Legally Blonde
at Loudoun Valley HS

Reviewed on May 3, 2014

Ceci Sturman
Briar Woods High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Loudoun

Platinum blonde hair, pink stilettos, and designer hand bags filled with law textbooks. Does something seem off? UCLA, Delta Nu Sorority President Elle Woods flamboyantly declares that absolutely nothing is wrong with choosing BOTH beauty and brains. Loudoun Valley High School tells the hilariously inspirational story of sorority girl turned Harvard lawyer in Legally Blonde the Musical.

"Legally Blonde the Musical" was first introduced to the Broadway stage in April 2007. The musical was based on the novel Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown and the subsequent 2001 film. It received seven Tony nominations and ten Drama Desk nominations. Legally Blonde ran 595 performances until the production's last showing on October, 2008.

Alie Campbell outstandingly captured the multidimensional character of Elle Woods by personifying the bubbly, boy-crazy sorority girl in the first act as well as the more realistic, justice-seeking Harvard student in the second act. Her facial expressions and responsive energy were consistently entertaining. The flow of the show also leaned heavily on her incredible talent as a vocalist. In several songs, the ending notes that Alie Campbell reached for were breathtaking.

Elle's hairdresser, Paulette, was hilariously personified in Grace Vaughn. From singing about leprechauns to breaking the UPS guy's nose, Grace's physicality and comedic timing as Paulette left the audience in fits of laughter after every scene she was in. Her pure vocal talent was very impressive, as especially exemplified in the song "Ireland". The domineering Professor Callahan was captured by Jackson Herwig. Callahan's fierce attitude and intimidating persona transferred well to the Loudoun Valley stage.

A number of students also stood out as impressive aspects of the musical. Kate (Alex Poirer) captured the audience's attention with her impressive vocal ability in "What You Want". Kyle, the UPS Guy, stole the show with his shuffling hips and awkward yet seductive captivation of Paulette's heart (Matt Merline). Sandy Twetten flawlessly sang while jump roping in her portrayal of Brooke Windham, the queen of fitness workout videos.

Overall, the ensembles were strong and adjusted well to orchestra malfunctions. The Delta Nu ensemble was particularly energetic and fun to watch. Although there were some microphone issues and confusion with spotlights, the technical aspects of the show were impressive. The stage and props crew was always discrete and successful in pulling off smooth scene changes with no lag time. The costumes were creative in highlighting the stereotypes that Legally Blonde entails.

Loudoun Valley's Legally Blonde The Musical was a positively heartwarming experience and memorable performance. Maybe Blondes DO have more fun!

Khrysgiana Pineda
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Loudoun

With a dainty flip of beach blonde curls and a fortuitous score of determination, Elle Woods demonstrates her transcription of "Criminal law 101" in her case to prove that with love she simply cannot lose. Does she have the guts to become the "shark" in a dueling court case in pink? Or will "Little Miss Woods-Comma-Elle" end up the "blood in the water"?

Loudoun Valley welcomes the musical Legally Blonde to the stand. First based on a novel written by Amanda Brown and later a major motion picture which hit theaters in 2001, the musical appearance of Legally Blonde premiered on Broadway in 2007 with lyrics and music by Nell Benjamin and Laurence O'Keefe.

Elle Woods, preoccupied with glitter and heels, failed to reflect on the notion of "getting serious". That is until she finds her "heart is on the floor" when her previous college romance, Warner, abandons her for law school, discarding her and her frivolous habits indelibly. However, fate "in the hands of Elle" can be persuaded. In order to score Harvard she'll have to "become someone serious; someone who wears black even when nobody's dead". Transpiration of love in court requires a little ammunition of facts and a great deal of the courage and wit of a spunky (legally) blonde.

As the lights rise on the Loudoun Valley stage, a chorus of teen girls erupts into a volcanic transpiration of "Omigod You Guys", beginning the show with flamboyant animation and hysteria.

