CHELTENHAM OPERATIC AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY

Legally Blonde-The Musical Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham June 15th 2016

Director: Sarah Dyer Choreographer: Zoe Harwood MD: Allan Gillespie

Assistant Choreographer: Sara Harwood Dance Captain: Sophie Constantine

The Musical, Legally Blonde, with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Neil Benjamin, and book by Heather Hatch, is based on the novel by Amanda Brown, and the MGM film of the same name. It tells the story of Elle Woods who is expecting her college boyfriend, Warner Huntington III, to propose but instead he dumps her, saying he needs someone more serious. He has a place at Harvard Law School, so she decides to chase him there. She works very hard and with help from her friends, gains a place to try to win him back. As she has blonde hair and is extremely fashion conscious, most people at Harvard regard her as a ‘Bimbo’ who will not succeed, except for law teaching assistant Emmett Forrest. She decides to become a brunette to try to change opinions of her and finds a new friend in hairdresser Paulette. After helping her to gain ‘custody’ of her dog, Elle realises how her knowledge of the law can help others. Eventually amazing everyone by successfully defending exercise queen Brooke Wyndham in a murder trial, while staying true to herself and her principles.

The opening number was loud and full of energy, and showed from the start that Elle was far more astute than people realised, when she lets the shop girls know that they cannot get away with trying to sell her an inferior dress for her special date. The show not only demands many changes of set but also changes of set in the same scene as in Scene 1, it starts with the Sorority House, and then moves to the Mall and back to Elle’s room. The hired in set worked very well with extremely well choreographed and efficient scene changing from crew and cast, with action on one part of the stage and set changing at the same time so that the show never lost momentum. The lighting had been well designed, ensuring the set was well lit at all times, with good use of the follow spot. Props were well sourced and used. The hired costumes all fitted well helping to create the various characters, the cast coped well with some rapid costume changes, particularly Elle, with all her outfits; all the wigs, shoes and make up were in keeping.

This was a high energy, fast moving show with no weak links. The whole cast and stage crew kept the pace moving throughout. The ensemble worked very hard supporting the action at all times, with most of them also taking on minor roles. Margot, Serena, Pilar and the Delta Nus were kept busy supporting Elle, both as sorority girls and ‘the Greek chorus’. Everyone in the show was totally committed in everyway and obviously enjoying themselves. There was an extremely strong principal line up with everyone performing well, but three stood out for me Hannah Bennett, as Elle Wood, Michael Fay, as Emmett Forrest and Catrin Rod, as Paulette Buonofuonte. Hannah had created quite a vulnerable character who was obsessed with

Warner; he showed her little respect and this held her back. Once she realises this she takes control of her destiny becoming a much stronger person. She delivered the character with a high level of energy, singing and dancing well and hardly off the stage. Michael Fay gave an understated performance, in total contrast to the brash, self-opinionated Warner, gently supporting Elle, and being a really nice guy. Catrin Rod, as Paulette, was a feisty, likeable character who is looking for her Irishman, but falls for postman Kyle, only to discover he is Irish. Her song Ireland was a delight, it was slightly quieter than the previous music and you heard every word.

Musically this is a very loud, ‘brassy’, pacey show, which needs to keep moving. Musical Director Allan Gillespie was certainly in control of both musicians and singers, and unlike the last time I saw the show, which was the professional tour, I heard almost all of the words. There were one or two places where there was underscoring, where the music was a bit loud, but most of the time the balance was good. I am inclined to think it was more down to where I was sitting, with the orchestra sound coming straight up, rather than anything else. The singing was good from everyone and I was impressed with ‘Whipped Into Shape’, singing whilst skipping, not easy.

The show had been superbly choreographed by Zoe Harwood and was full of energetic, well co-ordinated routines. Everyone must have been exhausted at the end of the evening. The cast had been well trained by Zoe and her assistant Sara Harwood and Dance Captain Sophie Constantine. One thing that did seem strange was in the Irish Dance Kyle was flying around with arms outstretched when there was a line about dancing with arms stuck to his sides. As I previously mentioned ‘Whipped Into Shape’ was particularly impressive, it was a difficult routine, which needed much concentration not to get feet tangled in the rope while thinking about singing as well.

Sarah Dyer had directed a fast moving, high-energy show, which the audience loved. Good use had been made of the set and stage and she had risen to the challenge of working with animals in the form of two dogs, Bruiser, who spent some of the time in Elle’s handbag and Rufus, Paulette’s dog; both of them behaving impeccably. Congratulations everyone on very enjoyable production.

Frankie Telford.Regional Representative. District 15.