Legally Blonde

Once again Darlington presented another first class production, in which there were many outstanding performances. The night I attended  Claire Willmer  played 'Elle Woods' very confidently (Rachel Slattery playing Elle, I have no doubts equally confidently on other occasions.) Nicholas  Holmes was outstanding playing  'Emmett Forrest', he really has a lovely  singing voice, and was a perfect match for Elle.

The show opens at the Delta Nu sorority house in UCLA - Elle is expecting 'Warner Huntington', played by Michael Hirst,  to propose to her over a romantic dinner. However, he tells her he is looking for a serious girlfriend  that will help him to succeed in Law as he leaves to go to Harvard Law School leaving Elle broken hearted. She decides to follow him to Harvard and get admitted where she meets up with 'Professor Callahan' brilliantly played by Julian  Cound. Elle is alarmed at her snobby class mates who disapprove of her pink attire and her lovely little dog, Bruiser. She finds Warner has a new love  'Vivienne  Kensington' well played by Hannah  Gawthorpe. Elle then surmises her Blonde hair is holding her back,  but 'Paulette ? Bonafonte’ - in another outstanding performance by Hayley  Walker - warns her of changing and invites her to a costume party. Elle arrives dressed as  a Playboy Bunny girl, and tries to win over Warner but fails, however, Elle finally defeats him in a classroom debate and ends up helping Paulette with her courtroom problems. Emmett persuades  her that things are not to bad and Elle feels much better.

The second half begins with 'Brook Wyndham' (the fitness Guru), very well played by Karen Stone, aided by the chorus getting 'Whipped into shape' in a really excellently performed ensemble number - the whips were all together and very well  done indeed. In a courtroom scene where Brooke is accused of murdering  her husband Brooke tells Elle that she has been framed with Elle keeping Brooke's secret as she tries to get  her out of the jail.

Paulette and the  girls then convince Elle to go back to her pink dress and go back to the courtroom where Brooke fires  Callahan and takes on Elle as her attorney alongside Emmett. Eventually after many accusations Elle realises she she is not in love with Warner and Harvard Law has given her confidence she will find her own way. In the end she proposes to Emmett and he accepts.  Other outstanding performances were from Luke Oldfield as 'Kyle' the delivery man whose role involved mainly carrying a large box round the stage. 

There were many small parts well played by Zoe Kent, Samantha  Morrison (Elle’s Mum), and Alistair Wilson (Elle’s  Dad),.Paul Fothergill & Neil Harland.  I do apologise if I have missed anyone of the principals out, it really was a well sung show, and the new Musical Director John Hudson  did a first class job in this, his first  show with DOS. The one person who deserves much of the credit is the director  Joanne Hand for directing this new very lively show. Very  well done  Darlington and we look forward to seeing you in your new temporary venue at  Yarm.

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