Legally Blonde at West Valley Arts

Last night I went to see Legally Blonde at the West Valley Performing Arts Center and it was more fun than should be allowed on a Wednesday night! Elle Woods (Rachel Matorana), a fashion merchandising student and president of the Delta Nu Nu sorority at UCLA, is sure that her boyfriend Warner Huntington III (Wesley Valdez) is about to propose but he breaks up with her instead. He explains that he is going to Harvard Law School and he needs a more serious girlfriend for the future he imagines. She decides to prove him wrong and succeeds in getting into Harvard Law School but no one there takes her seriously, especially the notoriously difficult Professor Callahan (Jared Lesa) and Warner's new girlfriend Vivienne Kensington (Teaira Burge). However, a teaching assistant named Emmett Forrest (Geoff Beckstrand) and a beautician named Paulette Bonafonte (Madison Archibald) show her that she has what it takes to be a lawyer and she eventually gets an acquittal for her first client, fitness guru Brooke Wyndham (Bryn Campbell). Like most musicals adapted from popular movies, the songs are a little bit contrived but I have to admit that I enjoyed them, especially "Omigod You Guys," "What You Want," "Positive," "Blood in the Water," "Chip On My Shoulder,""Whipped into Shape" (this is incredible), and "Bend and Snap," because the fun and energetic choreography had the crowd cheering out loud! Matorana is absolutely perfect as the irrepressible Elle because her joy and optimism are palpable in every number. She definitely has the charisma to carry the show because you can't take your eyes off her and her voice is very well suited to the score. I also really enjoyed Archibald's performance because she oozes personality as well as Beckstrand's because he is both lovable and vulnerable. The use of a big group of Delta Nu Nu sorority sisters, rather than just the three that are usually found in most productions, as a Greek chorus whenever Elle needs inspiration really adds to the energy. Every inch of the stage is covered in pink and the set pieces for the Delta Nu Nu house, various locations at Harvard, the courtroom, and the beauty parlor are incorporated with very clever staging (I especially loved the scene where Elle is kicked out of class because it is so seamless). The costumes and lighting design also make liberal use of the color pink and it is so vibrant and playful. If you love the movie you will definitely love this entertaining show! It runs at the West Valley Performing Arts Center on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through August 31 (go here for tickets).