Legally Blonde - The Musical

Legally Blonde a musical presented by St Ambrose Players at ‘St Ambrose Halls4Hall’, Moss Lane, Leyland on Friday, 12th May, 2023.

Legally Blonde is a 2007 musical; with 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 in an attempt to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner Huntington III. 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!

The Production Team… Sarah White (Director) and Alison Griffiths-Barnes (Assistant Director), Carole Unitt (Choreographer) and Joe Martin (Musical Director) were the people chosen to put the ‘BEND AND SNAP’ into this fabulously funny award-winning musical!  After reading Sarah’s programme notes you could just tell that this had been a real ‘team effort’ getting this musical to stage… that effort being provided not only by the ‘Production Team’, but by the Back Stage Team, Tech Team, Front of House and the Cast all pulling together!  Before I close this section, can I make ‘special mention’ of Carole Unitt.  I’m told Legally Blonde will be Carole’s last production as choreographer, so what a way to ‘go out’!  Carole provided us with some creative and inventive choreography that played to the strengths of everyone involved… be proud Carole, great job… happy retirement!  Sarah, Alison, Carole, Joe, everyone, be proud of what you helped achieve, all that effort truly paid off!

The Cast…  ‘Energy, effort, enthusiasm’ was the order of the day here at St Ambrose!  I love ‘Legally Blonde’, love the story, love the music, unlike the Mayor, who was also present the evening I went to see the production, who’d never seen the film nor the stage musical before, I’ve seen the film and Legally Blonde II so many times, plus I’ve seen the stage show five times in the past twelve months and I think I’m due to see it twice more before the end of the year … which is not a problem, I just love it and St Ambrose did it proud!  So, where to start… let’s start by identifying MY favourite performances… MY fav’s… ask anyone else present and they may well select others… but this is ME!  ‘Show Stealer’ … Mikey Coleman and his portrayal of ‘Emmett Forrest’ the smart, charming, quirky law student who was one of the first to befriend Elle at Harvard!  Mikey looked totally comfortable in this role, stage presence aplenty, loved the characterisation, the empathy between he and Elle was authentic, be ever so proud Mickey, great job!  Following closely behind Mikey was Rachel Cooper who took on the lead role of ‘Elle Woods’ and Alison Griffith-Barnes who took on the role of ‘Paulette’.  ‘Elle’ is never off stage; this is a huge role which Rachel looked perfectly at ease with, another with great stage presence who brought all the characteristics and mannerisms you would expect of Elle Woods.  Well done, Rachel, great job!   I love the character ‘Paulette Bonafonte’ the quirky, dog loving hairdresser with the ‘biggest of hearts’…  Alison created, with ease, the larger-than-life character that this role demands!  Great stage presence, good comedic timing… loved the ‘eyes’, ‘facial expressions’ and the ‘mannerisms’… good singing voice, loved her rendition of ‘Ireland’ well done Alison, great job!  Jennie Barnes took on the role of the suspected murderess ‘Brooke’ again great stage presence, great dancing ability, the ’gym scene’ and the song ‘Whipped into Shape’ were both exhausting and enjoyable to watch... be proud Jennie!  ‘Delta-Nu’ sorority girls/ ‘Greek Chorus’ were led really well by Kimberley Barker - ‘Serena’; Phreya Unitt – ‘Margot’ and Samantha Fogg – ‘Pilar’… they brought so much energy to the stage. Individually good and as a unit slick, great dancers, and energy, energy, energy … be proud ladies! Beth Wharton took on the role of the strong independent ‘Vivienne Kensington’… the ‘new love’ in Warner’s life!  Beth had great stage presence and produced a totally believable character … be proud young lady!  Steven Barnes took on the role of the sleazy ‘Prof Callaghan’, a ruthless law tutor who offers Elle a ’leg up’ in her career, good job!  Jack Vardy took on the role of ‘Warner Huntington’, Elle’s ‘Ex’, good stage presence, good characterisation, well done Jack!  Emily Griffiths portrayed the strong-willed feminist law student ‘Enid Hoopes’, really well, good characterisation, good stage presence, looked the part… be proud!   And then we had Paul Regan who took on two roles, (‘Kyle & Winthrop’) the notable one and the one that I want to highlight was ‘Kyle’, the UPS Delivery Driver with Irish heritage who became not only the subject of Paulette’s affections but her dream guy!  How to make a ‘cameo role’ into a ‘crowd pleaser’ …  you need the ‘gait’ or shall we call it the ‘strut’, the mannerisms and the ‘package’ … a real crowd favourite and the Irish Dance… got some of your mum’s genes there Paul… be ever so proud!    The Ensemble … Lauryn Parker (Kate/Greek Chorus); Kerry Chippendale (Stenog/Greek Chorus); Megan Torkington (Reporter/Greek Chorus); Ruby Thompson (Greek Chorus); Izzie Tennant (Chutney/ Kiki); Jonathan Holmes (Chad/Dewey/Carlos); Ciaran McGhee (Elle’s Dad/ Lowell/Aaron Schilt); Aaron Ferguson (Padamadan/Jet Blue Pilot/Nikos); Jenny Harbottle (Gaelen/Whitney / Bookish Client); Rebecca Moran (Sales Woman/D.A.Joyce Riley); Nicola Preston (Store Manager/Judge); Laura Ashworth (Elle’s Mum); Mac McCormack (Pfarzheimer/Prison Guard); Jamie-Lee Holmes (Laker Girl/H&S Sales Girl); Paige Sanders (D.A’s Assistant/Waitress) and Chloe Swinglehurst (Reporter) … great jobs folks!

