TAT: Legally Blonde, The Musical

TAT: Legally Blonde, The Musical

 The Alliance Theatre    July 27-August 5, 2012   Chantilly High School

Sadie Jones

Recently ran into an acquaintance who, like me, saw the last show of TAT’s summer production Legally Blonde. He jabbered about how wonderful it was. Surprised at his enthusiasm I asked “what did you like about it?” He said “You know, the girl who played Ellie and the one who played the hairdresser were fantastic”. And, that about sums it up.

Taylin Frame was a brilliant not-so-dumb blonde Elle Woods. Kathy Arnold was funny and endearing as Paulette the Hairdresser. Both of them had the best voices in the show.

If my friend searched his memory he may have remarked Gray O’Reilly warmed up to his role as Emmett Forrest by the second act. Warren Huntington, played by David McVicar, was as shallow, callous and slick as he could be, but had no chemistry with his northeast beauty Vivienne. And although Michael Clendenin was the cold hearted, stereotypical lawyer as Professor Callahan, I didn’t believe he had sexual harassed anyone. The only believable and fun to watch couple was Kathy Arnold (Paulette) and Brian Johnson, (Kyle the delivery guy). Those two could have stolen the show. 

Amanda Mason who played Vivienne, was too young and too nice personally to make us believe she was a conniving ice queen. Ms. Mason’s singing added to our listening pleasure but she may have been better cast as a Delta Nut.

And here is the big casting question, Why not cast more people who can sing and dance if you are doing a musical? Unless previously mentioned, the voices were unremarkable.  The program said there were two chorographers and a dance captain. The dancing consisted mainly of stomping and clapping plus a simplistic Irish jig. In the vernacular of Aunt McFee, “If it was a horse I would have shot it”.

The Wardrobe dept. started and ended with the main characters. It was as if the cast searched their own closets for what they thought was appropriate for each scene. TAT followed Broadway’s lead by leaving the law school set in plain sight during the show while pushing out props and min-sets. It was distracting on stage that size.

Ending on a positive note, the orchestra gets full marks. They played gallantly behind the curtain in what must have been sweltering conditions.

See you later,

Sadie