OMG! ‘Legally Blonde’ at Rivertown is so in the pink

By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“)

When director Kelly Fouchi decided to revisit one of her first successes as an artistic director at Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts, there was little doubt Legally Blonde was at the top of her wish list.

And why not? It has a great score and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe (Heathers), which he co-wrote with his wife Nell Benjamin (Mean Girls), and a snappy book written by Heather Hach, which was based on the same-titled novel by Amanda Brown.  Brown’s novel, based on her experience at Stanford Law School, had previously been  turned into a wildly popular Resse Witherspoon motion picture.

While there are some very meaty roles for men, this musical mostly showcases females and often focuses on sisterhood and distaff competition. The fictional Delta Nu sorority serves as the spiritual landing place for Elle Woods (Victoria Ventura) and her minions who worship her and live vicariously through her pink-filled life.

At the very beginning of the musical, the girls of Delta Nu stand in solidarity with Elle, who is  their chapter president and fashion guru. Ventura, an established professional performer at Busch Gardens and on cruise ships, played Portia last year in Rivertown’s production of Something Rotten! She has a powerful voice and a perky presence on stage that makes her a perfect choice to return to the role first played at Rivertown by her fellow Victory Belle, Hannah Rachal.

Ventura carefully takes on the role of the somewhat clueless blonde with a penchant for pink. When she is singing, she is front and center and the audience never loses sight of the fact that the musical is all about her. With Katelin Zelon’s outstanding choreography, there is little chance of that. In fact, there is so much movement in the various scenes that one wonders how all the players keep up their strength.

Ventura is the glue that keeps the production together, but Legally Blonde is by no means a one-woman show. The show’s opening number “Omigod You Guys” gives the ensemble a chance to gush over Elle’s expected proposal  from her boyfriend Warner Huntington III (Jake Wynne-Wilson), who is about to enter Harvard Law School.

She envisions her future and can already see the new home and children the two will share in suburbia. But instead of a betrothal, she receives a breakup as the self-serving cad decides to keep his options open for a more perfect union at Harvard. Devastated, but determined, she decides to follow Warner to Harvard.  In “What You Want,” she practices for the LSAT and turns in a personal essay that is capped off with, well,  cheerleaders. Her persuasive arguments win over the admittance officers at Harvard and, incredulously, she enrolls there, waiting for Warner to notice her.

But soon, she is noticed but not by Warner, but by Vivienne Kensington (Meredith Owens), a fellow freshman at Harvard Law, who, by means of her wealthy family status, is now Warner’s new love interest. Owens, the recipient of last year’s Crescent City Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Musical, has a towering voice that soars over most of her fellow castmates. Even in ensembles, her clear notes ring out loud and it is a tribute to her that she took on a role that might be seen as a step-down for a leading lady.

in addition to Owens, Allee Peck has a supporting role as beautician Paulette Bonafoné. Her comedic chops have a field day in “Bend and Snap,” as she is instructed by Elle and her “Greek chorus” in how to use her feminine charms to get men to take notice. Peck also plays off well with Clark Long as the UPS Guy in several later scenes in Act Two.

Bryce Slocumb plays Emmett Forest, a legal assistant who is pinning his hopes for a future career with a successful internship being offered by Harvard Law Professor Calahan (Frank von Hoven). Slocumb, who recently directed Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella ,” is quite natural and remarkable as Emmett.

Their arc is told in three different songs First, in “Chip on My Shoulder,” Emmett cautions Elle to take stock of herself. Later in “Take It Like a Man, ” he endures a makeover at a department store. Finally, in the title track, he gets Elle to think about her decision to leave Harvard after an inappropriate sexual advance from her professor. The two make a charming couple.

In addition, Maddie Fry plays a stereotypical lesbian law student, Enid, to great success. Enid and Elle  join with Emmett and Vivienne as part of a defense team in a major celebrity murder trial being run by Professor Calahan.

As accused killer Brook Wyndham, Stephanie Abry is nothing less than fantastic. A fitness instructor and workout personality, she keeps a secret from her defense team from everyone but Elle, who is duty bound to keep her confidence. Her song “Whipped into Shape,” is an over-the-top masterpiece of skipping rope and gymnastics and all done with amazing breath control while singing.

Fouchi’s husband, Marc, is co-credited with her for visual design as well as Michael Brown. The lighting by Cassi Cain with programming by Dalyn Kvapil is also impressive.

Choregrapher Zellon and director Kelly Fouchi  are also joined by Elise Spurlock as musical director and Kaylyn Hepting Stephens as the stage manager, making this an all-female creative team.

Baylee Robertson deserves kudos for her costume designs. The wig designs by Gabrielle Treas are also quite good. Curiously, she played the title role in Cinderella that played at Rivertown in May.

Seats for this terrific show are rightfully short in supply. The show is sold out except for a few seats and some overflow seating on Sunday evening. For tickets click here or call 504-461-9475.

Legally Blonde: The Musical finishes it’s fun run at this Sunday, July 19 at Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts.