image: Carlton Operatic Society
From its dazzling, explosive opening number ‘Omigod You Guys’, the Carlton Operatic Society’s production of Legally Blonde at the Theatre Royal sets an ambitious, bubbly and vivacious tone that it more than matches throughout the entire show.
Based on the 2001 film of the same name that helped make Reese Witherspoon a household name, Legally Blonde is the story of Elle Woods, a ditsy Californian sorority girl who enrolls in Harvard Law School in an attempt to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner. Their break up hinged on his assertion that he needed a wife who was more of a Jackie Kennedy than a Marilyn Monroe, inspiring Elle to take her life more seriously, or at least appear to for Warner’s benefit. Whilst at Harvard, she forms a close bond with a teaching assistant Emmett Forrest, discovering that her unique approach to law helps Elle defy people’s expectations of her.
image: Rosie Wade as Elle (Carlton Operatic Society)
The plot is intentionally preposterous in the best possible way. This is, after all the fantastical world of musical theatre, where the beautifully absurdist story fuels the glittering, glamorous set pieces, which roll past at a thoroughly entertaining pace. An example of this coming from one courtroom scene, where the judge, jury and legal teams sing “Is He Gay Or European” about a witness. Out of context, it sounds mental, but within the wondrous world of Legally Blonde, works perfectly.
The show’s main strength lays the performances of a brilliant cast, with Mark Bainbridge and Rosie Wade particularly impressing as the two leads. Bainbridge is the perfect Emmett Forrest; with a combination of charisma and outsider charm that make him both a great underdog, and the perfect foil for Wade’s Elle. Although at complete opposite ends of the spectrum, they are both outsiders in a world that pays more heed to status than endeavor.
A supporting cast provides a great depth in quality to the production, with Elle’s ‘Greek chorus’ (Andrea Chapman, Lucy Bailey and Ella Greenwood), Paulette Bonafonté (Helen Eadsworth) and Professor Callahan (Graham Ward) all worthy of individual praise.
To say that it was an amateur production makes the achievement of set design all the more impressive. From the sorority house opening dripping in glitter and pink, to the more formal Harvard Law School and court room staging, the sets would not have been out of place on the West End. Complex scene changes are executed smoothly, transitioning between scenes with minimal interference.
The numerous, high-tempo (and often complicated) musical numbers are also wonderfully executed, with credit due to both the obviously well-rehearsed cast and musical director Christopher Rees, as well as director Amanda Hall and choreographer Rachel Rees.
Legally Blonde is both an enormously entertaining, rousingly fun production and testament to wonderfully talented and dedicated cast and crew of the Carlton Operatic Society.
Legally Blonde runs until Saturday 9 May at the Theatre Royal.
Carlton Operatic Society website
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