Legally Blonde

Yes it’s fun, funny, and almost frantic as the Delta Nu troop, seemingly tirelessly working so hard that even we (the audience) are as exhausted as they are! Some great moves from the D N girls combined with a chorus to make any show a success. We loved the characters and the way differing personas were revealed to make us laugh – mostly!  OK there were some key roles to ensure success and none more so than Elle Woods (Polly Woodward) with a performance and singing to leave us open mouthed in admiration. She would not be out of place on a West End stage. Her contribution cannot be over stated. We had of course an equally talented supporting cast with style a plenty! Emmett Forest (Tom Guttridge) a very believable would be suitor with a great singing voice. Warner Huntington III (Lewis Caplin) the suitably arrogant and social climbing ex boyfriend who gets his ‘come uppance’! Prof Callahan(Jimmy Atkin) with an almost too likeable demeanour which made his attempt to molest Elle even more shocking. Adding a necessary touch of humour was Paulette ( Harriet Shields) with a lovely self deprecating performance and a  particularly memorable song and dance number ‘Bend and Snap’. But the comedy scene stealing has to go to Delivery man Kyle (Chris Penn) who with an ultra camp style and a wicked twinkle in his eye, made the most of his albeit brief entrances (and even briefer shorts!) squeezing every ounce of laughter from his perhaps too distracting antics, much appreciated by Paulette, who eventually marries him! A marriage made in heaven it seems!

There were many well portrayed cameo roles including Vivienne Kensington (Dayna Williams) especially as a witness with attitude at the trial and Judy Mars with four named parts but particularly as the learned Judge! The counter snobbish style of Brooke Wyndham ( Louise Clarke) was just right, and her work with a Miss Whiplash flavour in the  ‘Whipped Into Shape’ opening to Act2  was a real eye opener! The Company and Delta Nu girls gave this show that extra ‘oomph’, which is sometimes missing from company numbers, with some excellent creative choreography.

I return again however to Polly Woodward who made Elle her own and deserves every accolade that she will receive as the undoubted star of this show.

 The set was as usual well conceived, if a little ‘outdoors’ on occasion. Costumes worked well and allowed for individual ensemble members to have an identity which is a bonus for those who cannot always receive an individual mention...trust me its what makes a show special! Some lovely moments to savour in another first class production from The Players. We await ‘Grease’ at their own Players Theatre with anticipation...and indeed ‘Sister Act’ next year. Make sure you book early!

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