A fun and uplifting show with some 5 star elements

Tickets gifted in return for a review

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Is there a more iconic movie for burning down the patriarchy than Legally Blonde? Possibly not. There is no character that can compare to Elle Woods, and Reese Witherspoon always has such big shoes to fill. Yet, Emily Haywood brought Elle Woods to Leicester with strong vocals and an instant likability.

I have wanted to see the musical for absolutely ages, yet never got round to it.

Leicester Operatic Players (LOPs) have brought Legally Blonde to life with a real focus on feel-good fun. It’s bright. It’s pink. It’s the perfect spring time show that will leave you buzzing afterwards, and the songs stuck in your head for the foreseeable.

Emily Haywood is a really lovely lead, she has a wonderful voice and makes it really easy for you to connect with her and want her to succeed and do well. She was particularly impressive with ‘So Much Better’, ‘and ‘Find My Way’. I was really surprised to see it was her debut, and I’m sure there will be many more roles to come for Haywood.

Margot was played excellently by Charlotte Brown, who was a complete natural on stage. Whenever Margot, Pilar (Niall Johnson) and Serena (Rachel Wheeler) were on stage, they pulled the attention and seriously delivered. Rosie Chalmers as Brooke Wyndham, the accused, is also a performance highlight. It did not go unnoticed that she, and the ensemble, were skipping to ‘Whipped into Shape’ and yet never missed a note or lost breath! Her costume design was also perfect.

Alice Oakley seemed to be an audience highlight last night, bringing a chill and cool feel to Paulette. She had some fabulous facial expressions, and a quality googly eyes for Kyle (Nick Wilkins). Speaking of Nick, he brought some brilliant comedy as Carlos, paired hilariously with Nikos (Alex Thompson).

Martin Green as Professor Callahan, he showed particular ease with ‘Blood in the Water’, and did a grand job at coming across as somewhat likeable, and then ruining that kindness so quickly in the second half in an excellent villainous move that was awarded with an audible gasp from the audience.

I also thought Natasha Ann Carr came into her own and shone out in the titled number ‘Legally Blonde’. She was great at switching from public enemy number one to a friend. Simon Collington was a humble and modest Emmett, providing a really gentle tonic on stage.

I enjoyed the costumes being toned down to allow the Elle Wood’s pink to take centre stage. There seemed to be some costume hitching for Elle wearing the navy dress, but actually I thought it gave a pretty cool metaphor that the navy never fit Elle anyway!

The staging relies heavily on a background digital visual that worked nicely to allow the large cast to take the stage. Choreography by Ellie Newbrooks was impressive with lots of dance breaks, particularly in Positive and Omigod you guys and Whipped into Shape and all of them were well executed by the cast.

I’m positive this is a fun show and a success of Legally Blonde. It’s certainly a show with some five star elements and I’m sure we’ll see lots more from this cast. It’s a show you can certainly enjoy even if you aren’t friends and family with the creatives, as I did!