Fasten your seat belts and get ready for a wild take-off on a
short runway when The First National Touring Company of
”
Legally Blond, The Musical
”
lands in San Jose. From the moment the curtain rises, this show
moves like a moon shot lift-off.
Fasten your seat belts and get ready for a wild take-off on a short runway when The First National Touring Company of “Legally Blond, The Musical” lands in San Jose. From the moment the curtain rises, this show moves like a moon shot lift-off. On board is original Broadway Tony Award winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, (“La Cage Aux Folles” and “Hairspray”) who creates a 2 1/2-hour perpetual “pop” from a shook up bottle of champagne.
The energetic, well-built and sharply-tuned cast leaves the audience breathless with Mitchell’s wild, creative choreography and fast-moving, detailed direction. David Rockwell’s eye-popping sets, that moves around like a gigantic jigsaw puzzle, are a show in itself. Gregg Barnes colorfully dresses the show with grand glitz and glamour without becoming tacky. Ken Posner and Paul Miller’s lighting design enhances an already easy to look at, classy production and Barnes’ lighting design hits the mark.
Becky Gulsvig as Elle Woods handles the Reese Whitherspoon role (from the 2001 movie) with pipes that levitate the front row out of their seats. She is adorable and loveable. Elle is considered “Bel Air’s” favorite pink-clad blond with an equally stylish Chihuahua, Bruiser. When Elle’s stuffy boyfriend dumps her for someone he feels would be more suitable for his career after graduating Harvard, Elle pulls herself and her Chihuahua together and goes where no Delta Nu sorority sister has gone before: Harvard Law School. She hits the books and ends up the valedictorian of her graduating class. She finds that being true to yourself is the most rewarding way to go and getting there is more than half the fun – even if it’s as far-fetched as a plot can get. I guarantee you will enjoy the ride and take note that this is a kid-friendly show.
Bruiser (Frankie) and Rufus (Nellie), a Chihuahua and an English bulldog, steal all their scenes. Bruiser is right on cue and Rufus just “looks,” which is all he has to do to get an audience reaction. Animals are usually unpredictably tricky, but these two pros deliver the goods with delightful ease. They both have understudies, Roxy and Lewis, in case of that “break a leg” moment when Roxy and Lewis can show their stuff and have a star nailed on their dressing room door. All four were rescued from humane societies and I have been told there is not a diva in the bunch.
If you’re looking for something philosophical and deep, and songs you will whistle as you leave the theatre, stay home. But if you want to just feel good and experience fun and joy of a fine musical just for the heck of it, get over to the Center for the Performing Arts and soak up the energy. You’ll be able to leave your thermostat off for at least four days.
***
‘Legally Blond – The Musical’
Where: San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Alameda Blvd., San Jose
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8:00 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 6: p.m. Sunday
Runs: March 16-21
Tickets: $22-$88
Details: (408) 792-4111 or visit www.sjtix.com
