Theater Review - Legally Blonde the Musical
National Tour Starring Becky Gulsvig as Elle Woods
May 23, 2009
More and more movies seem to be finding their way to the stage these days, and the results have been both very good and very bad. Legally Blonde the Musical falls somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. It’s entertaining and fun, but it’s not likely to keep drawing audiences year after year.
The musical version of Legally Blonde closely follows the movie, adding some musical numbers along the way. Some of the songs are unnecessary (“Blood in the Water,” “The Harvard Variations”) or seem to go on too long (“What You Want,” “Chip on My Shoulder”) but they’re all entertaining. And if you’re not humming or singing “Omigod You Guys” as you leave the theater, you must not have been listening.
Get Excited with Elle
The enjoyment that an audience member derives from watching Legally Blonde, however, comes not from the songs themselves but from the performers. The members of the national touring company appear to be having the time of their lives, and the audience can’t help but get caught up in that good time with them.
Becky Gulsvig dominates the stage as Elle Woods, making the character her own instead of trying to impersonate Reese Witherspoon (although she does look like her). Her voice is reminiscent of Kristin Chenoweth’s, and her comic timing is excellent. While Gulsvig is undoubtedly a star, there are several other standouts in the cast.
Legally Blonde’s Legal Team
As Brooke Wyndham, Coleen Sexton shows off both a hot bod and strong voice, and a entire number that requires her to jump rope and sing at the same time appears effortless. D.B. Bonds displays endless charm as Emmett, and Megan Lewis is the perfect mean girl as Vivienne — and her solo toward the end of the show is spectacular.
Natalie Joy Johnson is hilarious as the ditzy Paulette, and her song “Ireland” —although it seems to come out of nowhere — is a showcase for her powerful voice. The biggest laughs in the show come from an actor in one of the smaller roles: As sexy UPS guy Kyle, Ven Daniel cracks the audience up every time he struts across the stage. And he turns out to be quite a dancer too.
And if you’re not impressed with human cast members, the show also features two very well trained dogs. And if the sight of a Chihuahua jumping into a basket doesn’t melt your heart, you probably shouldn’t see Legally Blonde the Musical. It’s hard not to enjoy this show, but it’s easy to forget it once you’ve left the theater.
