Legally Blonde: The Musical was filled with big, flashy numbers, dozens of costume changes and a whole lot of pink. It is certainly a large-scale production and one that requires specific attention to detail and a decent amount of actors.
Cabrini University’s theater department took on that challenge and performed “Legally Blonde” for their spring musical production. Legally Blonde first opened at the Golden Gate Theatre, San Francisco in 2007, with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin and book by Heather Hach.
The musical centers around Elle Woods (Jackie Witherow), a perky and delightful sorority girl, as she embarks on a journey to Harvard Law School in order to win back the love of her life. While she is at Harvard Law School, Elle (Jackie Witherow) begins to make the best of the opportunities given to her and finds love in someone else along the way.
What really stuck out in Cabrini University’s “Legally Blonde” was just how charismatic and charming the actors were in their roles. Saying that Witherow did superbly in her role as Elle Woods is entirely an understatement.
Clay Anders, a junior marketing major, was quite fond of many of the performances in the musical.
“Everyone was perfectly cast,” Anders said. “There wasn’t a single person that felt out-of-character.”
Aside from Witherow’s star performance, other characters that stood out especially were the roles of Emmett (Johnny Myers), Paulette (Samantha Murray) and Woods’ sorority friends Pilar, Margot and Serena (Annie Gorski, Jay Cattani and Alyssa Massarella).
Stephanie Gorski, who came to see her sister Annie Gorski perform as Pilar in the musical, praised Cabrini’s production.
“I have to say it’s probably one of the best, if not the best experience I’ve had seeing a musical,” Gorski said. “You could tell the cast believed every word they sang or spoke and every move was made with purpose.”
The design and set were terrific as well. The colors, costumes, creative set pieces and general attention to detail are what truly helped piece the entire show together.
Deb Clair, the costume designer, created many of the beautiful looking costumes for the musical. There are several costume changes during the show yet none of the costumes feel as though they are less authentic than the last one.
The lighting and sound of the production, orchestrated by sophomore Hope Daluisio and junior Luke Alonso respectively, were both impeccable. Daluisio and Alonso are the true hidden gems of the theater and their work on the show deserves the utmost recognition.
Junior marketing major, Brandon Weaver, reacted positively to the design and sound of the production.
“The choreography was on point and the audio sounded masterful,” Weaver said.
I would certainly recommend this to anyone who has a general interest in musicals. My only nitpick is that the demographic is certainly leaning more towards the female crowd but there are enough catchy songs and witty lines to distract from that minor setback.
“The cast clearly put a lot of hard work in this production,” Weaver said. “It would just be silly if you missed your opportunity to go see our school’s production of Legally Blonde.
“If it wasn’t already sold out, I’d tell people ‘get off your lazy butt and go have some fun with Elle and her friends!’,” Gorski said.
Final Grade: A (Legally Blonde was masterful; a musical that will leave you saying “ohmigod.”)
