So, just last Saturday, I joined OAP's contest to win a ticket to Atlantis's Legally Blonde the
Musical. A day after, I checked their website again and I was surprised that I was one of the chosen 5 out of 99 entries. It's a side orchestra ticket which costs a grand, and I can also buy my company a ticket with a 20% discount. This means, I don't need to spend to watch Legally Blonde na.
I was waiting for this Atlantis production for a year already, since they announced it May last year, I think. I doubted that they will make one becaus eof it's expensive mobilized sets and costume. But yeah, here it is. I was a huge Legally Blonde fan since before, before pa. Early 2008, I think. It's the awesomest thing ever. I loved every bit of Laura Bell Bundy's performance, and she was my heroine (cheese). Now, I've already memorized the whole book, the whole cast and ensemble of the OBC, Replacements, the tour cast, the West End cast and a bit of the Korean cast. And here's a bit of secret, I have all the exisiting LBTM bootlegs-- well, except for Laura Bell Bundy's come back on the tour just last year, I think and that's because it's very rare that they won't trade for it.
It's my first time in the Meralco Theater, so it's so hard to find the place especially if the Meralco logo outside the building is not lit up because it's day time. I went in, claimed my tickets and was excitedly dying on the inside, mumbling LB songs. I know it would be hard for me to watch Legally Blonde, because I would tend to sing-along in every song... which I did.
The Set.
They have this border likewise to the Broadway one-- which is a pink neon rectangle that lits up and changes color depending on the mood of the scene, but this time, it's just pink which is kinda sad. When the curtains opened, I saw lots and lots of humongous pink books in different tones. It's a constant set. It's a bit cheesy but, yeah. Also, there is this window-like oblong at the top which changes view everytime the scenes changed. It's cute and a good idea, also, cheese. They have mobile set which is not mechanically operated, just those things you could manually push and pull, but it's still fab. What's cheesy is, it seems like every furniture and prop is a BOOK! The chair is a pile of books! The table is a pile of books! The department store came out of a book-- It's sooo cheesy. I mean, come on. It doesn't need to be like that. I was kinda disappointed about their idea of the set-- 'til Chari Arespacochaga explained that it was all in Elle's perspective so there's a lot of pink... uhmm, pink cheese. But still, good job 9works for the set. I'll give that a 7.
The Costumes.
The costumes were provided by SM Department store but I think not all, because the courtroom dress is almost similar to the Broadway one and the curtain call dress, too. The quick change in "Omigod You Guys" is just a little bit annoying because the before dress is in the inside of the reveal dress. Weird. Or was it? All of the costumes of Elle is flashy, too flashy. The "What You Want" Jumpsuit is sooo.... how do you put this?... COSTUME-Y? MASCOT-Y? loljk. The Cheerleading outfit of Elle is cute, but it's not something Elle would want to wear. The Harvard costumes are on earth tone, which is good. Except when it came to Vivienne's party, these people wore crazy outfits. :)) elle's so much better out fit is a bit hideous, they should try not sticking too much to the Broadway costumes. Also, the wigs are good, they changed Nikki's, and Cris's-- but I think Cris cut her hair, it looks so natural eh. Margot's hair is so ew.
The Play.
Before the overture started playing Nikki Gil, in her valley girl voice, said the before-show announcements about cellphones and all, it's cute and it's also the same script as Broadway's before-show announcement. "And if I see anything on youtube, I'm so gonna catch and I'm so serious right now."
"Omigod You Guys"
The scene opened with this big book, seemed like Elle's diary. Yannah Laurel (Margot), isn't good, she isn't my idea of Margot, if she just sing it with her own voice, it'd be better. The Serena was pretty good, although not on the voice part and her leadership spirit. Oh God, Pilar is sooo good. I swear, her parents must have Black blood. I also saw Geneva Cruz as one of the Delta Nu, although they put her on a cap, I know that Brooke also plays Shandi, a Delta Nu, so yeah, I found her. The Bruiser part is very FAKE. They used a fake chihuahua as Bruiser which is a very big NO-NO, why? Are we just playing with this? Playing with this awesome musical? Then, the scene went to the store where Elle chooses her outfit for her alleged proposal. It was good, made me excited alot.
"Serious"
The Warner-Elle make-out is sooo fake. :)) Nikki Gil's comedic timing in this scene tires me but she did a good job later on especially on "We will what?!" . Guji Lorenzana's Warner is all-over the place. I don't like him as Warner. Oh, they followed the Westend version where Elle says "Simon Cowell is my neighbor!" instead of Richard Simmons. I strongly believe that the Filipino and Brits humor is almost the same. Oh, and their table is a BOOK!
