Audience verdict: Fer sure, 'Legally Blonde' a pleaser

Omigod, you guys, you could totally tell.

If you were one of the 1,700 people at the Orpheum on Tuesday night for the opening of “Legally Blonde,” you already know the verdict on the audience's favorite things about this frothy musical based on a 2001 movie. Exhibit A: loud applause.

Fer shure, they loved the dogs. Harvard law student Elle Woods' chihuahua, Bruiser, earned the show's first spontaneous applause when he barked on cue and leapt into a pretty girl's arms. Beautician Paulette's bulldog was just as popular.

They went crazy for Kyle, the hot UPS deliveryman Paulette drools over. Ven Daniel struts his stuff to huge laughs and applause with every entrance, exit, sharp pivot and double entendre (“Ladies, I have a package”).

Matter of fact, they were pretty nuts about Natalie Joy Johnson as Paulette, whose daffy song about all things Irish may have been the most popular solo number all night. Johnson's comedic timing and line deliveries created plenty of laughs where there weren't any.

D.B. Bonds was spot on as Emmett, the law associate who takes Elle under his wing and who learns a thing or two about romance and dressing for success from the girl in pink. Bonds had the crowd on his side right away.

My money's on looker Jeff McLean as Warner, the guy who dumps Elle because she's not serious enough, causing her to follow him from Malibu all the way to Harvard to try and win him back. McLean's vocal fluorishes as he explains to Elle that she's not “Serious” enough were very easy on the ear.

But the biggest applause at curtain call, after the crowd was on its feet, was for Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone as Elle, the bouncy, flouncy girly-girl who doesn't give up and who rises from running joke to head of the class. The mostly female audience couldn't resist Monteleone, who has a fine soprano voice.

Me, I'd say this was a solid show, but not spectacular. The sound was mildly problematic. While we could understand every word Paulette and Emmett sang, the case wasn't as open and shut with Elle and Professor Callahan. That's too bad, because one of this show's greatest assets is the clever lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin.

We lost some laughs as well, victims of rapid delivery and timing that was slightly off. And was it my imagination, or did some of Elle's clothes look a bit loose while other outfits seemed small?

What perked up the crowd most were lively chorus numbers executed by an energetic and young bunch of singer-dancers. Whether it was the ladies doing the “Bend and Snap” or the hottest, buffest male chorus of shirtless frat boys at a beer bash, or just about everybody doing some Irish clog dancing, energy and pizazz were the rule of the night. A jump-rope number led by fitness guru Brooke (Coleen Sexton) was a big hit.

Some of those hard-working chorus members made the most of little bits of business: Sara Andreas as a gawky court stenographer, Constantine Rousouli as the preening pool boy, CJay Hardy Philip as a trial judge. Greek chorus leaders Tiffany Engen, Rhiannon Hansen and Candice Marie Woods, as the voices in Elle's head, sizzled.

Like the movie it comes from, “Legally Blonde, the Musical” is featherweight fun. Tuesday's opener felt like orchestra, cast and crew needed just a little more time to settle.

But, hey, the verdict was still way favorable. Elle and company left a supermajority tickled pink.

Contact the writer:

444-1269, bob.fischbach@owh.com

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