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Musical 'Legally Blonde' filled with laughs
(by Herb Hammer - July 11, 2012)
THEATER, BY HERB HAMMER
Musical 'Legally Blonde' filled with laughs
Long after the 2001 film "Legally Blonde" spawned the movie career of Reese Witherspoon, a trio of Broadway show makers thought turning the girly comedy into a musical might attract some attention. Laurence O'Keefe, Nell Benjamin, songs, and Heather Hach, book, did attract attention in 2007 with their teeny-bopping "Legally Blonde the Musical."
The fast-paced teen-targeted show has found its way to Beck Center, where it opened last Friday.
Originally based on a novel by Amanda Brown, the show tells the story of rich sorority girl Elle Woods as she follows her ex-boyfriend to Harvard Law to win back his affections. But that's not even the half of it.
A couple of dozens of songs later, songs sung by her 10 UCLA sorority sisters -- she calls them her Greek chorus -- Elle, along with her 4.0 average, finds her own way into Harvard.
Songs pile on to dances as the ditzy Elle, dressed in a combination of pink outfits, proves to be a law student of some talent.
"Blonde" has so much appeal you forget how youth oriented the show's creators were aiming. The eye-popping sets by Ben Needham and flashy costumes by David Glowe have as much to do with this appeal as the songs, dances and, well, yes, flimsy plot.
When Elle, played with a perky take-charge attitude by Caitlin Elizabeth Reilly, finally runs into ex-boyfriend Warren and we get over the "What are you doing here?" segment, the show attempts to get serious.
The two over-long scenes in a beauty shop are straight out of the movie and appear to be used for fill in the stage version. As comedy goes, they aim rather low.
But when Elle gets into court, we not only see the professional ex-prom queen, but we get several extra laughs.
Before heroic lawyer Elle wins her one big case, we need more cuteness, and there is plenty, even in Act 2, when the hyper-show has calmed down a bit.
By show's end, Elle has gone from silly sorority sister to sophisticated law expert, turns down Warren's renewed love interest and has taken up with a charming legal assistant.
Scott Spence directs with high-speed effectiveness, getting everything "Blonde" has to give. Choreographer Martin Cespedes does wonders with the limited dancers he has to work with.
As musical comedies go, "Legally Blonde the Musical" is far from perfect or groundbreaking in any way. But you can't help being amazed at the marvelous work done by Mr. Spence, his team and his terrific cast.
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