BWW Reviews: LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL Makes Pink Fun

Chattanooga Theatre Centre in in Chattanooga, Tennessee opened the final show of their 89th season over the weekend. Based on the 2001 movie starring Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde: The Musical follows Elle Woods, a Southern California sorority girl who measures life in fashion and fun. Elle is unprepared when her "big man on campus" boyfriend, Warner, dumps her to head off to Harvard Law School. Elle decides she must do whatever it takes to win Warner back. Even if it means getting into Harvard. Along the way Elle discovers that she's more than a sorority girl and makes some fantastic friends along the way.

Music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin are catchy and the kind of stuff that gets stuck in your head, but in a good way. The Chattanooga Theatre Centre was directed by StEve Ray and choreography was by Lindsay Fussell.

Brittni Rhodes takes on the role of Elle. From the second she steps on stage, you watch her. While it could be easy to try to compare Rhodes to Witherspoon, or even original Broadway Elle, Laura Bell Bundy, I didn't even want to. She takes her own spin on the flighty, yet loveable Elle.

Elle's Harvard nemesis, Vivienne was played by Emma Echols. Echols was a bright spot in the show, making Vivienne determined & strong, rather than annoying and mean. Echols took Vivienne on the path of character growth that made her transformation from Elle's enemy to Elle's friend a wonderful thing to watch.

Two of Elle's first friends at Harvard are hairdresser Paulette and lawyer Emmett. Azusa Dance played the role of Paulette, the fantastic hairdresser who needs a little help from Elle in regards to her love life, and teaches Elle not to make hair decisions based on love. Azusa Dance was fantastic and over the top in the role. She had the entire theatre in stitches every time she was on stage. Her shining moment was the number "Ireland." That song is completely ridiculous, much like Paulette, but you can't help but love every second of it.

Emmett is the person who stands behind Elle and encourages her to look at Harvard as an opportunity (and not just an opportunity to win back Warner). The role of Emmett was played by Jonathan Goff. Goff was probably my favorite of the entire cast. Goff's Emmett was adorable, slightly awkward, and willing to believe in someone who didn't even believe in herself. "Chip On My Shoulder" is the moment when Emmett makes Elle want to prove her doubters wrong, and teacher her to believe in herself.

Some of the best parts about the show are the great ensemble numbers. The opening number, "Omigod You Guys" is as fun as the title sounds, and takes place in a sorority house. Some of my other favorite ensemble numbers were "Positive," sung by Elle's own personal Greek Chorus of sorority sisters, and "Whipped Into Shape," sung by a group of prisoners who managed to sing AND jump rope at the same time.

There were a few sound issues, but they seemed to be something that could have just been an opening night snafu, and easily worked out. Outside of that, this show was a fun, sparkly, and the kind of show that you want to take your teens to see, just so you have an excuse to see it yourself. You'll walk out with at least one of the songs stuck in your head (maybe more than one). And the best part about the entire evening is seeing a show that supports women, encourages them to be strong AND funny, romantic AND serious, and teaches them to believe in themselves no matter what others may think of them.

Legally Blonde: The Musical plays at Chattanooga Theatre Centre through July 28th. You can purchase tickets by visiting their website or calling their box office at 423-267-8534.

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