Omigod, you guys...they're totally ripping off the Grease reality show and searching for Laura Bell Bundy's replacement! This show is just as silly and ridiculous as I expected, and watching the contestants, I can't help but feel sorry for Laura Bell Bundy for knowing that her replacement is being chosen in such a ridiculous fashion and wonder what Annaleigh Ashford and Becky Gulsvig, two Elle understudies who were more than deserving of taking over the role, think. However, Jerry Mitchell and the producers-that-be decided to go in a different direction; Annaleigh is now in Chicago doing Wicked and Becky is primed to launch the Legally Blonde tour. Where does that leave the Broadway company? Is one of these women actually capable of carrying a show, performing 8 times a week, and appearing onstage for around 90% of the show's length?
Exhibit A: Annaleigh Ashford "So Much Better"
Exhibit B: Becky Gulsvig Act One Highlights
The premiere was contrived; Host Haylie Duff made several references to her Broadway debut as Amber in Hairspray--how hard she worked, the frustrations of the audition process, the long hours. Clearly, no one told her:
1. Her talent didn't get her the role. Her last name did.
2. She was one of the worst received Ambers.
3. It is not necessary to refer to oneself again and again; we get it--you were on Broadway. Next, please?
As calculated and scripted as this show seems to be, I must at least applaud the producers for including acting and dance auditions in this show; all potential Elles are forced to undergo workshops in fitness, vocal performance, acting scenes, and dance sequences, whereas the Grease contestants only "sang" for their supper.
Instead of doing a traditional recap of the episodes, I think I'm going to focus more on the contestants. So here we go:
Autumn is by far my favorite in the running right now. Her "So Much Better" audition in the first episode was strong, and just as importantly, it was different--she clearly wasn't trying to channel Laura Bell Bundy's Elle and I appreciate that she was presenting her own interpretation. Her acting audition with Nikki Snelson was inspired. While I could have done without her dropping on the floor in relief when the judges told her that Nikki had dropped a line to test her, I still applaud her performance. Autumn is also a member of AEA and earned raves for her turn as Beth in the first Little Women national tour, so she definitely has some credibility as a performer. She may be a redhead, but she might be the perfect girl to go Blonde.
Judging from several internet polls, Bailey seems to be the fan favorite. A wholesome, Southern gal and pastor's daughter, she comes across as incredibly likeable and warm, had impressive chemistry with Nikki, and her interpretation of Elle is much closer to Bundy's than Autumn's. She is surprisingly adept at hiding her heavy Southern accent and when dancing in large groups, even in a sea of blondes, she somehow stands out. However, I worry that her Elle, while relatable, is not very realistic. Could her Elle really rise to the top of the class at Harvard? Would we really believe that her Elle was intelligent, or would she just seem incredibly lucky?
Cassie O. has gone home, having been eliminated in the second episode. In the first episode, she lost some points with me when she explained that she "just loved the sound that comes out of her mouth." It came off very narcissistic, but she redeemed herself when she talked about how she loves to talk with a dorky lisp. Her "So Much Better" audition was one of the strongest, and her acting during that song showed potential. It's unfortunate that her acting in the scene with Nikki Snelson was so wooden, stilted, and awkward. She lacked a great deal of energy, she stumbled over her words, and she seemed quite confused. It was extremely disappointing given her vocal talent.
Cassie S. might be familiar to some of you as Brenda from Hairspray, the Nicest Kid in Town who was just a little too "fun lovin and freewheelin." As a dancer, she is stellar, but this also comes back to haunt her as she tends to fall into a pattern of standing in stances like fifth position during acting scenes, making her appear stiff and posey. Her singing, for me, is subpar, and unfortunately, no one has told her that her motto, "awesome blossom fabulous fantastic" is hideously annoying. She seems like too much of a diva, and I am NOT a fan.
Celina is a complete mystery to me for many reasons. I'm not sure why the judges chose her to be a finalist. She looks and acts nothing like Elle Woods, and her raw demeanor and scratchy voice would be much better suited for Elle's classmate Enid in the show. Celina also confuses me because she is one of the few contestants who actually has professional experience (appearances in 42nd Street, Cats, and Tarzan, to name a few). Given her background, I expected her to be more polished, professional, and more prepared. However, she did not handle the "dropped line" challenge well at all, and looked fidgety and uncomfortable as she struggled to improvise. She needs to go soon; I understand the judges want to mold her, but I think they're fighting a losing battle when it comes to her.
I look at Emma and I want to like her. Physically, she is ideal for the role. Her singing and acting are fine (though in her scene with Nikki, she did come off as a little aggressive), and she struggles a little with the dancing portion, but so far, she hasn't shown a "wow" factor. It also worries me that she is lauded theatre director Jerry Zaks' daughter--she must have had a lot of opportunities for lessons yet she is not an amazing performer. If it hasn't kicked in yet, will it ever? Still, I hope she surprises me. However, I will say that I think it is a little suspect that she did a show with actor-judge Paul Canaan, but both have neglected to mention this fact.
Lauren is the youngest of the bunch and her youth worried me at first. Despite her youthful appearance, she acts older and more mature in her scenes as Elle and comes off incredibly poised. While I did not necessarily agree with all of her acting choices, I did find her approach interesting. Her singing voice is also remarkably strong given her age and experience and it stands up against the more seasoned performers she's competing against. However, her "I'm not here to make friends" attitude could come back to haunt her and her youthful appearance could be a drawback in the theatre world, where casting directors tend to go for older performers.
Lindsey is stunning. Long, lean, and by far, the most striking of the girls, Lindsey is the first one that caught my attention. However, her acting scene with Nikki Snelson was an enormous disappointment. She came off disingenuous, she stumbled over words, she overacted, and she stood silently and awkwardly when Nikki dropped a line, and did not even attempt to cover the mistake and move on. If she had acting chops, I think she could be a serious contender; unfortunately, after this past week's workshop, I am concerned that she has a long, hard climb ahead of her if she ever wants to be the next Elle Woods.
Though she does not have conventional Elle Woods looks, Natalie's performances in the first two weeks have established her as a serious contender. Her "So Much Better" audition was the best of the bunch, and she belted the final note perfectly (several of the other girls' auditions were painful to listen to) and though she was thrown a little by Nikki's line drop, she managed to recover and improvise well. However, before the audition, she did get extremely emotional, which worries me. WIll she have what it takes to withstand the competition? Or will her emotions get the best of her?
Rhiannon is cute, quirky, and extremely likable. However, she found it hard to keep up with the choreography which is worrisome, and though her acting is good, she gives Elle Woods a goofiness that I don't think necessarily works. Elle has a mixture of sass, silliness, and poise. Rhiannon needs to tone down the silliness and up the poise.
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