“LEGALLY BLONDE” IS GREAT LEGITIMATE FUN

              LAWSON YOUNG AS ELLE WOODS    PHOTO BY PAUL

Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God is the rallying cry of Elle Woods, a recent graduate of UCLA, who discovers her boyfriend Warner Huntington III is dumping her rather than giving her an engagement ring. Warner is on his way to Harvard Law School and a future Senatorship and he feels he needs someone serious minded on his arm. To win her lover back, Elle applies to Harvard and is accepted and the courtship challenge is on.

Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury is putting this sparkling show on its docket, ”Legally Blonde the Musical," until Saturday, June 18 and you’re invited to cheer Elle on in her campaign. With book by Heather Hach and music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, this show is a definite high energy crowd pleaser. Previously precious in pink, her signature color, Lawson Young’s Elle is bouncy and bubbly as the gal determined to get back her guy, even if she has to earn a law degree in the process to accomplish it. 

With her little pooch Bruiser, a chihuahua, faithfully by her side, she enters the ivy covered walls of Harvard and sets out to prove her worth.  Her boyfriend Warner is a jerk and a snob, in the capable hands of Naysh Fox,  and can’t quite believe his eyes when Elle shows up. With her trusty Greek chorus of sorority sisters singing encouragement all the way, Miranda Rivas, Adena Ershow and Stephanie Bissonnette, Elle also acquires a sassy self-esteem coach Paulette, a wise manicurist Jackie Nuzzo, and a legal eagle assistant Emmett, an encouraging Richard Lafleur, to smooth her path.

Learning at the knee of famed law professor Callahan, a smooth talking Tom Chute, Elle cuts her teeth on a pro bono law case getting Paulette’s dog returned from a disreputable ex, and then is challenged to help fitness guru Brooke, an athletic Molly Winter Stewart, who is accused of murdering her much older husband. Through it all, songs like “What You Want,” “Blood in the Water,” “Whipped Into Shape,” “Legally Blonde” and “Find My Way” advance the story line with panache. Choreographer Janine Molinari, with the help of Bobby Gouse, keep the action amazingly swift.

Eventually even Warner’s new girl Vivienne, a starchy Holly Martin, has to admit that Elle has what it takes to succeed and helps root her on her way. Janine Molinari wears a second hat as the quite capable director of this fashionista turned savvy negotiator. For tickets ($38-54), call Seven Angels Theatre, Plank Road, Waterbury at 203-757-4676 or online at www.sevenangels.com.  Performances are Thursday to Sunday, evenings at 8 p.m.and matinees at 2 p.m. On Thursday, May 19 there is a special fundraiser at  6 p.m. to support Bravo Waterbury, with “Legally Blonde” at 8 p.m., and tickets are $40 and not $48. Tickets include a slice of pizza and a free beer.

Elle may be the underdog but with her brilliant mind on high settings she rises to the occasion, with a jump rope, Irish step dancing and whole lot of fancy footwork to not only win the day but the right guy too.  Spoiler alert:  it’s not Warner.