Brief Summary
The Ampliverse's podcast episode discusses "Legally Blonde: The Musical," focusing on the MTV pro-shot version. The hosts, Adam and RJ, share their personal histories with the movie and musical, discuss the plot, and analyze the musical's strengths and weaknesses compared to the original film. They talk about the performances, musical numbers, and changes made in the adaptation, and also touch on themes of feminism, character development, and cultural context.
- The hosts analyze the musical's adaptation choices, performances, and overall impact compared to the original film.
- They discuss the musical's themes, including feminism, female empowerment, and the importance of staying true to oneself.
- They explore the cultural context of both the movie and the musical, including the prevalence of "blonde jokes" and changing attitudes towards LGBTQ+ representation.
Intro
The hosts introduce the episode as a celebration of summer with a discussion of "Legally Blonde: The Musical," specifically the pro-shot version. They define a "pro-shot" as a professional filming of a theatrical production with a full camera crew. They also reminisce about beloved pro-shots from their childhoods, such as "Mary Martin Peter Pan" and "Into the Woods".
Adam Summarizes Legally Blonde
Adam provides a concise summary of "Legally Blonde: The Musical." Elle Woods, dumped by her boyfriend Warner for not being "serious" enough, decides to follow him to Harvard Law School. She faces ridicule but, with the help of Emmett, excels in her studies, lands an internship with Professor Callahan, and proves a woman's innocence in a murder case. Along the way, she falls in love with Emmett and helps Paulette, a salon worker, find love with a UPS guy.
Relationship to Legally Blonde
RJ discusses discovering the musical later in high school, after the "Broadway MTV search for an Elle Woods" event. She shares her love for the original movie, recalling how she wore out the DVD and used the song "So Much Better" as a pump-up jam for speech and debate competitions. RJ admits to confusing "Legally Blonde" with "Mean Girls" initially, due to their shared teen movie origins and pink color motifs.
Background on the Movie
The hosts discuss the background of the "Legally Blonde" movie, directed by Robert Luketic and based on Amanda Brown's book inspired by her experiences at Stanford Law School. Mark Platt discovered Brown's manuscript and helped adapt it into a screenplay. They explore the cultural context of blonde jokes in the early 2000s and highlight the movie's success, which spawned sequels, spin-offs, and the musical. They also mention the concerted effort during production to ensure the movie never made fun of Elle Woods.
Background on the Musical
The hosts provide background information on the musical adaptation of "Legally Blonde," with music and lyrics by Nell Benjamin and Lawrence O'Keefe, and a book by Heather Hach. The musical premiered in San Francisco in 2007 before opening on Broadway. It received several Tony Award nominations but won only one Olivier Award in 2010.
RJ's Thoughts on the Musical
RJ shares her thoughts on the musical, noting how the characters were amplified into cartoonish versions of themselves compared to the movie. She acknowledges the decision to lean into broad comedy but finds it took some getting used to. RJ praises Laura Bell Bundy's performance as Elle Woods and acknowledges the musical's fast-paced first act but finds the second act uneven.
Changes from Movie to Musical
The hosts discuss changes from the movie to the musical, including the ending, which focuses more on Elle's relationship with Emmett. They note that the movie's ending, with Elle's valedictorian speech, was perfect because it wasn't a romantic comedy. They also discuss how the musical spends more time developing her relationship with Emmett, which undercuts the focus on her discovering her own capabilities and being a kind person.
Enid and Gay or European
The hosts discuss the character of Enid, who is coded as a lesbian in the movie but whose sexuality becomes a punchline in the musical. They criticize the musical for punching down at Enid and other characters, and for its handling of the "Gay or European" number, which they find problematic due to its centering of the straight perspective and objectification of the character.
Things They Liked
The hosts share aspects they enjoyed, such as the use of the Greek chorus and standout performances from Kate Weatherhead as Chutney. They praise the opening number, "Oh My God You Guys," and the fast pace of the first act.
Act Two Issues
The hosts critique Act Two, citing pacing issues, a forgettable "Bend and Snap" song, and the repetitive use of "Legally Blonde" in the finale. They feel the musical doesn't know what it's supposed to be about, and that the focus on the title phrase indicates a misunderstanding of the story's themes.
Paulette's Character
The hosts discuss the character of Paulette and her song about wanting to move to Ireland, which they find nonsensical and disconnected from her character arc. They suggest alternative song topics that would better serve her character, such as finding self-worth in relationships or wanting her dog back. They also criticize the writing and performance of Paulette, finding her friendship with Elle rushed and unnatural.
Elle's Struggles
The hosts feel the musical spends too much time showing Elle struggling and needing coaching, which takes away from her intelligence and drive. They dislike the scene where Emmett makes her throw away her personal items, arguing that the point of the movie is that she can do both be feminine and be smart.
Chip on My Shoulder
The hosts discuss the song "Chip on My Shoulder," finding it weird and disconnected from Elle's character. They note that she does have a chip on her shoulder, but it's Warner, and her drive to be at Harvard. They also critique the song's melodic ending.
Sorority Stuff
The hosts praise the sorority aspects of the musical, particularly the calendar sequence. However, they dislike the "Positive" number, which they feel undercuts Elle's kindness and plays into stereotypes about sorority girls and women tearing each other down.
Callahan
The hosts discuss the character of Callahan and his inappropriate behavior towards Elle. They note that in the movie, he puts his hand on her thigh, while in the musical, he kisses her on the lips. They feel the musical's portrayal is more of an assault and criticize the way Elle and others downplay the incident.
Gay or European
The hosts revisit the "Gay or European" number, criticizing its centering of the straight perspective and objectification of the character. They acknowledge the song's catchiness but find its underlying message problematic and homophobic.
Bathroom Scene
The hosts critique the bathroom scene at the end of the musical, finding it unnecessary and visually unappealing. They suggest alternative ways to achieve the same effect, such as having Enid throw a bucket of water on Elle.
Chutney
The hosts discuss the character of Chutney, praising the actress's performance but wishing it was drier and more Heather-like.
Lin-Manuel Miranda
The hosts joke about getting Lin-Manuel Miranda on the podcast and encourage listeners to comment on the YouTube version of the episode to boost the algorithm.
Molly's Verdict
Molly texts in her verdict, calling the musical "significantly worse than the movie" but acknowledging its bops. She says she would pay under $50 for a ticket to see it on tour.
Criticism of the Show
Adam reads the Wikipedia page's summary of the musical's critical reception, which was mixed but praised for being fun and upbeat.
MVPs
The hosts name their MVPs (Most Valuable Players) from the musical: Laura Bell Bundy as Elle Woods, Annaleigh Ashford as Margot, and CeCe Babock as Vivian.
Better Source Material
The hosts discuss what movie with missed potential would be a better source material than "Legally Blonde" for a musical. They suggest "Soapdish," "Death Becomes Her," "A League of Their Own," "Miss Congeniality," "While You Were Sleeping," and "Made in Manhattan."
Outro
The hosts thank listeners for tuning in and provide their social media handles and email address. They announce that next episode will be about "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert".
