By Sandi Masori
SAN DIEGO — One of the most anticipated (by me) shows of the season is finally here. The musical adaptation of Legally Blonde is a fun pink-fest that is sure to delight.
For those who haven’t seen the 2001 movie starring Reese Witherspoon, the basic plot is that California sorority girl Elle Woods (Johnisa Breault) gets jilted by her boyfriend Warner (Eli Wood) because she’s a “Marilyn” when he needs a “Jackie” and decides to follow him to Harvard to prove how serious she is.
Somehow she manages to get accepted as a student and makes her way across the country. Once at Harvard she quickly realizes that it’s going to take more than good looks to make her mark. After a bumpy start she wins a coveted internship and gets placed on the law team defending a fitness guru on trial for murder.
The play diverges from the movie in many ways but stays true to the spirit of it. The important scenes are all there, like the “Bend and snap” number, the creative (but different) outing of the pool boy, and the epilogue (which is one of the reasons I love the movie so much, I always love a good epilogue).
There’s even a Jewish moment in the opening song, when Elle’s friend Serena (Sophia Larosh) wishes her Mazal Tov on her expected upcoming engagement.
My favorite scene is the funny and energetic “Is he gay or European” number which takes place in the courtroom. It’s toe-tapping and a bit ear-wormy, so be warned you may go home singing it.
Eli Wood (no relation to fictional character Elle Woods) delivers a stellar performance as Warner, and equity actor Bethany Slomka nails the role of Paulette (and wow! What a voice). Breault does a good job as Elle, but I felt that her performance gave more of a Disney Princess energy to the character, rather than the blonde bombshell energy the character requires. Audrey Deubig plays Elle’s friend Margot, and is the understudy for Elle, and I have to admit that she actually brings the blonde bombshell energy I was looking for in Elle, and I would love to see her portrayal of the lead role. Megan Chua as Elle’s friend Pilar also deserves recognition. One more standout is Robert J. Townsend, who plays Professor Callahan. Incidentally, Townsend is also the drama teacher for Westview High School, whose student Shira Ehrlich was nominated for one of the coveted Broadway San Diego Awards.
The sets are all pink, which makes this pink lover’s eyes very happy, though I’m guessing Harvard never imagined one of their classrooms being all pink like that. Tables and benches are moved around the stage to create the various settings like the beauty parlor, the classroom, the sorority house, and the courtroom.
One of the things that San Diego Musical Theater does for every show is pick a charity to donate some of the proceeds to. For this production they partnered with Girls Rising- Women Emerging.
Overall the show is whimsical and fun and will leave you with a smile. There is some language and innuendo, so consider that before bringing the little ones.
Legally Blonde plays through June 2nd.
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Sandi Masori is a theater and restaurant reviewer for San Diego Jewish World