The show erupted with the sound and colour of a pink New Year firework display and didn’t let up until it finished. It was a joyous, exuberant extravaganza of a show. The energy and enthusiasm were infectious and the audience responded in kind, clapping, singing along and encouraging the cast.
The cast
The iconic international West End and Broadway smash hit musical comedy Legally Blonde is back in fashion with a new production starring Amber Davies (Strictly Come Dancing Finalist, Pretty Woman, 9 to 5 The Musical) as Elle! But in the matinee performance, I went to see, Elle was played by the understudy, Hannah Lowther (Six, West End) who was tremendous. Hannah threw herself into the role and sang and danced her way into our hearts and minds. Within seconds, Hannah was Elle!
This ultimate feel-good rom-com, based on the award-winning film, follows Elle Woods on her transformation from It Girl fashionista to legal ace at Harvard Law School, all in the name of love. Elle must prove she is more than blonde ambition, swop the changing rooms for the courtroom and learn that ‘being true to yourself never goes out of style.’*
While the star of the show is undoubtedly Hannah, as Elle, a strong second is Karen Mavundukukure (Stranger Things, West End) as Paulette. Paulette is Elle’s rock and yet as vulnerable as a young girl in the face of her attraction to Kyle. Kyle, played by Ty-Reece Stewart has great comic timing and played Paulette’s romantic interest with charm and a great sense of fun. Meanwhile Emmett, played by George Crawford (The Great Gatsby, London Coliseum) was gentle, kind and then transformed into Elle’s formidable sidekick in court by a good suit and a smart tie. While Brooke is tremendous as Brooke, who finally admits she’s had liposuction!
Adam Cooper as Callahan was completely believable as mentor turned ‘sleazebag’ who seriously, to his cost underestimates Elle and Emmett. While Jamie Chatterton, as Warner and Annabelle Terry as Vivienne appal, with their shallow, snobbery, it’s delicious as Vivienne sees Warner for what he is and joins team Elle. Elle’s close sorority friends and Greek Chorus members (Margot, Serena and Pilar) played by Hannah Lowther, Rosanna Harrris and Remi Ferdinand anchor the production and provide a constant source of support and validation for Elle and at one point for Paulette. We all need friends like these girls!
The creatives
Visually the production is full-on pink and fabulous, from the costumes to the scenery. Scene changes are seamless and completely believable as the high school prom becomes the Harvard Interview room, the salon or the courthouse. This is a must-see show from the creative team behind Director Nikolai Foster’s phenomenally successful Kinky Boots.
Finally let’s give the last word to Elle, OhMyGod, if you missed Legally Blonde this time around be sure to catch it when it returns to the North East, as it surely will.
