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REVIEW OF LEGALLY BLONDE
ANDERSON DODD shares his thoughts on "Legally Blonde".
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I recently saw Legally Blonde. Not on stage but on MTV, but I still got to see this show. The show is very pop, very that-show-that-shall-not-be-named demographically based. But the difference, as the Amazon review says, is a big one. And it is!
The musical is very poppy but the songs are really good. The opening song (Omigod you guys) is a stellar of a song. And, unlike that show, the song sets up a boat load of information. From the possible engagement of Elle to Warner, to the fact that she is a blonde person who only likes pink, to the fact the she is in college, to the fact the she is in a sorority, to…. The list can go on and on. And this is just from the first song!
I will not spoil any information for those who have not seen the movie, which is very much like the stage show, but Elle, the lead character, goes off to Harvard, were they sing a marvelous song called Blood in the Water which also sets up information that is carried all the way to the surprise ending. The show’s Popular is Ireland which, unlike Popular, actually moves the show along and sets up even more information. The ending is a bit Chick Flick but there is something there for everyone. They have plenty of winks and nudges and a few out right references.
I don’t know if it will transfer to the UK, the plot is deeply rooted in American pop culture. The surprising thing is that the story of the film, which some credit as fluffy and not very deep, was strengthened and broadened for the stage. Elle and her love interest have a deeper and fuller relationship so that the ending can be more believable. And they have this hilarious thing with a Greek Chorus of sorority girls because “Every tragedy must have a Greek chorus!” as they say.
The only downer in the entire show was the fact that the hairstylist character could have been much more fleshed out and that her interest in the UPS man was a little fluffy, but it is overridden by the fact that the rest of the story is very deep.
The set was stunning. The coolest bit was when Elle went on a shopping trip and an entire store, complete with wooden doors and cloths came on stage from above. It was really spectacular. The funniest bit is when they are in a court room and this man is called on stage who might be gay (or European as the song goes for they bring up their boys differently over there) and it turns out he is gay. Then the stage proscenium arch lights up with rainbow colors and flashes as the two gay men go off. The show is very relevant, and has several political markers which I will not go into for the review is already far too long.
I think that everyone should at least get the CD. And then pray that it comes on TV again or that they release the DVD
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