Legally Blonde

Even on the confines of the Theatre Royal stage there was little stopping the cast of Legally Blonde giving it their all, and after a slightly hesitant start they certainly pulled no punches. The story of Elle Woods is a simple moral fairy tale set in the world of WASPs. Air-head Elle grows from retail junkie bimbo to legal eagle after being dumped by boy she loves and Faye Brookes nails the role, aided and abetted by her Greek chorus of cheerleaders.

To pull off a show about the superficiality of modern youth in a glitzy musical format could fall flat on its face were it not for a brilliant set of lyrics. Okay, it’s not Sondheim, but take your eye off the ball for more than a second and you are bound to miss some of the best new lyrics sung on stage for some years.

Ray Quinn is suitably shallow in the role of the gilting lover, his voice a little thin and reedy. Iwan Lewis is superb as Emmett emerging swanlike from his geeky former self to steal the prize. Les Dennis as Professor Callahan once more shows that as a stage performer he can really hit the spot. Niki Evans as Paulette gives class to trailer park trash with a great performance and a thunderingly good voice.

Sadly the set doesn’t live up to the rest of the show and looks tired and flimsy, but that’s all that is flimsy about this rollicking good show, packed with laughs, great dancing and for once some memorable songs.

Theatre Royal Brighton, 13 March 2012

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