BWW Reviews: Omigod You Guys, SMT's LEGALLY BLONDE is Totally Great!

The movie should not have been very good but Reese Witherspoon sold it. The musical is very good and the original Elle Woods, Laura Bell Bundy took an insanely difficult part and nailed it. This is why I was tentative when I heard Seattle Musical Theatre was starting off their season with "Legally Blonde" as you need a hell of a cast including a major triple threat in the lead, a killer band and a very gifted director to keep it all going. Well, check, check and check as SMT's "Legally Blonde" manages all three and provides one fun, frothy and fabulous show.

Based on the 2001 film of the same name, we follow the adventures of Elle Woods (Carly Hebert), a sorority girl from UCLA as she preps for her big date with Warner Huntington III (Mark Tyler Miller) whom she assumes is about to propose. But when Warner dumps her saying he needs someone more "serious" as he goes off to law school, Elle decides she needs to show him how serious she can be and gets into Harvard as well ("like it's hard?"). But Elle soon learns that she has underestimated how hard law school can be. And Harvard soon learns it has underestimated this blonde with a brain as she rises to the top of the class with the help of the adorable T.A., Emmett (Matt Giles).

The show itself is just like the movie, pretty predictable. Heather Hach, Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin didn't stray too much from the movie's romantic comedy formula. But what they did do was to keep this funny, strong and intelligent character intact and give her upbeat and spectacular numbers to move her story along. So the show is pretty much cotton candy for the soul (pink cotton candy of course) but sometimes that's all you need. And director Sam Pettit along with music director Brandon Peck have taken this cotton candy and spun it into a glorious mound of sugary goodness. The production is crisp, clean and moves along at the perfect pace complete with some killer choreography, also from Pettit.

Much of the credit goes to Pettit but much also has to go to a stellar cast who not only is spot on with every move and note but also looks to be having a blast on stage. The ensemble is rock solid complete with a Greek Chorus that couldn't be more fun. Special kudos to Mike Bowers, Andrew Murray, and Bethanie Russell who turned in several varied and hilarious moments in their multiple roles. Ellen Dessler is fantastic as the lovelorn Paulette and kills during her ode to Ireland. J. Stegar Thompson brings the perfect amount of menace and cruelty to the two faced Professor Callahan. Miller and Kate Sumpter may look like the stereotypical perfect upper crust couple but show off a ton of complexity and subtleties to the roles of Warner and Vivienne. And Erika Zabelle whips us all into shape as the exercise queen up for murder, Brooke.

But this is a romantic comedy and so it's the lovers we need to pay attention to and attention is paid. Matt Giles not only has the sweet everyman quality for Emmett without coming across as overly precious but also matches Hebert's intensity note for note and shows off some great chemistry with her. And then there's Carly Hebert as the unstoppable Elle. Like I said, this is a powerhouse role and really and endurance trial for whatever actress takes it on and Hebert takes it and runs away with it. She manages to make Elle bubbly and perky but not overly so and still give her a brain and incredible comedic timing. And for me she's ranking right up there with Witherspoon and Bundy.

This has got to be one of the most solid and well put together productions I've seen come from Seattle Musical Theatre in awhile and if the rest of the season is anything like this I can't wait. "Mad props" to the cast and crew!

"Legally Blonde" plays at Seattle Musical Theatre through October 7^th. For tickets or information call the SMT box office at 206-363-2809 or visit them online at www.seattlemusicaltheatre.org.

Photo credit: Jenni El Fattal

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