Legally Blonde -The Musical
Music and Lyrics by Lawrence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin. Book by Heather Hach. Directed by Brendan Carroll. The Peninsula School. Frankston Arts Centre (Vic). May 19th –May 21st, 2016
When I reviewed PLOS’ stupendous ground-breaking production of this show last year, I was convinced I would never enjoy Legally Blonde again. I was wrong!
Despite not having the budget or the State-Of-The-Art techno production values of the PLOS production, The Peninsula School more than compensates with marvellous performances and energy and passion which are contagious.
Director Brendan Carroll has assembled a brilliant cast and has used all the natural talent to extract performances that are subtle and sophisticated beyond the performers’ years, yet without losing sight of the fact that these are still students, and their youth must be respected.
Melanie Bird is quite extraordinary as Elle Woods – the blonde dumped by her boyfriend for not being “serious”, who discovers she is brighter than even she suspected. From the second she takes the stage, she owns it. With a powerful voice that can belt as well as take sweet head notes, Melanie gives us a slightly geekier Elle than we’re used to seeing. The reason is her brilliant comic timing – truly amazing in one so young. Every nuance, every comic expression is just perfect. She reminds me for all the world of a young Carole Burnett, whose marvellous timing made her a star on Broadway in Once Upon A Mattress, a delightful musical which is tailor made for Melanie (community theatres take note). Ms Bird is not an assembly line product, she is totally individual and 3 Dimensional, and as such she makes Elle a richer and better rounded character…a wonderful performance.
On the female side, Jade Rooney, wildly attractive and curvaceous, is a powerhouse as Serena, full of Sass and with a great voice and moves. Lily Burnside is a seasoned performer and a great foil to her as Margot, and Abigail Vanderzwan (Pilar) is full of personality. These three bring a feel-good energy which is almost exhausting to watch. Emma Townsend tackles the older role of Paulette with terrific confidence and a great deal of professionalism. She also has great comic timing and a marvellous belting Music Theatre voice - very impressive. Brooke West is a dynamo as Brooke Wyndham. A fabulously attractive girl, she is totally credible as the Exercise Queen accused of murder and even choreographed the “Whipped into Shape” number, with the best skipping routine I have seen. Tia Cumberland (Enid) and Isabella Nolan Sannia (Vivienne) both were impressive and sang brilliantly, as did the entire ensemble. One of the most astonishing things about this school production is the quality of the singing and the harmonies. All praise to Frankie Ross, the vocal director, for her work with the entire cast.
On the male side, Noah Szto is a delightful Emmett. He’s a totally credible and natural actor with an easy charm and good stage presence to go with his delightful voice. Darcy Cousins has a great Pop voice (I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on The Voice next year) and is perfectly reprehensible as the ambitious Warner Huntington III. His acting faltered once or twice but this is his first major role and I can’t wait to see what he brings to the stage next year. Benjamin Jones was convincingly mature and extremely impressive as the ruthless and lecherous Professor Callahan; Oscar Ragg was hilarious in the court scene and as Dewey, and the show was almost stolen by Maxwell Doherty as Kyle the Delivery Man, who was hysterical with his sexy moves and Irish dancing. Last, but by no means least, the band, under the direction of Simon Stone, is totally professional and excellent throughout (I especially liked the little tribute to Miles Davis with “So What” in the party scene).
What a splendid night of entertainment this was, I have never seen such a happy and proud audience. I want to make this observation. It’s all too easy to condemn young people in a world which is spiralling out of control. To restore your faith in humanity, come down to the Peninsula and see these extraordinary school students perform. Their complete commitment to the show and each other, and their talent and energy, are an affirmation to all that is good and worth honouring in mankind. They were elated at the end of the show…and so were we.
Coral Drouyn
