Legally Blonde - The Musical

Legally Blonde -The Musical staged by Dream Academy of Arts at The Theatre Royal, Corporation Street, St. Helens on Sunday, 21st August, 2022.

Legally Blonde is a 2007 musical; music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Neil Benjamin and book by Heather Hach.  Based on the novel Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown and the award-winning film of the same name; it tells the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrols at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend. Discovering how her knowledge of the law can help others, Elle successfully defends Exercise Queen, Brook Wyndham in a murder trial. Few people have faith in Elle, but she defies expectations whilst staying true to herself!

It was the 23rd August, 2019, almost three years to the day, since I last had the privilege and pleasure of attending the Theatre Royal in St Helens to watch RTDA perform The Sound of Music; much has changed since then, including their name… from ‘RTDA’ (Royal T Drama Academy) to ‘Dream Academy of Arts’, but what had not changed was the abundance of young talented performers on view. This was a high-energy, fast-moving show with a cast of thirty-seven, who were well-rehearsed, looked happy, engaged and as soon as those ‘lights came up’, were prepared to give us their all and you cannot ask more than that.  Keeping these young people on the ‘straight and narrow’ we had Harry Moore (Director/Musical Director) and Sophie Thow (Co-Director) who should take a great deal of credit for what we saw that afternoon. We also had Lauren Wootton (Choreographer) who’s simple yet effective choreography played to the strengths and abilities of the entire cast and enhanced the show so much... well done guys, with so many on stage with such differing ages and abilities this must have been a real challenge… a challenge that you accepted and achieved… be ever so proud!

Anyone familiar with my reviews, will know that this is where I usually ‘stick my neck out’ and start identifying MY favourite performances… but this feels slightly inappropriate here!  There is little or no doubt in my mind that to stage this musical successfully requires exceptional people in the lead roles and ‘Dream Academy of Arts’ had those people front and centre… but when you see ‘thirty-seven’ excited, enthusiastic, eager young people’ who, to a member sang, danced and acted their hearts out, it really is difficult to start identifying individuals without perhaps doing injustice to others!  So, if I may, can I please introduce you to the ‘cast’ of ‘Legally Blonde’…
The Chorus… Ruben Singh, Priya Singh, James Topping, Jason Mercier, Natasha Wilde, Mia Hurst, Olivia Mullins, Billie Curran, Febo Troilo, Charlotte Pennington, Isabella Pennington, Keira Bowles, Isabel Fawcett, Alice Achilles, Jessica Forester, Eloise Forester, Grace Halliwell, Tillie Hussey, Nicole Robinson, Cerys May, Isobel Ford, Emma Fildes, James Morris, Masie Evans-Smith and Ewan Donohue.

The Principals… ‘Pilar’, ‘Margot’ and ‘Serena’ our ‘Delta-Nu’ sorority girls were played really well by Iris Wall, Ava Wall and Ella Hatton respectively.  Individually good, together as a team excellent… be ever so proud girls!  Jacob Sayer, took on the role of ‘Kyle’ the UPS Delivery Driver with Irish heritage who became not only the subject of Paulette’s affections, but her dream guy! Great job Jacob, loved the wink and gesture as you exited!  Alix Dixon’s portrayal of the strong-willed feminist law student ‘Enid Hoopes’, was great; good stage presence, never out of character, looked the part… be ever proud young lady!   Amy Hurst took on the role of ‘Brooke Wyndham’, the ‘fitness guru’ with a dark secret and on trial for murder.  Amy looked comfortable in this role and made it her own, loved the ‘Whipped into Shape’ song and dance… well done young Amy, be proud!  Leon Foster took on the role of ‘Warner Huntington III’, Elle’s boyfriend, who dumps her!  Good job… be proud young man!  I wanted to end with a ‘fab four’ but try as I may… had to go with my ‘favourite five’! Jack Jones did a great job with the role of the sleazy ‘Prof Callaghan’, a ruthless law tutor who offers Elle a ’leg up’ to her career, another with great stage presence, great characterisation… be proud jack, good job!  Molly Lowe looked so comfortable as the jovial hairdresser ‘Paulette’, good stage presence, good characterisation, loved her rendition of ‘Ireland’... well done Molly, good job!  ‘Vivienne Kensington’, the strong independent law student who gets engaged to Elle’s Ex... was played ever so well by Charlotte Magowan, stage presence aplenty, perfect diction and blessed with a wonderful singing voice; looked totally comfortable throughout in this role... be ever so proud Charlotte, great job!  I tossed and turned as to ‘Show Stealer’ - ‘Emmett’ or ‘Elle’ … Lewis Canning did an exceptional job with the role of ‘Emmett Forrest’ the sensitive law student who helps and falls in love with ‘Elle’. Lewis is blessed with great stage presence and was a perfect fit for this role.  There was believable chemistry between himself and Elle be ever so proud Lewis super job!   But the ‘show stealer’ for me was our female lead Alanna Brereton who took on the role ‘Elle Woods’.  The part of ‘Elle’ means that you are rarely off stage, you need to be able to deal with the rigours of so many ‘quick changes’, but from Alanna’s first entrance, which set the tone, she never looked phased, took everything in her stride, never out of character, add to that great powerful singing voice and the chemistry, not only with Lewis but the rest of the cast… all this adds up to a wonderful job Alanna… be ever so proud! 

PS: I mentioned above about the ‘excited, enthusiastic, eager young people’ … I really can’t move on without making ‘special mention’ about two young girls/sisters from the chorus… Isabella and Charlotte Pennington (7yrs and 11yrs respectively) … who from their first entrance to their last exit… never stopped smiling, never stopped dancing, never stopped giving their all!  Oh, to be young again… be ever so proud girls, we could all learn so much from you two!

The staging was effective and enhanced the production as did the lighting.  The sound for me was a problem!  Those with personal microphones were crystal clear, those without we did struggle hear! I know that cost will probably be an issue, but the Theatre Royal is a large auditorium, so for young people to be heard without ‘mics’ was a cause for concern.

Costumes were fabulous and enhanced the show as were the props, which were used well and were apt!

Last, but certainly not least… Chaperones!  When you have thirty-seven young people in a production, you really do need solid people around who will ensure that those young people are properly looked after and supervised. Being a registered chaperone myself I’m more than aware of the challenges that these roles can and do throw up… but without you… this show would not have reached the stage!  I’m not aware of your names, but can I just say to each and every one of you congrats and well done! 

Thank you so much for a wonderful afternoon which my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed.  Thanks to Harry Moore for his welcome and for introducing Lauren Wootton to me during the interval, really appreciated. It’s so great to see you guys back on stage doing what you do best… can’t wait to see you all again soon!

Keep well and Stay Safe……

Jim Briscoe
NODA NW
District 6 Rep

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