Legally Blonde: The Musical (2007)

I reviewed the musical adaptation of Legally Blonde back when I first got the cast recording, which was admittedly long after the show came out. (I’m sorry, Laurence O’Keefe, I didn’t know it was one of yours!) But now I’ve seen the live recording of the original cast that was filmed for MTV of all places—the video is still floating around on the wild internet, and while its quality is a little sketchy, it was still a lot of fun to see a video of this production.

Malibu sorority girl Elle Woods is shocked to be dumped by her boyfriend as he prepares for Harvard Law, citing that he needs a more “serious” girl to fit his vision for his future.  Determined not to be counted out, Elle works her way into Harvard Law as well in the hopes of winning him back.  Along the way, she faces classmates and professors who doubt her ability to hack it and, as she works to prove them wrong, discovers a passion for law she didn’t know she had.

More professionally recorded theatre in the world is always a good thing, so I’m glad that this was made and very pleased to find that it still exists somewhere. The production is highly entertaining, with fabulous costumes/quick changes and fun choreography from Elle’s “Greek chorus” of sorority sisters. The staging made songs that were just fine on the cast recording pop more, like Brooke doing her jump rope aerobics routine in the prison for “Whipped into Shape” and the mythic portrayal of the department store for “Take It Like a Man.”

But of course, my favorites from the score are really well done too. It was great to watch songs like “Omigod You Guys,” “So Much Better,” and “Legally Blonde,” both the quieter version between Elle and Emmett and the more anthemic group number. And even though Emmett can definitely be A Problem in some of his attitudes toward Elle, I can’t be mad at “Chip on My Shoulder.” There’s plenty of big acting, understandably, but the more serious moments are given appropriate space to breathe.

Obviously, Laura Bell Bundy isn’t Reese Witherspoon, but she makes a good Elle, a delightful ditz who goes after what she wants with inexhaustible tenacity. With her performance, the airhead moments are funny without diminishing the admirable parts of Elle’s character. I’m always a sucker for Christian Borle, and while I’d rather watch him in Falsettos as Marvin any day (another character with issues, but such a fascinating one,) he does great as Emmett. And on a basic level, it’s just wild to see him play a role originated by Luke Wilson in the movie. Another Marvin, the O.G. Michael Rupert, is in fine voice and sufficiently slippery as Professor Callahan, and Orfeh is a hoot as Elle’s hairstylist friend Paulette. Again, the Greek chorus adds a lot of energy and fun to their scenes, and it tickled me to realize one of them is played by a young Annaleigh Ashford!

Warnings

Sexual references/sensuality, language, drinking, and thematic elements (including sexual harassment.)