Let's get Pink! Legally Blonde – The Musical

Based on the extremely successful movie (starring Reese Witherspoon) this musical comedy tells the story of Elle Woods, the ravishing and oh-so-pink sorority president and calendar girl, who is a big hit on the campus of her sun-drenched Los Angeles college. She’s also got the perfect boyfriend in Warner Huntington III, a wealthy East Coast blue blood.
But Warner dumps her before heading off to graduate law school at Harvard University because he fears that his snooty friends and family will never accept the bubble-headed Elle. Determined to win back her man, Elle enrols in the same imposing institution, quickly becoming an object of scorn and ridicule, especially to Warner’s old prep school flame.
Despite her penchant for malls, makeup, and tanning, Elle is no dummy and is soon showing the elite Ivy League snobs a thing or two about class, self-confidence, and courtroom victory.
Legally Blonde – The Musical, is based on the novel of the same name by Amanda Brown. With music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin and the book by Heather Hach, the musical has been staged all around the world. Legally Blonde – The Musical has won many awards including several Laurence Olivier Awards and was voted Best New Musical in 2011. The Australian production opened at the Lyric Theatre, Sydney, on October 4, 2012.
Joining Lucy Durack as Elle, were her fellow Wicked co-stars Rob Mills (as Warner) and David Harris (as Emmett). Supermodel Erika Heynatz made her musical theatre debut as Brooke Wyndham, and Cameron Daddo returned to the Australian stage to play Professor Callahan. The production concluded its run at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre on July 14, 2013, winning five Helpmann Awards including Best Musical.
This enegetic and colourful production by Ballarat Lyric welcomes to the stage many talented actors, some of whom come straight from recent award-winning shows: The Phantom of the Opera and Hairspray. Among the quirky characters are Elle Woods [Jess Barlow], Emmett Forrest [Josh Vucicevic], Warren Huntington III [Eddie Orton], Professor Callahan [David Postill], Brooke Wyndham [Jess Oliver], Paulette Buonofuonte [Carla White], Enid Hoopes [Abigail Grace], and Vivienne Kensington [Candice Sweetman].
Carla White received the 2014 Music Theatre Guild of Victoria Award for Excellence as Lead Female and Jess Barlow was nominated for Supporting Female role twice [for two different shows in the same year!]
Carla says, “The role of Paulette was one that I had my eye on for the last couple of years. It’s a role that sits close to my heart given there is such similarity between the character and me as a person. Oh, and her songs are a whole heap of fun too!
“Given the number of productions that were set to take place in Melbourne during 2015, I followed my love for Ballarat and decided to audition for Ballarat Lyric’s production. It was an opportunity to meet new people and work with a new company.”
The show’s strong creative team is lead by David Harford, the award-winning director and choreographer of Cats (2007) and Hairspray (2012), with Hugh McKelvey making a welcome return as Music Director. Rodney Green has once again designed fabulous outfits following his outstanding creations for Lyric’s last show, The Phantom of the Opera, which received the Theatre Guild Award for Technical Excellence last year. Set design is by Nathan Weyers.
During the past six months the cast have rehearsed up to three times a week and sung a combined total of over a million notes, driven a combined distance equal to halfway around the world and rehearsed a combined total of more than 4000 hours!
Pink’ll do that to you!
WHERE: Her Majesty’s Theatre. 17 Lydiard Street South, Ballarat
WHEN: 20 February – 8 March
TIX: 5333 5888
ONLINE BOOKING: www.hermaj.com
By Sue Rawkins