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Episode 5: Broadway star |
Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods MTV posted June-July 2008 I have to admit a soft spot. Yes, I have my sentimental moments. One of these spots is for the ‘tweeneys who flock to performances of Legally Blonde:The Musical, now on Broadway, clad head to toe in pink, all screaming for Laura Bell Bundy, who really is marvelous, even to us cynics who think most Broadway musicals are for the hoi polloi. I love that these pre-adults (and some of us full-blown adults) love Legally Blonde and flock to the Pink-Palooza that is this energetic and entertaining musical. What other play would bring kids in to see live theatre? A revival of Waiting for Godot wouldn’t have the same draw. These kids, their parents, and whoever else
happens to be in their storm path, haunt the stage door for a glimpse
of their all-American idol, Laura Bell Bundy. So many ‘tweens have idols
who are just jerks and have nothing but bad behavior to pass on to their
acolytes. But The Bundy is the real deal. Talented, hard-working, a terrific
performer (she roars through her Big Belt number, “So Much Better,” better
than even the great belter Ethel Merman could,) warm, funny How do these pink-clad hoards even know about a Broadway musical? Is it just because it has the same name as Reese Witherspoon’s movie hit? Nope. It is the by-product of a great coup by MTV and the Legally Blonde: The Musical’s producers. Who in their right mind would tape and air a performance for television (free) of a musical (terrifically expensive) that depends on ticket sales to stay alive? So yeah, it’s easy to shrug it off by saying, “So that’s what the fuss is all about; big deal” and go on to the next reality show. Thing is, there is a lot more going on in this situation, with implications for the future of the theatre. But what about the many fans that airing generated? They carry bootlegged copies of the MTV airing with them to school. They watch the video every chance they get. They sing the songs. They greet each other with the Delta Nu sorority snaps. They talk and text Elle-isms. They live Elle Woods. They are Elle Woods. Then the campaign really starts. They call each other up, scamming ways to get to New York AGAIN, RIGHT AWAY!. They plot and plot until they land front row seats, parents in tow paying the bills. They scream and stomp and cry when Laura Bell makes her first entrance – not a bad entrance, by the way, an entrance you should really see for yourself. And now. Laura Bell wants to move on, reluctantly. Every indication is that she loves the role, the play, the cast, the crew. The fans. The fans are heartbroken. And why not? When has a star on Broadway ever been so warm and accessible as Laura Bell Bundy has been?
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In a logical and smart move, MTV and the Legally Blonde producers went right back to work, picking up where their video left off. They will hold a competition for LBB’s replacement (no, you fans, she can never be replaced, not even to me, but she can and must move on and grow as a performer.) A competition everyone interested can watch and agonize over and finally get invested in the outcome. LBB will never be replaced, but it is time to concede the inevitable. MTV is smart to hold competition and tryouts in eight-week segments in competition with the other competitive reality series. Time will tell if casting Elle Woods on reality MTV gives American Idol any real competition, or if Laura Bell Bundy needs to worry about her reign as Queen of so many fan hearts and minds. The real coup for Legally Blonde is that it builds even more of an audience for the live musical, a Broadway show forever in MTV’s debt. Let’s break it down. Who goes to see this (along with many, many older folks) musical? Kids. Where are kids when they are watching TV? Sooner or later the remote in kid’s hands stops on MTV. Elle Woods is their hero. Elle is them! They are Elle: bright, beautiful, spunky, giving a helping hand to others. Did I mention bright? So how great is it that they can see kids JUST LIKE THEM trying out? A kid just like them can make it on Broadway! Yeah, these kids may not have left their marks yet on any significant stage, but they have talent, some experience, and certainly drive. There is a downside to having this kind of self-serving competition to cast a major Broadway musical role. Those who are serious artists, who have already worked their way up the theatrical ladder with blood, sweat, and tears, who have paid their dues in small roles, taken acting, dancing, singing classes to exhaustion, eking out a living while auditioning for everything that comes along, enduring rejection after rejection, and at the end of the day nursing bruised muscles and bruised egos. Those people have a different view. What is happening on MTV just isn’t fair to those who come up the hard way, the traditional way. There is no easy road to a leading role. There can’t be. That kind of stuff happens only on stage characters, not to the real people playing those parts. You know what I mean. Stage Door. All About Eve. That kind of play where the young girl/understudy gets her big break when the leading lady really does break a leg and the girl achieves instant stardom. Just doesn’t happen. Not professional. Not fair that it’s happening now on MTV. That’s the dark downside. Those who see this downside, believe it diminishes the professional respect for acting, something since the time of the early Greeks has been hard-won. In spite of how easy it looks (when done effectively) acting is a highly specialized skill, involving physical and mental training. It is not a skill that just anyone can achieve. You really have to have that indefinable thing called “talent.” A competition of unknowns and untrieds for a major starring role on Broadway is a loud slap in the face for the already arrived professional. The good news for you downsiders in this debate is that checking out the bios of some of the contenders (www.mtv.com), you’ll find some honest experience and training. These are not all rank amateurs. What the MTV/Legally Blonde experience boils down to is that young people are seeing live theatre, which after all, even to the cynics among us, means only a strong future for American theatre. Besides, the whole process is great fun. Next time: A closer look at the remaining ten. Who has what it takes?
written by Mary D. Turner add your own comments on Krank's Korner blog |
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Legally Blonde: The MTV Tryouts
, generous to her fans – the real deal. This is who you would
want your kids to model after. This is someone who is making it on hard
work and good choices. And she has a huge following. The thought that
someone, anyone, could take her place as Elle Woods is unthinkable to
her admirers. They may be right. Judging from the first episode of MTV’s
