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Home > Blogs > Arts and Entertainment > Archives > 2009 > June > 17 > Entry
‘Legally Blonde’ proves Elle-ctric
There’s still a gap between Elle Woods and Harvard University, but the spunky fictional character at the center of the live romantic musical comedy “Legally Blonde” is gaining ground on the bastion of American authenticity.
As Lauren Ashley Zarkin was the latest to prove Tuesday, June 16, on the national tour’s first night at the Schuster Performing Arts Center, Reese Witherspoon isn’t required to elicit the audience’s loyalty.
The part of the frivolous accessorized sorority girl who reinvents and proves herself after her society boyfriend dumps her for not being serious enough might make a rock smile at and care about her.
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Ms. Zarkin’s lively portrayal did nothing to squander that blessing. She looked the part, sang well, moved well and crackled with Ellectricity. It was occasionally a challenge to understand her lyrics, perhaps because speed and intensity of delivery seemed to take precedence.
Few stage musicals replicate the delight of the movies that spawned them. “Legally Blonde” is one of the few.
It makes up for a lack of outstanding songs with irrepressible Elle, a few others who exceed the stereotypes that inspired them, crisp and uncluttered staging, crowd-pleasing surprises (a song that asks whether a man is gay or simply European, for example) and formulaic winners (such as the hot delivery man and two cute dogs).
Besides Zarkin, standouts included Ken Land, whose rendition of “Blood in the Water” as law professor Callahan was the show’s best solo; Cortney Wolfson, Rhiannon Hansen and Crystal Joy as Elle’s supportive Delta Nu Greek chorus of Serena, Margot and Pilar; Coleen Sexton (who leads the jump rope number “Whipped Into Shape”) as workout icon Brooke Wyndham, and D.B. Bonds, although he is almost too nice a guy to make a strong enough impression as Elle’s eventual love interest Emmett Forrest.
If you saw and loved the movie, you should love this version of “Legally Blonde.” If you somehow missed it and the sequel, you’ll still get basically the same entertaining experience here.
Harvard isn’t exactly quaking at the prospect, but Elle Woods is becoming an institution of her own.
“Legally Blonde” will continue through Sunday, June 21, at the Schuster Center, Second and Main streets. Tickets for the Victoria Theatre Association’s Chase Broadway Series presentation are $34-$84.50 at (937) 228-3630, toll free at (888) 228-3630 or online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Review, Theater
Comments
By karine
June 20, 2009 11:56 PM | Link to this
lauren is the best as elle woods and it’s very sad we cannot take picture or meet them or otograph will be proud to have a picture with her to put on my wall in my home will be nice to have it in dvd with lauren as elle and rihanon as margotBy Tina Lane
June 21, 2009 9:29 PM | Link to this
I enjoyed these photos. Is that Elle’s dog immortalized in an ice sculpture?