Staging/Set/Tech…  I really am beginning to run out of ‘superlatives’ to describe the efforts of the Stage Management team here at St Ambrose. Their designs, their creativity and their ability to build imaginative inventive sets that always work and which affords the actors everything they really need to do ‘their thing’ is amazing!  This was another set built totally in house which allowed scene changes to be completed quickly, quietly and effectively…. congrats, as always to Graham Forrest (Stage Manager and Set Designer), Paul Gregson (Assist Set Design /set building and painting) along with the experienced Tony Stevens, Gordon Manley, Martin Dempsey, Steven Barnes, Kerry Chippendale, and David White…. well done folks another great job… be ever so proud!   Lighting…  was simple yet effective in the capable hands of Stephen Porter   Sound… Ryan Scott was the person tasked with looking after the on-stage sound. St Ambrose Halls4Hall isn’t the best venue for acoustics, but Ryan did make a really good job of it!  But… we did have some issues with ‘sound levels and balance’ between the orchestra and the cast (singers), which I believe, wasn’t under Ryan’s control!  Many of the songs, even the chorus numbers were overpowered by mainly the percussion!  It's not very often I feel it a necessity to speak with a director or choreographer other than to say thanks and congrats, but I really did feel the need to advise about this, in a hope that it could be addressed for the remaining performances.  I felt so sorry for the cast, who, you could tell were giving their all… but honestly, I found it so difficult hearing most of what was being sung, which was a real shame!  Orchestra’s / bands are there to accompany a cast … not dominate!  The only song I heard fully was ‘Ireland’ sung by Alison Griffiths-Barnes, not because Alison was louder than everyone else, but because there was little or no percussion involved. Sorry to have felt the need raise this issue and I’m aware that St. Ambrose were already dealing!  
 
Wardrobe… costumes were perfect and in keeping with the period… provided by the cast, Sarah White and Jean Lee. Props… apt and used well… under the watchful eyes of Tony Stevens, Sarah White and Alison Griffith-Barnes.

If the reactions and the applause that greeted the finale and many times before from the societies loyal supporters were anything to go by… then this was another successful production for St Ambrose. Well done to one and all be ever so proud

Thanks again for inviting me and my wife to your production… it’s always a pleasure to come to St Ambrose, already looking forward to ‘Enchanted April’ … thanks again!

Stay safe, keep well…
‘Stronger Together’.

Jim Briscoe

NODA NW
District 6 Rep

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