfection. However, complete perfection is not a realistic plateau to reach for nor is it rational. Even the pros make mistakes from time to time. You also have to be realistic and remember that even the best f*ck up once in awhile and she's human. I'm not saying "oh poor her, cut her some slack" but dear God...as an earlier poster stated its ONE note that she has some trouble with. Its not like she f*cks up the whole performance. I mean, the girl was nominated for a Tony...

I know i'm gonna piss off a lot of people on this board by saying this but...I would really love to see how a lot of people on these boards would do surviving a Bway show 8 times a week. Everyone is always talking about well this should be like this and so and so should be able to handle this, etc. If you could do it better, I would really love to see that happen. Before I get chewed out, I know no one on this board has yet mentioned that they could do it better but regardless. Personally when I saw LBB she hit the note, perfect pitch and all. I think she's a triple threat/pretty good, solid performer. And i'm sorry; with all of the crap that has been infesting Broadway lately from big name celebrities and whatnot I'd take LBB over any of them anyday. I haven't seen her do the role in awhile but if she really is having as much trouble with the note as people are saying then she should either take time off and vocally rest or they should lower it for her. I'm sure they could, since they have in the past lowered difficult musical notes for even bigger star names who don't even have talent to begin with.

You will never ever know what its like for these performers until you've lived through the same exact experiences that they have or are equal to what they have. ex. Performing on Bway 8 times a week and/or being in a regional production 6 times a week, etc. I know everyone is entitled to their opinion/view and all that crap. But when it all comes down to it, as much as I wanna state how I feel and what I think i'm not really equipped to judge.

Also, LBB isn't the only performer who's messed up vocally on a consistent basis on Broadway
ie. Idina Menzel in Wicked
Sutton Foster in Little Women & Millie
Even the most talented have their vocal problems/off nights, its a part of life and a part of being a performer.

Updated On: 12/5/07 at 11:29 PM

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 11:48pm

People are way to harsh on her, i know how it feels to do long runs in shows and know what it can do to you.

I heard loads of people saying how much better AA was in the Elle role but i found an audio recording of the night she was on a download site and thought she sounded awful, and yes she hit the note during so much better but the rest of the song just sounded weak

[maya5892]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 11:51pm

what site, was this, perhaps? :)

*hint hint look at my avater

[TabooPhan1]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 1:02am

"Yes, Ethel Merman did carry Gypsy, but I don't seem to remember the names of her exhaustive dance numbers in that show. Help me out here folks... she danced in what, three numbers? Did she do "You Gotta Have A Gimmick?" "All I need is the Girl?" Maybe NONE!!"

So LBB should be out of breath for about 5 minutes, and then back on track. I did Thoroughly Modern Millie this summer, and the opening number is INTENSE dance for about 5 minutes, and then I had to sustain a high A for the end of the number- and I did it every night. And there are at least 3 other numbers that I performed where I was doing crazy dances and belting at the same time. You even mentioned Sutton Foster (who did not have the note dropped in Millie, it was already written that way) who carried the ENTIRE show in Millie anyway with plenty of dance numbers and then sang Gimme Gimme... but I could see why you would think that would be a good comparison.

The point being that if every other girl in Legally Blonde can do dance numbers and sing their notes, why can't LBB? Watch shows like A Chorus Line, Millie, The Producers (Cady Huffman belted UPSIDE DOWN) and look at the effort going into those performances, and then explain to me why it's acceptable for someone to be in a show when they can't hit the notes.

I can totally understand that you probably have some sort of affinity for LBB. However, you have to understand that a good number of the people who go to see the show probably don't even know who she is, and they're expecting a top-notch performance. The evidence shows that she is not giving one. Maybe this is just not the role for her.

[bebe de broadway]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 1:22am

No offense, but none of the characters in Millie have quite the strenuous demands on them as the character of Elle in Legally Blonde. I still say that LBB should make a choice to protect her voice before she burns herself out, but I also think that Blonde places an INSANE demand on anyone playing Elle, and none of her understudies have played the role as many times as she has for as long as she has. It may wear ANYONE out. And most likely would.

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 2:10am

Not a fan of the show,BUT there is no denying that LBB is a triple threat, and has a pretty solid voice,HOWEVER, That note is more consistently off than it is on...ask anyone who works in the building. The point is it does compromise the show and her performance. They should really find an alternative ending for her sake,and for the person claiming she has a serious vocal injury,which should not be dicussed here, all the more reason for altering the melody and/or taking the time to heal properly.She is very talented and will work again for years. Legally Blonde should not be the reason for her never singing again. Fix it.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 2:30am

I've seen both Modern Millie and Legally Blonde and I really think LBB's role is much more difficult. Sure, Sutton Foster tap danced all through the show and delivered two fabulous ballads, but, y'know what? I wasn't that moved by her. She left me cold. She looked wooden and goofy. Bundy moved me. She CAN act and she IS acting in the show.

I'm sure there are loads of other people who can perform the role but from what I've seen, there are very few who can breathe life into it.

There are lots of great performers but stars ar few and far between and this girl is a star. Mary Martin was a star. Bernadette Peters is a star. Nancy Walker was a star. Apparently, Patty Lupone is, although her talent leave me cold.

Half the cast of "Evita" could probably perform the role. Very few could make it their own.

[Here I Am]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 5:05am

What is everyone going on about? the note isn't even that high. She hits MUCH higher notes in the show. I think the reason she has problems with the note is running around throughout the 3 1/2 minute number and singing most of it. Also her adrenaline is rushing like crazy throughout I'm sure.

Anyway, I have heard recordings of "the bad note"... and yeah, its bad. But she still gives a TRULY FANTASTIC performance in the show! When I saw it a couple of months ago the note was fine. Can't people just respect what she does in the entire show and stop harping on ONE freaking note? Jeez!
Updated On: 12/6/07 at 05:05 AM

[dramarama2]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 6:16am

As someone said before she's getting paid for it. Sorry to sound negative and sorry if it sounds like i'm defying the perfect "Utopia" that Broadway supposedly is, but she probably doesn't care. ONE NOTE. Is anyone else here on Broadway? Maybe 1 or 2 posters. And people who wanna bash her and say she shouldn't be on broadway...just to clarify - are you really that ignorant and so completely clueless? LBB is on Broadway. You are not. Get over yourselves.

Updated On: 12/6/07 at 06:16 AM