Wellington’s Legally Blonde was one Elle of a show!

If Wellington College is all about transformational education, how better to celebrate that aim than a musical with growth and change at its very heart? For three magical February nights the GWA theatre (and the whole school) came alive to the Broadway blockbuster, Legally Blonde, which follows the fortunes of Elle as she finds true fulfilment at Harvard Law School.

Jasper K was all silver-tongued menace as the ruthless Callahan, while Toby H shone as Emmet, Elle’s mentor and guide. Andres B’s Warner added a note of seriousness while Jessica R’s humorous portrayal of hairdresser Paulette provided rich comic relief.

However, it was the show-stopping performances from Eloise K and Harriet W (who shared the role), which saw Elle leave her old self behind before triumphing in a high stakes murder trial, that lingered longest in the mind. Between them they conjured a perfect blend of comedy timing, high-octane energy, and haunting musicality, ensuring that Elle left stereotypes far behind in the triumphant realisation of her true multi-faceted self.

Musicals aren’t just about the central characters though, and the three separate dance choruses, led by the Delta Nus, ensured that Wellington’s Legally Blonde was full of foot-tapping slick sassiness from the very start, the ingenious set design literally adding extra dimensions to the unfolding and fast-paced action.

This was a show that had everything: pace, polish, pyrotechnics and poise; outstanding singing and choreography, and even guest performances from two immaculately trained canines! Congratulations to all the cast, and special mentions must go to Director Claire Anderson, Musical Director Sean Farrell, and choreographers Clare Cooke and Suzie Curran. As Show Producer (and Wellington’s Director of Drama), Nick Huntington said in his programme notes, ‘Musical Theatre is the perfect blend of dance, drama, and song’: as the curtain fell for the last time it was hard to imagine any school giving its talented students a better platform to showcase those talents.