“Legally Blonde” by Medicine Performing Arts
Nottingham Arts Theatre

“Legally Blonde” follows the story of sorority president Elle Woods as she crosses the country on a mission to find love at Harvard Law School. After discovering how the law can be used to help others, she uses her new found skills to defend a workout-queen in a murder trial, defying the odds and proving that blonde can save the day!

Possibly the most performed musical in the local Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire/Leicestershire area this year as it seems many local theatre groups have had a go this year. It cannot be denied though that this is one of the brightest, bubbliest, fun musicals available to perform on both a professional and local theatre level, and not only that but people will still pay to see this kind of light hearted fluffy, feel-good musical, so it’s a win win situation all round.

A couple of weeks ago I was speaking to Co-Directors Harry Pavlou and Jamie Short and they promised that this production would be different. So I wondered how do you make your version of a musical like this any different to all of the others. Well, they did it! I loved spotting the little extra bits they had added to keep this show fresh, none of which I'm going to reveal, but take it from me, it was like watching an old favourite with added sparkles. Congratulations on a brilliant production and not being afraid to add things to an already wonderful show.

What i also loved about this production was something none of the cast or Directors could arrange, and that was an audience who seemed not to have seen this show before. Their reactions to the show was another thing that made this production so good. It's lovely, from my point of view, to hear and witness the reactions of a crowd loving what they were seeing and buying in to the story. Not only the adoration for the two gorgeous dogs, but to the cast and the "cameos". Even the stage hands became part of the show without being part of the show,

The soundtrack is brilliant with varied styles to keep everyone happy. Right from the opening “Omigod You Guys”, the funky “Serious”, the wonderful “Ireland”, the energetic “Whipped Into Shape”, the naughty but nice “There! Right There!” through to the title track, it’s big and bouncy all the way and led by Musical Directors Carmel Oliver and Joe Mahon.

Elle is played by Georgia Oakes and OmiGod what a voice. She injected a load of fun into this role with her energy and zesty nature. A real joy to see how much she was enjoying this role and show.

Elle's bessie mates Margot, Serena and Pilar are played with great gusto by Holly Richardson, Hannah Tang and Emily Armon.

Jordan Smith (Warner Huntington III) has a really soulful voice and I loved the way that he coaxed the reactions from the audience by doing nothing other than playing the part. To start with he was getting wolf-whistles but by the end he was being (playfully) booed.

Harry Pavlou (Emmett Forrest) is also a man with a brilliant voice, his husky tones contrasted with the other singers here, and possibly the actor with the most experience. Not that that mattered as all the cast were well matched with confidence. Harry also attracted many favourable reactions from the audience, especially with Elle's transformation of him and the end scene. I really have not heard an audience so enthusiastic doe a cast which i am sure was appreciated by the cast and crew.

Kaman Sharma (Professor Callahan) is yet another owner of a really good voice. With his first appearance there were a couple of times I had trouble hearing him - I was at the back though- but he grew and so did his character. Another actor to illicit playful disdain from the audience in Act Two. Good or bad reaction from an audience shows that you are doing something right with their character acting.

Katherine Livesey (Paulette Bonafonte) is great fun to watch as the "Hair Affair" owner who becomes a great friend to Elle. And what a belter of a voice she has; she sent shivers down my back in Act Two.

Emma Jackson (Vivienne) plays one of those lovely characters where you start off not being very fond of, and in the end loving her because she's shown the other side of her character. Emma also has a strong voice which we managed to hear in the second act.

Nikki Spence (Brooke Wyndham) gives an energetic performance as the fitness queen on trial for the alleged murder of her aged husband.

Fiona Houghton (Enid) provided several laughs with her character and, again, a fun watch.

Ollie Martin (Kyle - the UPS Delivery Man) injected some double entendred sauce to the show with his "package" and swagger.

Also getting a massive round of applause, as it always does, is the "outing" of Brooke's pool boy Nicos, played by Gideon Rothstein along with his boyfriend, sorry best friend, Carlos, played by Jamie Short. The song "There Right There" is a proper crowd pleaser.

Our Directors have added an extra bit of sexiness to the show with the Frat boys/ Prison Guards. the former mostly topless and in shorts, and the latter in white vests, braces and black trousers, almost as if they were going to do the Full Monty as they stood guard in the aisles up and down the theatre, truncheons in hand!

This is a massive cast and, I imagine a massive task for the Directors and Producers (Megan Laud and Holly Richardson)to get everyone together all at the same time with rehearsals. However they did it though, it certainly worked.

With it being a large cast, the choreography was also a big task for Abigail Rees, but I loved the work she and the cast have done. From Irish dancing to ballet to tap, it's all in there.

The set was not the big sets that I have seen in other shows but size isn't everything and, as I've always said, it's how you use it and not how big it is, and that is so true here. Very functional, non obtrusive and easily moved on and off stage by the stage crew, smoothly managed by Anjali Yapa and Chloe Monnier.

I've not mentioned all of the cast by name as I would be going on forever but the whole crew were wonderful. Even though I have seen this musical about four times this year, this is up there with the others for great entertainment value, and great fun spotting the additional bits, including localising the production with a mention for a local nightclub and the wonderful lighting creating a backdrop of the Irish flag.

I have a feeling that Saturday's shows may be practically a sell out both matinee and evening shows but it would be worth trying to get a ticket for this show because it really is a clever and very entertaining show with an incredibly talented cast.

“Legally Blonde” is at the Nottingham Arts theatre until Saturday 24 November 2018