‘Omigod you guys!’… Legally Blonde The Musical has landed in York, and it’s serving law, looks and a whole lot of laughs – as this cult classic bursts onto the Grand Opera House York stage.
From Broadway to West End and multiple tours later, this fun-loving show returns ready to entertain, now bursting with a fresh flair and infectious energy. ‘Gen Z enthusiasm’, as quoted directly from the amended script, has never felt more relevant. Whilst there may be some early hesitancy towards Nikolai Foster’s approach, there is no doubt these decisions are a roaring success.
‘What, like it’s hard?’ declares our leading lady, Woods comma Elle, as she follows heartbreak to the hallowed halls of Harvard Law School. Her determination propels her on an unexpected legal journey, and with her Greek chorus behind her and Emmett, the hard-working teaching assistant, by her side, there is nothing she can’t set her mind to.
Even as a long-time fan, it’s easy to forget just how many numbers are sewn into the fabric of the show, each brought to life by Leah Hill’s choreography. Gone is the purely jazz-led cheese-fest, which of course still has its place; however, in its wake arrives high-calibre commercial choreography. It’s bold, it’s sassy, and it’s elevated further by the design elements of Colin Richmond and Tom Rogers.
The costumes are meticulously crafted, allowing each performer, despite a multitude of multi-roles, to stand out effortlessly. Lit-up panels frame the stage, matching the energy of each number perfectly and at times giving the production a real rave-like quality, both in energy and in reception.
And speaking of rave reviews, Amber Davies delivers a performance full of sincerity and authenticity. Rather than leaning into the caricature she makes Elle entirely her own, pairing beautiful vocals with her intuitive characterisation. Supporting her brilliantly are the Delta Nu girls; Hannah Lowther, Rosanna Harris and Remi Ferdinand, never missing a beat as they deliver angelic harmonies and sharp dance skills – the kind of cheerleaders we could only hope for.
Another standout is the phenomenal Jocasta Almgill as Brooke Wyndham, who makes a killer act two entrance with ‘Whipped Into Shape’. Almgill returns to York following her recent panto villain portrayal, swapping evil for innocence with ease.
Meanwhile, Jamie Chatterton’s Warner and George Crawford’s Emmett share excellent onstage chemistry with our leading lady Davies. Chatterton’s stoic, mother-knows-best persona strengthens his character arc, whilst Crawford only makes you root for him more and more with each passing, humbling scene.
But one performer truly dominates the stage – and no, it’s not our two four-legged superstars playing the adorable pooches Bruiser and Rufus – it’s Paulette Bonafonté. Karen Mavundukure brings the house down with her incredible rendition (and reprise) of ‘Ireland’, injecting a show-stealing presence into every scene; an unstoppable force of nature. And with Ty-Reece Stewart as our smooth UPS operator Kyle, the casting can only be described as perfection.
‘Being true to yourself never goes out of style’, and with its modernisations, updated references, and clever use of technology, neither will this production. The refreshed script and staging breathes new life into the show, ensuring it moves beyond its early 2000s roots and feels right at home in the here and now. So snaps to the creative team for work that has truly paid off, matched by a cast with the unwavering talent to deliver it.
At its heart, the show reminds us of that classic idiom: ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ – because beneath the surface can lie something as impressive and unpredictable as this production.
Audiences are flocking to see this modern feel-good masterpiece, so bend and snap up a ticket to the Grand Opera House York this week.
Legally Blonde is at the Grand Opera House York until Saturday 25 April. Tickets start from £20.80 and are available here.
