Becky Gulsvig Shines in 'Legally Blonde'

Last spring, the Hippodrome Theatre presented a preview of the 2008-09 Broadway Across America season.  One of the performers was Becky Gulsvig who belted out "So Much Better" from Legally Blonde.  Ever since that day I've been looking forward to watching her performance in the leading role of this Broadway tour.  I was not disappointed.

Of course the first Elle Wood was played by Reese Witherspoon in the film version. I will readily admit that I loved Laura Bell Bundy who played the original "Elle Woods" on Broadway. And I also paid attention to the MTV reality show that selected Bailey Hanks to take the lead on Broadway (but soon thereafter the show announced it's closing shortly on Broadway). But the appealing Gulsvig proves that even a touring production can have terrific stars. And she is one! She can sing, she can dance, and when she smiles, the whole world smiles with her.

This is only the tour's second stop after a short stint in Providence, RI so this show can only get better with time. But it's already a well-oiled machine with a nice cast and an energetic and superb ensemble who all can sing, dance and even jump-rope. Even the 12 piece orchestra sounded as if there were twice as many in the pit under the baton of Jan Rosenberg who doubles as a keyboardist.

Jerry Mitchell serves as Director/Choreographer and received a 2007 Tony nomination (the show had 7 of these). Mitchell though is best known as a choreographer for such works as La Cage aux Folles (revival), Hairspray, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and The Full Monty.  He certainly shows tremendous promise in this his directorial debut.

For the few not acquainted with the story, it concerns Elle Woods, a blonde from Malibu, who's boyfriend Warner (Jeff McLean) on his way to Harvard Law School drops her like a hot potato because he needs to marry a "Jackie" (as in Kennedy) not a Marilyn (as in Monroe).  But Elle is so in love, she decides she Will Chase him cross-country in an attempt to win him back.

But first she must get IN.  She scores179 on the LSATs, and has a 4.0 but majored in fashion merchandising.  What wins her over to the Harvard Law School Admission Committee (what a trio!) is her essay but with a marching band, cheerleaders, and a song about searching for one's love "What You Want". 

There is a big Baltimore connection with one of the cast members. Natalie Joy Johnson from Arbutus, MD was in the original Broadway cast as a frumpy lesbian feminist Enid. But in the tour, Johnson shines in the role of Paulette, a hairstylist and confidante who's powerful voice and strong Boston accent almost steels the show.  She develops a love interest with Kyle the UPS guy (wonderful Ven Daniel) who always has a package with him to deliver in his UPS shorts. She adds, "He's like walking porn." I knew there would be that "Riverdance" moment when Paulette and Kyle do their Irish dance but I still couldn't help laughing. (See Julie Scharper's nice article about Johnson and her real-life mother hair-stylist in the September 28, 2008 Baltimore Sun.)

And I couldn't neglect to mention two of the biggest stars of the show, Chihuahua Bruiser (played by Frankie) who jumps into Elle's pocket book, and Rufus (played by China) a white bulldog Paulette retrieves from her ex-boyfriend.  They both got great ovations.

There is a serious side to the comedy and that deals with the subject of sexual harassment which is not mentioned often in reviews.  Elle is hit on by her law school professor Callahan (Ken Land). When her soon-to-be love interest and mentor Emmett (D.B. Bonds) finally confronts Callahan by saying "I don't have to hit on interns", there is much applause. So there really is a message here.

On Thursday, October 2, the Hippodrome Foundation sponsored a free symposium prior to the evening's performance entitled "Challenges Facing Women in the Field of Law" featuring five distinguished woman attorneys: the Honorable Marcella Holland (Administrative Judge, Circuit Court for Baltimore City), the Honorable Patricia C. Jessamy (Baltimore City State's Attorney), Odeanna Neal (Associate Professor, University of Baltimore School of Law, Karen Rothenberg (Dean, University of Maryland School of Law), and Linda Woolf, Esq. (Managing Partner, Goodell, DeVries, Leech & Dann, LLP).  It was a fascinating discussion. Holland spoke of her experiences from leaving a segregated school in Howard County to an integrated high school, Jessamy spoke of a time when she was one of only two Black women lawyers in the entire state of Mississippi, O'Neal saw the film "Love Story" and went to Harvard and actually attended HARVARD LAW SCHOOL, Rothenberg admitted being a frustrated musical comedy actress, and Woolf was proud that 40% of the managing partners in her firm are women. Congratulations to Olive Waxter and Barbara Wirsing of the Hippodrome Foundation for presenting this timely, educational, and entertaining discussion.

Director Mitchell says in the Playbill, "I hope that guys leave the theater thinking ‘If I want that gorgeous girl on my arm, I have to respect her.'"  It's a good message.

One expects in most touring companies, a smaller cast and a modified set. I do though miss the staircase that was in the original production (that can be seen in the MTV televised version of the Broadway production and the reality show about selecting a new "Elle" for Broadway).

continues at the Hippodrome through Oct. 12. Call 410-547-7328 or visit www.france-merrickpac.com.Legally Blonde

To learn more, visit www.myspace.com/BaltimoreHippodrome.

If you can't make it in Baltimore or want to see it again, Legally Blonde will play the Kennedy Center Opera House Dec. 16-January 11, 2009 (which includes performances on Christmas night, Dec. 25 and New Year's Eve, Dec. 31. Call 202-467-4600 or visit www.kennedy-center.org.

For fans of the original Elle Woods, Laura Bell Bundy, she will be performing at Feinstein's in New York with Crystal Gale from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1.

For comments, write to cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.