"What You Want"
It's okay naman. The transits in every scene is just distracting especialy if you need to bring alot of things. The Harvard scene where Elle brought the entire student body of UCLA just to prove to the Harvard professors why she must enter Harvard is funny-- Joel Trinidad never fails to amaze me.
"Harvard Variations"
The Aaron Schultz is good. And... FELIX RIVERA! :)) I adore his voice acting abilities, I can do a bit of voice acting but his is really best. He play Sundeep Padamadan, with this Arab accent. Enid is very good, but her singing part is supposed to be rap-like but she made it very slow, maybe she can't do it. Oh, ugh. When Nyoy Volante speaked his few first lines, It was sooo annoying. Like, really annoying. It's so animated. :| Then, Elle enters with her fake stuffed dog again, in Harvard-- I adore Nikki Gil's talent! :)) She's so LBB-like, which is good and bad.
"Blood in the Water"
I think one of the highlights of Legally Blonde The Musical is this number with Jett Pangan. I've never seen Jett Pangan perform ever, and HE IS SO GOOD. He did Professor Callahan differently this time, or was it just the absence of Michael Rupert's nasal voice? I swear, Jett's voice is good as blood.
"Positive"
All of those dancing and francing were okay but over-all, it was very forgettable. I really dislike their PMS (Pilar-Margot-Serena). Seriously. Nikki Gil did the number for me although it was a Delta Nu number talaga.
"Ireland"
I was surprised when Jinky Llamazares sang the first line of Ireland, because it's not Orfeh's Ireland. It's the westend lyrics of Ireland, which is better, still, I like the Broadway one more. Her voice is very soothing and her comedic timing is very effective since the number before is very disappointing. "What's she have that you don't got? Three tits?!"
"Serious (Reprise)"
I am very surprised with this scene. I thought Nikki would never wear a bunny costume since I've never seen her reveal a skin on T.V., yeah, but she's flawless.
"Chip on my Shoulder"
I love this whole number so much. Although I was so worried about Nikki taking of that Bunny ears from her head, because one of her wig's strands jerked, or something. Nyoy Volante's SINGING voice is very soothing. And he's a very effective Emmett, too. And Nikki is sooo funny here, I cannot stop laughing at her.
"So Much Better"
Before the song, the trailer scene-- Calvin Millado as Dewey is super funny. :)) I can't stop laughing. When the song started, I was disappointed na. The "Oh-oh-oh", the orgasmic noise is good, but I dunno why no one laughed at that. The audiences are very unresponsive. The number just went by and it's very forgettable. Nikki hit the last note! But she did the cuts like LBB did. I love that they did the hoodies that spells E-L-L-E W-O-O-D-S. Super awesome first act.
"Whipped into Shape"
Their jump-roping is awesome! Geneva's voice is hoarse which made it very effective for a characted like Brooke Wyndham. The choreography was great, everything about this number is great. These dancers need a standing ovation.
"Take it Like A Man"
Again, the scene came out of Elle's diary. I loved this scene. This is actually one of my favorite scene in Legally Blonde, no, wait, I love 'em all. The blending of their voices is sooo good, although I can't find any chemistry between Nikki and Nyoy.
"Bend and Snap"
When the Serena sang, I was so hyped up. The choreo is just like the Broadway only a bit developed. Jinky's belt is sooo good, and her timing is everything that built up this number.
"There! Right there!"
Is possibly my most favorite number in this production. Felix Rivera is funny, Nikki Gil is super funny, everyone is being funny. And Nikos and Carlos kissed at the end. Bwahahaha.
"Legally Blonde"
The number didn't even changed my mood. It seemed so short and unemotionally stressing. There's no existing chemistry between the two of them. Sana naman they tried to even be intimate with each other in the scene.
"Legally Blonde (Remix)"
Cris Villonco's voice is not anywhere near Kate Shindle's but it's very awesome. Her belt is very awesome as well. And Nikki is fantastic in her reveal from the supplies closet. The Irish jig is fantastic, too. I loved how in sync and lively they are when they danced.
"Omigod you Guys (Reprise)"
The Courtroom scene is very cool. Seriously. The set is awesome. Jenny Jamora's Chutney is very animated which is very good this time. And her PERM. :)) T.T.P.
"Find My Way / Finale"
Nikki's voice is very soothing talaga that I can't help but adore it too much. I was sad at this scene, because I know it's the last bit of Legally Blonde.
They also sang the curtain call song which is sooo cool, I sang along too. :))
This production of LBTM, is nonetheless great, it wasn't disappointing as I was expecting it to be. Doesn't mean it's not Broadway, it's bad. Doesn't mean it's a mainstream actor, he/she's bad. Watch Legally Blonde the Musical you guys!
Thanks OAP, again! :)
Edit: Watched the last evening show for discounted seats!
Lots of Snaps,
