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Post by inthenose on May 25, 2022 17:40:00 GMT
That Time Out review is very fair, definitely agree with a lot of the points. What on earth is a “gimp” though? Haven’t heard that word since high school, and didn’t really know what it meant then beyond that it was an insult. Probably not safe for work to post a pic here, Google is your friend. One image should sum it up. |
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Post by LaLuPone on May 25, 2022 17:55:20 GMT
That Time Out review is very fair, definitely agree with a lot of the points. What on earth is a “gimp” though? Haven’t heard that word since high school, and didn’t really know what it meant then beyond that it was an insult. Probably not safe for work to post a pic here, Google is your friend. One image should sum it up. OH! Makes more sense in the context of the review now LOL |
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Post by Matt on May 25, 2022 18:47:11 GMT
Are critics maybe weary of criticising a show that is so inclusive and diverse? Would they be “cancelled” if they did?
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Post by alison on May 25, 2022 18:49:44 GMT
Honestly, with what I'm hearing from people who have seen this, anyone giving it 4 or 5 stars loses all credibility for me. Frankly the set alone should lose it a star, as should what I've seen of the costumes. It sounds like a mess, I don't know what they're thinking. Costumes have been overhauled during previews. think a lot of work has been done to the show. that's what previews are for. And yet the one that seems most incongrous (Elle's midriff baring dress for the final courtroom scene and into the finale) doesn't seem to have been changed. That costume was always pink, and often sparkly, but also always appropriate in style. Elle Woods is many things, but she understands fashion and what's appropriate for certain situations. I don't buy for a second that the same character who encourages Emmett to dress the part to be taken more seriously by Callahan etc would then turn up in that outfit herself, knee high boots and all. I just don't. |
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on May 25, 2022 19:18:55 GMT
Costumes have been overhauled during previews. think a lot of work has been done to the show. that's what previews are for. And yet the one that seems most incongrous (Elle's midriff baring dress for the final courtroom scene and into the finale) doesn't seem to have been changed. That costume was always pink, and often sparkly, but also always appropriate in style. Elle Woods is many things, but she understands fashion and what's appropriate for certain situations. I don't buy for a second that the same character who encourages Emmett to dress the part to be taken more seriously by Callahan etc would then turn up in that outfit herself, knee high boots and all. I just don't. the outfit worked perfectly. elle harnessing the powers of her personality after going through an intense crisis. felt seamless. |
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Post by JJShaw on May 25, 2022 19:46:09 GMT
I knew critics would shy away from being actually dare I say critical but good lord the praise this production is getting is criminal.
Reminds me of someone who tweeted, when the Broadway Funny Girl reviews came out, that those reviewers should come over here and actually humble the West End creatives and be honest about their productions. If you were generous and didn't want to lose your integrity or get "canceled", 3 stars. MAX. I too read the WOS one and thought "youve got to have been paid to write this!"
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Post by partytentdown on May 25, 2022 19:49:29 GMT
WOS had people there doing Instagram stories all evening with a very excited tone, so I guess it would have then been hard to give it a mediocre review.
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Post by Matt on May 25, 2022 20:21:32 GMT
I guess this is why I NEVER listen to critics and always make my own mind up. It’s just an opinion of someone who likes different things to me.
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Post by inthenose on May 25, 2022 20:28:08 GMT
And yet the one that seems most incongrous (Elle's midriff baring dress for the final courtroom scene and into the finale) doesn't seem to have been changed. That costume was always pink, and often sparkly, but also always appropriate in style. Elle Woods is many things, but she understands fashion and what's appropriate for certain situations. I don't buy for a second that the same character who encourages Emmett to dress the part to be taken more seriously by Callahan etc would then turn up in that outfit herself, knee high boots and all. I just don't. the outfit worked perfectly. elle harnessing the powers of her personality after going through an intense crisis. felt seamless. Doubt that could afford felt. Or seams, for that matter. The costumes are absolutely dire. |
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Post by budd on May 25, 2022 20:56:08 GMT
I think people are focusing too much on the star rating on not on what they write. None of them are claiming it's some great concept, just that they had a fun night out, and the production delivers on that promise of a fun night out. I think Clive Davis' review is what got me to sit up and notice. He's often an outlier and has not shied away from giving things zero stars as well. Reminds me of a friend being baffled at the praise for Edgar Wright's films after catching one for the first time, and not realizing that the kind of knowing sincerity and humour is the point and you too have to be in on it.
