Legally Blonde Review

Legally Blonde

(Tour - The Mayflower Theatre)

Following it's tenure in London, Legally Blonde has now started its UK Tour, and is currently residing at the Mayflower. I have never seen the film but I was interested in seeing this musical version, which had received good reviews, as well as the 2011 Olivier Award for Best New Musical.

Sorority president Elle Woods (Faye Brookes) hopes to get engaged to her boyfriend, Warner Huntington III (Ray Quinn). However, he tells her that he needs to break up, move on, and apply to Harvard Law School. In order to prove to Warner that she was serious, Elle decides to apply to Harvard as well. Once there she is looked upon disdainfully by her classmates. Everything changes when law teaching assistant, Emmett Forrest (Iwan Lewis), decides to help her improve in her degree. Eventually Elle is a well accomplished law student and begins to realise that she could use the law to help others.

The plot is a familiar one yet the musical did very well in telling a story about a girl who is determined to accomplish her goals, as well as improve in character. Sadly, the songs are not very memorable, yet they were performed with tones of energy and passion. The dancing excelled here, particularly a riverdance that came out of nowhere during an ensemble piece, Legally Blonde Remix.

Faye Brookes was excellent as Elle Woods. Whilst playing up the character's ditzy personality, she was able to present Elle as a strong hearted girl. There were also two X-Factor veterans, Ray Quinn and Niki Evans. Quinn was rather underused as Warner Huntington III since his only song, a duet with Elle called Serious, takes place early in the first act. As Elle becomes more concerned with her education, his character seemed to merge into the background.

Niki Evans however has a more prominent role as Irish beautician Paulette Buanulante, a divorced wife who becomes attracted to a UPS delivery boy in shorts. She showed her character's desire to return to her country with passion during the aptly named Ireland. Iwan Lewis meanwhile was very likeable as the laid back yet concerned Emmett Forrest, There was also a bulldog and a Chihuahua who performed several tricks during the production. Having last seen him alongside Michael Ball in Hairspray, Les Dennis was all right as the scrupulous Professor Callahan, though he was drowned out at times by the music. 

The sound production proved unsatisfactory for this musical. At times the lyrics of the songs were unrecognisable, and whilst the music was loud and clear, it would have been better if all the actors had microphones. The set was simple, comprising mostly of flats and painted backdrops, though they were layered at times. The proscenium was one of the few set pieces that seem to have a character of its own when lit up in many different colours, such as a rainbow during a dance piece between two homosexuals.

Although the songs are not the best I have ever heard, the cast performed them with such panache that it is easy to overlook the drawbacks. Whilst the sound production left much to be desired, the overall design was both serviceable and eye catching. For entertainment alone this is worth seeing at a high Bargain.