Legally Blonde: The Musical at New Wimbledon Theatre

Based on the hit comedy film with Reese Witherspoon which tells the story of pretty-in-pink Elle Woods as she glides her way into Harvard Law School in pursuit of love, the UK tour production of Legally Blonde: The Musical is a delightfully funny feel-good show with catchy, over-the-top music and a bright, fluffy and obviously pink set.

Though lacking the depth and eccentricity of Sheridan Smith, Lucie Jones captures the sweet charm and unfaltering positivity of Elle, and true to the original musical, she delivers a sensational vocal range. Not failing the famous Bend and Snap routine, Jones portrays with comical excellence a seemingly inane fashionista who is desperately trying to prove that she can be “serious”.

Rita Simons was definitely the highlight of the show with her marvellously funny and vocally spectacular portrayal of Paulette Bonafonté. She is certainly no damsel, but befitting of the stage in all her theatrical splendour.

David Barrett was a believable Emmett Forrest, a geeky man whose passion for Elle is dramatised beautifully in Chip on my Shoulder. Contrasting the crude carelessness of Liam Boyle as Warner Huntington III and the sleaziness of Bill Ward as Professor Callahan, Barrett was a loveable hero. 

Director Anthony Williams and musical supervisor James McCullagh were celebrated most notably in the hilarious song European or Gay? and in the hysterical scene with the fairies on roller skates. Jon Harris’s set design was fittingly bright and brilliant, complimenting the music and the emotion on stage.

Congratulations are in order, however, for the breathtaking performance and choreography of the skipping sequence where jailed Brooke Wyndham (Helen Petrovna) gives an impressive rendition of Whipped Into Shape accompanied by glow-in-the-dark skipping ropes. 

In good humour, Legally Blonde addresses the subtle nuances of an existence that is based on perception and the struggles of a young, attractive woman. Without shying away from its tendency to be over-the-top, the musical tells viewers to be who are you and “keep it positive”.

Marissa Khaos
Photos: Robert Workman

Legally Blonde: The Musical is at New Wimbledon Theatre from 18^th June until 23^rd June 2018. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.