And I see more 5 stars have cropped up here as well.
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Post by Dawnstar on May 25, 2022 20:58:25 GMT
Costumes have been overhauled during previews. think a lot of work has been done to the show. that's what previews are for. Are the costumes shown in the production photos released a couple of days ago the original ones or the revised ones? Because frankly most of those pictured look pretty ghastly to me.
Think Time Out are pretty much on the same page as most of us here www.timeout.com/london/theatre/legally-blonde-the-musical-review‘I sat gawping in a vague is this really happening befuddlement’ ‘Moss doesn’t necessarily have much to say with her version, beyond ‘let’s make “Legally Blonde” even camper’. In particular, casting a Black actor into a WASPy role feels like a missed opportunity to subvert the archetype of the poor little rich girl’ diversifying a comedy about a group of rich white people without really analysing the original story feels like a bit of a missed trick. That seems a very good point. Would a black American young woman really assume that she was being judged negatively for having blonde hair? Wouldn't she be more likely to think it was due to racism? Incidentally, is Elle's line "For years I denied my highlights." included in this production? Given her hair colour clearly can't be natural. |
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on May 25, 2022 21:25:40 GMT
WOS had people there doing Instagram stories all evening with a very excited tone, so I guess it would have then been hard to give it a mediocre review. doubt it was sarah crompton doing the instagram stories ... agree about clive davis - an unexpectedly positive one! |
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Post by sph on May 25, 2022 21:56:26 GMT
I've always wanted to visit the open air theatre buuuut... I think I'll wait for the next production.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on May 25, 2022 22:40:32 GMT
Just got home from this and I have to say I really liked the guy playing Emmett and the lady playing Paulette. 'Whipped Into Shape' was also super impressive from Lauren Drew. Not keen on the set or costumes. Not sure what modernising it really added to the story. Thought some of the ensemble members were massively overacting e.g. in the scene where Elle does the video essay thing. Didn't actually hate the human dogs as much as I was expecting to. The dildo addition was genuinely really funny. Overall a fun night out - the Legally Blond themed drinks at the bar 'Bend and Schnapps', the general atmosphere of the theatre was lovely, but probably 3 stars for the actual show.
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Post by stagebyte on May 26, 2022 0:20:54 GMT
Not that I ever took notice of critics I’m beginning to trust them less and less. These 5 star reviews are being handed out like Primary School good behaviour stickers.
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Post by christya on May 26, 2022 9:20:17 GMT
Costumes have been overhauled during previews. think a lot of work has been done to the show. that's what previews are for. Unless the costumes were overhauled after the publicity pics, I'm talking about the current ones. Elle wearing a shiny nightdress with a bad wig, and a crop-top costume that was just beyond awful. Elle had style and dignity. This looks brash and in-your-face, less "I understand what's appropriate but will do it my way, not yours" and more "I will ignore all norms and appropriate dress and you will put up with it". |
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2022 9:31:30 GMT
I love the Bend and Schnapps drink title and agree with Christya that Elle was supposed to be very stylish so would only wear what she looked good in.
