I was lucky enough recently to see the UK tour of Legally Blonde.
While I love going to the theatre, I must admit this hadn’t been top of my list to see. I think that’s partly due to the recent surge of films being adapted into musicals. While in some cases it works really well (hello Moulin Rouge!), in others… not so much.
However, my lovely best friend had a spare ticket after a family member was unable to attend at the last minute. Even luckier for me, I actually wasn’t working on a Saturday!
So off to the theatre we headed. One note about the Hippodrome in the summer… it. is. hot. We were absolutely boiling and very much wishing we’d brought portable fans like the ladies sitting next to us!
The Cast
The cast was fantastic. We saw Hannah Lowther as Elle Woods (the current understudy). I was actually thrilled about this as I’ve followed her on social media for several years and was given her musical theatre quiz book for my recent birthday. That said, I’m sure Amber Davies would have been equally brilliant.
Elle is an incredibly demanding role. She’s on stage for almost the entire show, performs countless high-energy dance numbers and does most of it in heels! The fitness and stamina both actresses must have is incredible.
The other standout for me was Karen Mavundukure as Paulette. She absolutely blew me away with both her singing voice and comedic timing and stole every single scene she was in.
One of the best parts of this adaptation was that Paulette had more to do and we got to see more of her character. Perhaps that’s because Jennifer Coolidge’s portrayal in the film is so iconic, but I loved seeing Paulette given a bigger moment to shine.
Changes From The Source Material
Despite lots of fun and upbeat songs, I was unconvinced by this adaptation after the first half. I wasn’t expecting a scene-for-scene copy of the film, but some of the changes just didn’t work for me.
For example, having Warner break up with Elle next to a claw machine instead of over dinner felt like a really odd staging choice.
I also really missed seeing Elle and Vivienne’s friendship develop, especially the scene where Vivienne tells Elle that Warner was waitlisted and his father had to make a call. In the film, I think that moment helps reassure Elle that she really is good enough.
To me, Elle’s character also felt a little different. She came across as more fluffy and much more focused on chasing love. I missed some of the quieter moments that show just how genuinely kind she is, like when she tells Paulette that Vivienne isn’t completely unfortunate-looking.
Professor Callahan also felt like a villain from the very beginning, whereas in the film he’s tough and intimidating before showing his true colours later on.
Minimalistic Set
Personally, I didn’t love the set either. It felt a little too minimalist in places. Elle’s bedroom reminded me of Hogwarts, and I found it a bit odd how much time she spent with Emmett in her room.
While I completely understand they can’t include every single line from the film, I did feel that several of the most iconic ones were missing. I also wasn’t keen on the staging for the whole “In The Shower” sequence. Having an actual shower on stage just felt a bit unnecessary and almost farcical.
The Second Half Was Better
That said, I thought the second half was much stronger than the first and I enjoyed it a lot more. The courtroom scenes had much more energy, the pacing improved, and I left the theatre with a much more positive impression than I’d had at the interval.
Most of the theatre was on their feet by the end of the show!
Overall, I really enjoyed the experience and the entire cast and crew are immensely talented. While it’s probably not a show I’d rush to see again, and I’m not desperate to put the soundtrack on repeat, I’m really glad I went.
If you love the film and you love musicals, I think you’ll have a great time – just don’t go in expecting a carbon copy of the movie.
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