By Amanda VanNostrand.
Ellle Woods and her friends are totally going to be at Walnut Street Theatre between now and July 14th for Broadway’s award-winning Legally Blonde. Omigod You Guys! Bending and snapping their way from UCLA to Harvard Law School and from courtrooms to salons, these characters dance and sing into the audience’s hearts as they tell Elle’s story of lawfulness and love. Based on the two-time Golden Globe nominated movie (which is based on Amanda Brown’s novel by the same title!), Legally Blonde lives up to its hype, and is sure to pleasantly surprise and entertain any and all viewers this season.
Legally Blonde begins at the close of Elle Woods’s college education at UCLA. As she prepares for her date with college boyfriend Warner Hunnington III, the opening number, fittingly called, “Omigod You Guys” may initially turn some audience members off (while creating real-life connections and appreciation with others). But fortunately no matter where your radar falls as far as liking or disliking that type of dialogue, the show goes on to attract varieties of people and preferences because as Elle Woods unknowingly dodges a bullet and challenges herself to pursue a law degree, just about every audience member falls for, and roots for her as she challenges stereotype after stereotype and brings people to see that blonde hair and pink shoes mean nothing in regards to intelligence, wit, talent, and ability. Elle proves herself as she befriends Paulette the Cosmetologist, gives second chances, and puts brains above beauty to prove she is more than most people give her credit for. Her journey through Year One at Harvard Law School ultimately ends with a case and various conflicts that she is more than adept at handling, and ultimately brings her to a happy (pink, and frilly) ending.
Legally Blonde is (appropriately) labeled as a musical comedy. Laughter ensues as the sororities, Harvard classrooms, courtrooms, and even a salon and a trailer park come to life. The songs tell this story with dialogue sprinkled in-between, and are absolutely what brings life to the story. The music (Music and Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, with Music and Vocal Direction by John Daniels) and choreography (Direction and Choreography by Richard Stafford) combine as the audience is privileged to watch and listen to vast amounts of group numbers, all full of talent. Voices of note are those of our star Elle Woods played by Kathryn Brunner, as well as Elle’s (initial) nemesis Lindsey Bliven. Most scenes include Elle’s college sorority sisters as well and these women whose voices fill the theater make each song and scene great. The entire show fills the room with laughter and great music; this musical is a must-see.
Although Legally Blonde may not necessarily appeal to all theatre-goers at first, it is sure to pleasantly surprise those who come in with some doubt, while rising to the standards of those who knew all along that this would make for a striking musical (comedy). This spring/summer season is fortunate to hold such a strong musical at Walnut Street!