I approached this show with a degree of trepidation in that, although never having seen the film of the same name, I had read the blurb on Leeds Grand Theatre website in order to write my monthly theatre preview for Welcome To Leeds and discovered it to be aimed at the age demographic about half a century lower than mine. Still, I had enjoyed productions such as Heathers – which returns to the Grand on 1st September – and Waitress, so kept my mind open. My verdict at the end was that I highly recommend you go see it – Heathers that is. I must stress that this is my personal view as the target audience seemed to love it, but, I found it about as deep as a puddle in a drought. Having said that, it did give me food for thought, although I doubt it was meant to.
Normally I would complete at least a page of notes during a show but here my jotting amounted to one word, ‘dog’. I hasten to add that was not an abusive term for any of the human actors, but a reminder as to the cast member who stole the show, a small canine who suffered the indignity of being treated as a fashion accessory, but carried it off with aplomb. I was relieved that it was later joined by a bulldog so had an opportunity to have some, more appropriate, company.
Any colour you want as long as it’s pink. Amber Davies as Elle and Sprout as Bruiser.
The synopsis is that Elle, a fashionista, whose wardrobe comprised clothes as one-dimensional as she, all being pink, who was dating Warner, the son of an old established family, or as old established as you can get in USA. The spear side of his ancestry were all senators so he was being groomed to carry on the tradition. To this end he is about to study law at Harvard and arranges to meet our heroine, Elle – not to propose marriage as she had hoped – but to dump her because she is too shallow to conform to the image of a politician’s wife. The words pot, kettle and black sprang to my mind. Devastated, Elle decided that she should summon her, thus far, hidden intelligence and also apply to the same establishment and major in law too. She still, however, kept her cerise uniform and handbag hound, which attracted derision from her fellow students.
Jamie Chatterton as Warner and Amber Davies, Elle.
On arrival in Cambridge, she befriends Paulette, the owner of the local nail bar, obviously, and Emmett, a junior associate of Professor Callaghan, her tutor, who is strict, but greatly admired. Professor Callaghan is impressed by her individual take on the hypothetical cases she is asked to comment on, which results in her being engaged as one of his interns. Meanwhile Warner has also become engaged, but to another student on the course, Vivienne, who is much more suitable marriage material. This causes Elle to trade in her pink ensembles for more sober grey suits.
Karen Mavundukure as manicurist, Paulette and Amber Davies as Elle, wondering what colour nail varnish to use. Might I suggest pink.
Her first case involves a television personal trainer, Brooke, one of her role models, who has been charged with the murder of her husband. When the other lawyers in the practice fail to be able to help, as Brooke refuses to divulge her alibi, Elle obviously comes to the rescue, working out that it is her stepdaughter, Chutney, who has done the deed, being unable to cope with a new mother who is younger than she. Unfortunately Elle has upset Callahan by spurning his advances and so is sacked, meaning that Brooke is left without a defence. Emmett, who has started his own law firm, takes it up and appoints Elle as his junior. Brooke is obviously acquitted and the real culprit arrested. Now, free of the pressure of conforming, Elle reverts to the strawberry ice cream look.
Adam Cooper as Professor Callaghan with the cast of Legally Blonde.
Because of her impressive handling of the case, Elle is approached by Warner, who this time does want to propose as Vivienne has given him the elbow. Having come to her senses, however, she tells him to go and get elected. Throwing in her lot with Emmett and, presumably, living happily ever after.
George Crawford as Emmett with Amber Davies as Elle
As I have already made clear, the show is straight from the pages of Jackie magazine, which I have just found out closed down in 1993, with something called Girls’ Life filling the gap, but it bounces along harmlessly enough and some of the songs are superb, which I suppose is all you can expect of a musical. The acting was caricature US high school/college, being delivered at speed in voices which grated like a blackboard being scratched. If you don’t have to google ‘blackboard’ you probably won’t like it, whereas if you do, this will be right up your street.
The singing was a bit patchy but Amber Davies as Elle was brilliant and Karen Mavundukure, the manicurist, Paulette, was in a league of her own. absolutely amazing. The band, under Musical Director, Cerys McKenna, had the place rocking.
Left to right. Jocasta Almgill as Brooke; Deanna Bloomfield, Enid; James Lim as the Judge; Karen Mavundukure, Paulette; Annabelle Terry as Vivienne; Amber Davies as Elle and Sprout as Bruiser. The other character, Chutney at the rear, is not credited in the programme.
If you fancy an evening of undemanding entertainment and you are either in, or can identify with, the target audience, ignore the review of a cranky old man and go for it, you will probably have a blast.
Should you be looking for something with a more profound element, might I suggest that you contemplate the plot beyond what was presented. Is the moral of the story that you should be yourself regardless of what others think, or fit into a more conventional lifestyle?
At the end, although Elle has reverted to her pink outfits, she has still become a lawyer and got her man, another member of the legal profession, so chosen the mainstream albeit not with her intended target. Had she stayed totally true to herself and moved on from Warner, would she have been happier with her vacuous besties, indulging in a life of parties and photo opportunities, perhaps finding love with a male equivalent and making a fortune as an influencer? Who knows and, frankly, who cares?
Legally Blonde – The Musical, runs at Leeds Grand Theatre until Saturday, 13th June. For more details and booking – although you need to be quick as there is limited availability – go to https://leedsheritagetheatres.com/whats-on/legally-blonde-2026
To see what else is coming to Leeds Heritage Theatres, it is https://leedsheritagetheatres.com/whats-on/?genre=live
Photographs by Matt Crocket
Tyke It To The Limit 