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Iconic, cheesy, and triumphantly pink, Elle Wood returns to the stage for a hilarious and heartfelt night of music.Summary
Rating
Excellent
After a week packed with meetings, presentations and a dissertation marathon, I craved something lively, humorous, and unabashedly cheesy. Something pink. Legally Blonde at Playground Theatre, directed by Tracy Collier, delivered all I needed and more.
This latest rendition draws from the 2007 musical, with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin and a book by Heather Hach, inspired by the 2001 novel and movie. The story follows Elle Woods as she transitions from sorority life to the halls of Harvard Law School in an effort to win back her boyfriend, only to discover her true potential along the way. This production sticks closely to the original musical’s script and spirit, capturing the heart and humour.
From the first notes, Musical Director Greg Arrowsmith masterfully sets the tone with the band’s lively energy that filled the theatre. The stage came alive as Margot, Serena, and Pilar, portrayed energetically by Eliza Pescott, Millie Gee Land, and Charley Rees, chat about their friend’s expected engagement and dance exuberantly with the Delta Nu sisters. Although the opening number “Omigod You Guys” initially hits a bit too loud and high, the sound quickly smooths out. The combination of powerful vocals, vibrant costumes, bold makeup, playful lines, and retro dance moves create a cohesive and nostalgic ambiance, setting the stage for Elle’s entrance. Once she begins singing, the show is unmistakably hers.
Arwyn Vernold captures the essence of Woods flawlessly, seamlessly transitioning from a bubbly sorority girl to a heartbroken young woman and finally a triumphant graduate. Her portrayal is so convincing that it often seems as if Reese Witherspoon herself is on stage, and her vocals more than match those of the original musical.
The dynamic between Elle and Emmett, portrayed by Ruairi Dickson, consists of a mix of support and spotlight-stealing moments throughout the show, such as his subtle body language as she sings during So Much Better and she nicely passes the baton to him over Take It Like a Man and Chip On My Shoulder. On the opposite end, Matt Bacon‘s Professor Callaghan is a delightful antagonist, ranging from laughably petty to viscerally repulsive.
There! Right There! is one of the highlights of the night, drawing roaring laughs from the audience throughout thanks to the spotless delivery from the entire cast and the comedic and energetic portrayals by Niccolo Maccaferri as Nikos and Thomas Turner as Carlos.
May Tether‘s choreography sparkles all evening, yet the standout is undoubtedly the dance number featuring Paulette and Kyle near the end of the Legally Blonde reprise. Laurie Hass-Sinclair and Ilya Akinfiev bring these roles to life with outstanding chemistry and impressive athleticism.
The costumes and makeup are phenomenal thanks to Alice McNicholas, enhancing the show’s visual narrative from the sunny California style to Harvard’s preppy looks, and culminating in Elle’s iconic pink lawyer outfit, which literally drew cheers from the audience.
However, there were some technical hiccups tonight; microphones cutting out occasionally, and the lighting a bit delayed at times. The set, designed with large pink letters spelling ELLE and doubling as mobile and versatile pieces, had its own issue when one of the wheels broke, leading to a slightly awkward couple of minutes of on-stage repair.
This production healed all the mental wounds of my learning what “converting aggregated data into a time series object and applying a seasonal decomposition” means. I hope this cast’s version gets recorded; I’ve become a huge fan. Legally Blonde at Playground Theatre is a must-see, overcoming minor technical difficulties to deliver a West End-worthy performance. Like, omigod, you guys, you really have to see it!
Book by: Heather Hach
Music and lyrics by: Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin
Directed by: Tracy Collier
Musical Direction by: Greg Arrowsmith
Choreography by: May Tether
Set Design by: Ethan Cheek
Costume Design by: Alice McNicholas
Lighting Design by: Jack Weir & Aaron Dootson
Sound Design by: Andrew Johnson
General Manager: Danielle Tarento
Produced by: Leontine Hass for Associated Studios Performing Arts Academy
Legally Blonde plays at The Playground Theatre until 15 June. Further information and tickets available here.
