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Review: Legally Blonde, Liverpool Empire
Would like to write this review properly; can’t quite come off the Legally Blonde high enough to come down. This seems to be what happens to a person. MADEUP probably shouldn’t be a first timer in this regard but it’s true – and it turns out nobody could deny the ruthless charm assault an LB virgin can enjoy.
This latest touring production – last seen in Liverpool in summer – more than justifies a welcome return. An infectious, addictive, wonderful show, it pulls out all the stops. If you missed it last time, catch it now. Crammed with local talent (see my last post) and bursting with musicality and heart, this is a show that just fizzes with energy. If it didn’t, it wouldn’t work.
The adaptation of the story about a fun-loving blonde who works her way into Harvard Law School to win back an ex is just fantastic; not a musical cliché to be found. Everywhere you think Legally Blonde might go, it throws you a curveball. For a musical, it’s refreshing, tonnes of fun, and it’s completely inspirational theatre. The show is full of energy, to the extent that no minute in its company seems too long.
Faye Brookes has been in the lead role of Elle since July last year, yet still sparkles from start to finish despite being on stage for practically the whole time. As for the ‘Scouse Mafia’ now among the cast, Ray Quinn is the stand out, really given his chance to shine vocally on numbers such as Serious (although his moves were very nifty in Grease last year, a bad mix meant his voice wasn’t really coming across); Claire Sweeney is a charmer as Paulette; and the ever-enthusiastic Les Dennis needs to find his nasty side a little more to make the most of Professor Callahan. Because his character, unlike others, has no on-stage redemption where it all comes good in the end, a little more hammy menace in the time he’s got would go a long way. Our UPS guy (Lewis Griffiths), Brooke Wyndham (Hannah Glover) and bad gal Vivienne (Charlotte Harwood) stood out among an extremely competent supporting cast.
In the end though, it would, really, be more interesting to read a snarky review from someone who hated this show, but you’d surely have a job finding them. If you’ve not seen it, go. You’ve got until Saturday.
- 8 February 2012
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