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Post by hitmewithurbethshot on May 26, 2022 10:59:33 GMT
Sometimes different people enjoy different things. It’s not a conspiracy if critics give a good rating to something you didn’t like
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Post by oxfordsimon on May 26, 2022 11:35:24 GMT
Sometimes different people enjoy different things. It’s not a conspiracy if critics give a good rating to something you didn’t like It is more that the critics appear to have suspended their usual critical faculties and just focused on the diversity and inclusivity of the casting. There is no denying that these things matter. But they do not mean that the production should not be held to the same standard as any other show. I think that lies at the heart of the frustration expressed towards many of these reviews. |
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Post by Being Alive on May 26, 2022 11:44:29 GMT
Bingo oxfordsimon - massively appreciate a diverse and inclusive cast, but not at the expense of a production that's basically held together with sticky tape... |
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Post by stagebyte on May 26, 2022 11:53:48 GMT
Sometimes different people enjoy different things. It’s not a conspiracy if critics give a good rating to something you didn’t like It is more that the critics appear to have suspended their usual critical faculties and just focused on the diversity and inclusivity of the casting. There is no denying that these things matter. But they do not mean that the production should not be held to the same standard as any other show. I think that lies at the heart of the frustration expressed towards many of these reviews. Perfectly put. Ok so the casting may be ‘groundbreaking’ by usual WE standards but does it make the show any better for it? Some of the casting makes less sense when you scrutinise the text. And while ‘ground breaking’ this version should be held up to the same standards as any other show. Does it make the ‘GEN Z’ costumes any more flattering, the set any better or the sound more audible? It’s almost like the show is being given a pass because Lucy Moss is the shiny new kid on the block with ‘avant- grade ideas’ and no one dare call out the inclusive casting or weird ideas for risk of being cancelled or branded old fashioned. When really it’s the sort of ideas you’d try in a student production.. For eg in some critics view how can ‘Gay or European’ sail close to unacceptability by modern tastes but ‘gimp’ ‘camp dogs’ ‘getting it on’ be ok? In my view GOE always poked fun at the superficiality of appearance (major theme in LB) while fully grown men mincing around the stage is a stereotype I thought had been cancelled long ago with the half a sixpence photographer et al. |
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2022 13:00:34 GMT
The gay pool boy in LB is certainly a type of character we see in many TV shows and how people are in person. There were certain jobs which gay men would do and perhaps probably still form a higher percentage of than other sectors. Also today we will find some gay people are more OTT, camp in real life and are perhaps like the parody characters talked about. I'd assume this is as we are much more inclusive so people feel more confident to be like that.
As regards this show I'd judge it by same levels I'd expect from any other show I saw with this ticket prices and pro cast.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2022 13:47:42 GMT
The gay pool boy in LB is certainly a type of character we see in many TV shows and how people are in person. There were certain jobs which gay men would do and perhaps probably still form a higher percentage of than other sectors. Also today we will find some gay people are more OTT, camp in real life and are perhaps like the parody characters talked about. I'd assume this is as we are much more inclusive so people feel more confident to be like that. As regards this show I'd judge it by same levels I'd expect from any other show I saw with this ticket prices and pro cast. That might be true, but not all gay men are like that and that is very rarely represented in media and arts. The problem is musical theatre always returns to the same stereotypes of gay men, and often for a cheap laugh. Stereotyoes exist for a reason, yes, but imagine if only stereotypes of other minority demographics of society were shown. |
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Post by Jon on May 26, 2022 13:54:11 GMT
That might be true, but not all gay men are like that and that is very rarely represented in media and arts. The problem is musical theatre always returns to the same stereotypes of gay men, and often for a cheap laugh. Stereotyoes exist for a reason, yes, but imagine if only stereotypes of other minority demographics of society were shown. TBH Legally Blonde is probably not the best representative for gay men given it's a glitzy campy musical but then again would anyone pay to see say Gay! A Gay Musical (I would but only because it has cracking songs!) |
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Post by d'James on May 26, 2022 15:22:03 GMT
The gay pool boy in LB is certainly a type of character we see in many TV shows and how people are in person. There were certain jobs which gay men would do and perhaps probably still form a higher percentage of than other sectors. Also today we will find some gay people are more OTT, camp in real life and are perhaps like the parody characters talked about. I'd assume this is as we are much more inclusive so people feel more confident to be like that. As regards this show I'd judge it by same levels I'd expect from any other show I saw with this ticket prices and pro cast. That might be true, but not all gay men are like that and that is very rarely represented in media and arts. The problem is musical theatre always returns to the same stereotypes of gay men, and often for a cheap laugh. Stereotyoes exist for a reason, yes, but imagine if only stereotypes of other minority demographics of society were shown. Yes. I hated the ‘gay boys’ line introduced in Sister Act for New York. |
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