Legally Blonde

Omigod! Omigod! Omigod! This show proved that one should never judge a book by its cover. The stereotype of “dumb blonde” is now jettisoned for ever. I must confess that I was unaware of the film on which this musical was based, but it obviously had a following which meant lots of people, mainly under 40 I would guess, flocked to King’s Theatre for the eight performances (2 Weds, 2 Fri, 2 Sat!), giving record numbers.  As always, the cast showed skill in singing and moving in a bright feel-good show with some very funny moments. Jenni Mills (Elle Woods) showed her experience gained on many stages local and abroad to great effect, and Johnny Collins (Emmett) was a very worthy co-lead. Antony Irwin played the stuffed-shirt Warner, loser in so many areas because of ambition and snobbery, with Sheona Proven (Vivienne) playing his nasty girlfriend. 

Melanie Taylor (Paulette) and Mark Long (Kyle) provided much humour as hairdresser and Irish UPS driver, Gary Bennet was strict legal boss Callahan and Vicki Robertson (Brooke) the eventual cause of Elle’s transformation and victory. Throughout, Elle was helped by her ‘Greek Chorus’ of fellow students from her pre-Harvard college Delta Nu, and hindered by many Harvard fellow students, in this large cast of 26 named principals and 28 in the Ensemble — not forgetting the two dogs, who as usual drew many Oohs and Aahs from the audience.

Pantheon Club, seldom afraid to step into the unknown, already has booked three shows in 2016 and one in 2017, along with in-house workshops and small productions, giving scope for a never-ending, ever-changing membership all working extremely hard to provide the best they can.

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