Horizon’s Legally Blonde is Entertaining & Enjoyable

Local group theatre took middle stage with Horizon Performing Arts’ vibrant manufacturing of Legally Blonde – The Musical at Ann Arbor’s Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre. The high-energy present delivered laughter, coronary heart, and a strong message. With music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, and a script by Heather Hach, Legally Blonde – The Musical is predicated on the novel by Amanda Brown and the MGM movement image.

The Horizon Performing Arts was based as a 501 (c )3, nonprofit group in 2017. The mission of the group is to offer high quality artwork that’s distinctive and academic for all ages. It hopes to offer a chance for individuals of all talent ranges to take part within the arts. Brynn Arnall was a founding member and serves because the group’s Executive Director. “We operate entirely through volunteers, as no one gets paid. We want to provide anyone with the chance to be a part of the arts, whether on or backstage.”

Legally Blonde – The Musical playfully challenges the “dumb blonde” stereotype by means of its lead character, Elle Woods, portrayed with allure and depth by Lila Brighton.Woods was a mixture of all issues feminine. Blonde hair that was in every single place. Hot pink was her signature colour. She was dizzy in how she walked and talked. And, she might sing. She was good.

UCLA sorority sisters, Megan Sycks, Olivia Sulisz and Brenna Cloutier present consolation and assist to Woods when her boyfriend dumps her as a result of he must date somebody extra severe to spice up his standing at Harvard Law.

Legally Blonde makes use of humor and songs to successfully confront points that ladies have confronted for years. The rigidity between wanting to slot in and preventing to achieve a person’s world is on full show. Because Woods is a sexy feminine at Harvard Law School, stereotypes abound. Nolan David’s portrayal of Professor Callahan is the proper antagonist. He is conceited, pompous and obnoxious, with an inflated sense of himself. Assuming Woods is a dumb blonde, keen to do something to get forward, he makes an attempt to coerce her right into a bodily relationship.

Woods slaps his face and rejects his advances. “I thought you were smarter than that!” Callahan shouts. And, similar to that, she is out.

While Woods might need been out, she was by no means down. She drops by hair stylist Paulette, performed brilliantly by Hannah Haigh, who convinces her to combat again. Haigh offered so many laugh-out-loud moments. Her participation within the Bend and Snap tune and dance quantity was particular.

Legally Blonde was directed by Brynn Arnall & Melissa Stewart, with music course by Megan Smania-Watts. Audrey Waugh choreographed the present. Waugh’s dance quantity was visually stimulating. She had a handful of dancers and lots of non-dancers. The key to profitable choreography is mixing the 2 right into a stream of movement that fills the stage and is enjoyable to take a look at. Waugh achieved that.

To open Act II, her choreography of “Whip Into Shape” was a spotlight of the present. With a mix of dancers and movers, she successfully used leap ropes to create a sea of movement. “There was someone who had never jumped rope before but wanted to be in the number. They worked hard and they learned,” mentioned Arnall. Whip Into Shape was a delight to look at.

Paul Gruber, enjoying the position of the shy, awkward UPS driver Kyle, made his stage debut in Legally Blonde. For a rookie, he was poised, humorous and performed his half properly. The sparks generated between him and Haigh’s Paulette labored. Their chemistry, amid their awkwardness, was plausible and touching.

Overall, Horizon Performing Arts’ manufacturing of Legally Blonde – The Musical was successful. It was humorous. It delivered a robust social message, wrapped in humor. And it showcased the energy of girls with intelligence and integrity. The group provides one other outlet to look at enjoyable theatre at a really cheap worth.