BWW Reviews: OMIGOD, Connecticut Repertory Theatre Closes Season with LEGALLY BLONDE

LEGALLY BLONDE
Theatre: Connecticut Repertory Theatre
Location: Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre, University of Connecticut Campus, Storrs, CT
Production: Music and Lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, Book by Heather Hach; Directed and Choreographed by Gerry McIntyre; Scenic Design by Matthew Iacozza; Lighting Design by Sean Nicholl; Costume Design by Stephanie Martin; Sound Design by Brandon Purstell; Projection Design by Matthew Iacozza and Erika Johnson. Through May 4; Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets $7-$37, visit www.crt.uconn.edu or call (860) 486-2113.

Like, OMIGOD, you guys. My sorority, Pi Pi Pi, totes asked me to go review this show and I was like, "Whoa!" You know? I have not seen a play since the boys from Lambda Alpha Omicron put on a "Julius Caesar" beer-soaked toga party. So, I was so "NO WAY!" when I got asked to share my thoughts on this thing that's playing at the place, you know?

There's, like, this musical running up at that big University of Connecticut place in that totally small town of Storrs. It's ummmm, I can't recall the name, but it's really fun and has the same name as that movie Legally Blonde. You know, the movie that Reese Witherspoon rocked all the way to the Golden Globes back in, I dunno, but it was back before I got that perm.

So, like these people turned Legally Blonde (which I guess was a book before it was a movie, but I don't read much, so whatevs) into a musical which is, like, one of those play things, but with songs and stuff. It was sooooo much fun in so many ways and I mad want to tell you all about it, but I have to start with the things that, you know, cheesed me off and stuff.

First and foremost, as my pre-law professor says, Elle Wood's wig. She is like the totes most important person in the show and, let's face it, the show is ABOUT her hair, which is a really good reason for a show. This girl (I don't think she goes to UConn because she has one of those star-shaped things next to her name in the playbill thing) comes out with this $7.99 in Chinatown, uniform blonde wig with some side braid.

I was like, "WHAT? Hell-to-the-no." Reese Witherspoon's hair is the Mount Rushwhatever of Movie Hair and that wig totally dishonors the triumph that was her layers, extensions and volume. I am totally licensed to say these things as my hair is Cornsilk Honey Blonde #5 and I go to the Moda-Rey Salon in Newington EVERY WEEK for streak maintenance, which makes me an authority. I'm taking a star off what could be a four star review JUST because of the wig. It's, like, that important.

The girl under that travesty was CLEARLY not a natural blonde like myself (look to the eyebrows, if you need confirmation), but she was like MAJOR talented and seemed really sweet and likeable. Her name was, well, I guess still is, Courtney Hammond and she can dance and sing just like that girl from Frozen (who was also played by a brunette, but had better animated blonde hair).

It's too bad that the show only has, like, two memorable songs in it, but I've adopted the opening number "OMIGOD You Guys!" as my personal anthem. I put it on my iPod for workouts. I'm totally singing it right now. Well, at least the part I can remember, which is "OH MY GOD, OMIGOD you guys!" The songs are fun, but it feels like there are about 57 of them.

Elle, despite her wig, has two hot guys pursuing her. One, played by Gabriel Aprea, is hot in a Colin Farrell way, but a total jerkface. The other, Colby Lewis, is hot in a Drake way, and really dreamy. The one problem they both had is they hit a few bummer notes and I can totally say that because I'm an alto in my sorority's a cappella group "Hot Pi." Nicole Lewis is like mad funny and sweet as Elle's new BFF and nails the show's only other semi-memorable song, which was about Ireland. I think.

I could totally go on and on and on and on about everyone's performances and say how totes awes they were, but I'm running out of words and I need to say something very important. The costumes by Stephanie Martin were SO cute and I'm hoping that Nordstrom stocks some of them because my Amex Black is burning a hole in my Michael Kors "Jet Set" Purse. The set by Matthew Iacozza is ROCKING and has projections by the same Matt guy and Erika Johnson, so it's like totally watching TV and a play at the same time.

Gerry McIntyre directed the show and also choreographed its dances, which is totes hard, and I should know because I choreographed the Pi Pi Pi Spring Fling cheerleader rally. He keeps things fast and funny, just like Reese Witherspoon. You should go see this show because it's, like, really awesome. Except for the wig.

Photo of Courtney Hammond by Gerry Goodstein.

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