So Much Better

It came, it dazzled, it went. On to the finale of Legally Blonde the Musical: The Search for Elle Woods.

After being reminded of the journey the girls took to get to the finale, we return to the final casting office. Lauren has just been cut and the other three are waiting for their fate. The judges point out everyone's good points, their bad points and then announce the last person to be eliminated by them is...Rhiannon. She cries, hugs Bailey and Autumn and then leaves. Autumn and Bailey are told that Jerry Mitchell will be judging their final audition and the judges send them on their way.

The girls return to the loft, oddly empty now. They talk about how they've made it. Autumn starts to speak about how she knows she's confident, she knows she can do it and you know she is about to talk about how she has to make sure the judges see it. However, Bailey interrupts and says she's confident and knows she can do it. I guess Bailey thought Autumn was attacking her even though it was clear where the conversation was heading. I think Bailey, while talented, is a bit egotistical and still has a little maturing to do. Anyway, Autumn gets the call sheet and tells Bailey that they are going to the Palace Theater!

The girls get to the theater and are two giddy schoolgirls. They pass Laura Bell's dressing room and dream of the day it will be theirs. They go through fittings so the costumes and wigs will fit then go down to meet Haylie, Seth and Denis on the stage. The girls will be performing three songs (Ohmigod You Guys, Positive and So Much Better) on the actual stage, with the actual props, set pieces and some actual cast members. The girls practice running up the Delta Nu stairs for the end of Ohmigod You Guys and practice with the rest of the cast. Autumn and Seth talk after she practices Positive, reminding him--and us--of her disastrous audition a few weeks ago when she ran out sick. The girls rehearsal is over and they are sent home to practice.

The next day, they go to the theater and change into their first costumes. They both look like Elle! Haylie talks to them again, introducing them to their judging panel--now including director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell. She sends them back to their dressing rooms where we hear their half-hour call and then...in walks their parents! Bailey collapses while Autumn launches herself at her mother. There is hugging, tears, peeling Bailey off the floor, ignoring Bailey's sister and promises to do well for their parents. The girls are called onstage to do "Ohmigod You Guys."

Bailey is up first, starting with Elle's entrance. She was pretty good, but sounded off to me. But the judges seemed to like it. Autumn's next and it was pretty funny watching Tracy Jai Edwards run in twice within an edit timespan of five minutes shouting, "There she is!" As she sings, I swear Mitchell was on the verge of tears! Next, the girls perform Positive. Autumn is off on her dancing, usually a beat ahead of her Greek chorus. It did look odd, but she rocked the singing portions except in the beginning when she went a bit off on "Violence is never wise." Bailey was worlds' better when it came to dancing, I'll admit, and could sing but she too messed up the words.

Next, the girls have to rock "So Much Better." Both sang the hell out of the song. I liked some of the little touches Autumn added, like unzipping Richard (H) Blake's sweater. (I noticed they got him, but couldn't get either Christian Borle or Andy Karl to play Emmett. Who was that guy?) I did like Bailey's annoyed "What?" when being tapped by Emmett. In all honesty, while I'm rooting for Autumn at this point, it is clear Bailey is serious competition. And her dad's face when she sang "Its oh-oh-oh-oh-better" was priceless.

Autumn and Bailey appear before the judges for the last time and it's no-holds-bar. Mitchell and the others let them have it, such as pointing out Bailey's acting to the audience, not her castmates as well as Autumn's dancing and the fact she doesn't appear to be sorority girl. However, both are praised and called talented. Mitchell echoes a sentiment expressed by Heather Hach the episode prior when he says he wishes to take Autumn's voice and Bailey's dancing to create the perfect Elle. The girls are excused as the judges deliberate. And they showed a picture of Autumn pre-dye job. And I must say, she looks better as a blonde.

Our two Elle wannabes return to the stage. Haylie has the judges' final decision. After a few annoying "tense" moments, she reveals the next Elle Woods is...Bailey! I must say, my one voter was correct. Unless s/he knew the answer in advance. Seth, are you really reading this? Anyway, I know I said I would be upset if Bailey won, but I must admit she is talented so it's unfair to compare her to Saleisha "Tyra, I went to your camp! And modeled on your show! And this show!" Towers. My only problem has been noted already--she has the energy to play Elle as the ditsy sorority girl, but I don't know if she can carry it through to the end of the show where Elle matures into a strong woman.

Bailey sings the rest of "So Much Better" and as she gets to the part the chorus joins in, we get a surprise. The other nine eliminated girls, from Cassie O. down to Autumn, are her chorus. They focus on Lauren, Cassie O, and Lindsey before the girls turn around to spell out "Elle Woods." After singing, the judges join Bailey on stage to celebrate.

Bailey starts her performances tomorrow (July 23). Her single of "So Much Better" should be available on iTunes now. And there are happy endings for Autumn, Rhiannon and Lauren. Autumn will be joining the Legally Blonde ensemble and understudying Bailey while Rhiannon and Lauren will be joining the touring company. Lauren will be the Elle understudy while Rhiannon will play Margot. Break a leg, girls!