With the Tax Man visiting in less than a week, it's important to clear the mind before the late start we all get, or to assuage the pain of the check we have to write, or to relieve the depression caused by the one we just wrote. "Legally Blonde," which opened a weekend run at the Fox last night, offers a solution.
Go see it.
"Legally Blonde" is an evening of musical entertainment that will not strain a single brain cell, but it provides fun. There's lots of good song and dance, and plenty of comedy, and an absurd plot, and a heroic blonde, and a great deal of blonde-ing, and some bonding, and a studly UPS delivery person. Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin wrote a tuneful score, Heather Hach added what almost passes for a plot and Jerry Mitchell directed and choreographed with style, especially the latter, which highlighted a wide variety of techniques
Becky Gulsvig was highly effective as a dancer and comedienne, but her singing often had an unpleasant nasal quality and an irritating shrillness. Still, she's appealing and sympathetic in the unlikely role of a Elle Woods, UCLA cheerleader who is dumped by her boy friend and goes to Harvard Law School to get revenge. The boy, Warner Huntington III, is already there, and with a girl friend from a family even richer than Elle's. Of course, Elle conquers all in the course of the evening.
Her friends, a charming Greek chorus, make the cross-country trip, too, and are on hand when Professor Callahan (an excellent Michael Rupert) compares law school to swimming with sharks in "Blood in the Water." Natalie Joy Johnson is another standout as Paulette, the beautician, whose romance with Kyle, the studly UPS guy (Ven Daniel), is a high spot. D. B. Bonds delights as Emmett Forrest, the most humble Harvard man ever and Elle's protector.
As noted, the dancing is superior; and veteran designers David Rockwell (set–and he does restaurants as a sideline) and Gregg Barnes (costumes) are first-rate. Little deep philosophy, no advice for living or completing the tax forms. Just a warning to stay clear of blondes who go to Harvard Law School.
"Legally Blonde," at the Fox Theatre through Sunday.
–Joe