Elle Woods (Alie Campbell) exhibited salient vocal resonance and conspicuous stage presence aligned with jutting energy as well as an emotionally vast performance. Capturing the demeanor of her peppy character and development, Elle was strongly represented in "a brand new domain" of "black and white".

Emmet (Jackson Lessler) grasped the perseverance of his character as he strived to achieve success with "a chip on his shoulder" and an understanding of the concept of Elle's tuition of love in court.

Paulette (Grace Vaughn) and Kyle (Matt Merline) were only two of the blithe, multifarious aspects of comedy celestially executed throughout the course of the production. They drew the audience in with their budding romance, jovial dances, and felicity dreams of Ireland.

Props were widely dispersed throughout the performance, from glowing mannequin heads in Paulette's salon, jump ropes in "Whipped into Shape", to Bruiser's bone-shaped birthday cake. Costumes were suitably diverse and vibrant.

Lacking sound volume and actor projection, the orchestra occasionally supplemented to sound tribulations by straying from the score's click track, however endeavored soulfully to succeed in maintaining cue with vocalists onstage. "There! Right there!" was an especially vivacious, comedic number. Meanwhile, contrasting songs such as "Legally Blonde," performed by Elle and Emmett, beat on the heartstrings of the audience's emotions, creating an air of depth and growth to the characters as well as the production on a whole. The cast perpetuated superb energy and execution of aesthetic choreography, correlated realistic role relationships, and created a profound audience-connection.

"Whoever said tangerine is the new pink is seriously disturbed", because "Omigod!" Loudoun Valley's pink was certainly hot in this thrilling rendition of Legally Blonde.

Ardyn Tennyson
Heritage High School
Submitted for publication to ShowBizRadio.net

"Omigod! Omigod you guys!" The audience matched the Sorority girl's enthusiasm after the exuberant performance of Legally Blonde, at Loudoun Valley High School.

Legally Blonde, originally a famous movie from 2001, was transposed into a musical by Neil Benjamin, Laurence O'Keefe, and Heather Hach. It made its first appearance on Broadway in 2007. The musical gained immediate positive reactions due to the story of a California blonde sorority girl at UCLA getting in to Harvard for love, yet instead finding her true talents and intelligence.

Alie Campbell dominated the stage with her flawless belting voice and her ever-present facial expressions in her role as Elle. She carried the show with her talent in both singing and her ability to act with emotional intensity. Another actress that matched her on point acting was Grace Vaughn, who played Paulette with dedicated character choices and her strong alto voice.

The ensembles added comedy to several of the scenes. The Greek Chorus, especially Margot (Abby Hemby), Serena (Gabriella Huelsman), and Pilar (Sarah Midolo), were always upbeat and full of energy. Kyle (Matt Merline) was the hilarious love interest of Paulette. The audience would erupt with laughter when Kyle would walk seductively over to Paulette or when the twosome engaged in Irish dancing. Another impressive performance was that of the workout video instructor, Brooke, played by Sandy Twetten. Twetten was able to sing and jump rope during "Whipped Into Shape" and delivered snarky lines that pleased the audience.

Despite the continuous talent, the cast increased their energy in Act 2. Two songs in Act 2 that showcased the talent of the whole cast were "There! Right There!" and "Bend and Snap." "Bend and Snap" got the whole audience cracking up as the performers immersed themselves in the role and danced the bend and snap. "There! Right There!" also had a strong ensemble and caused laughter amongst the viewers. Eddie Harris portrayed the hilarious homosexual, Nikos, with his European accent and flamboyant mannerisms. The first act showcased Grace Vaughn's (Paulette) talent in the song "Ireland." Grace filled the song with humorous parts, but also showcased her singing ability. The combination caused this to be etched into the audience's mind even after the performance.

The Loudoun Valley Pit Orchestra managed to follow a click track and was able to help the singers get back on track during the musical. The sets, although simple, prevented overcrowding on the stage.

Loudoun Valley High School delivered humorous lines dripping with innuendo and energetic dance breaks through hard work and dedication, creating a memorable performance.

Sierra Carlson
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - Loudoun

The life of an Ivy League scholar is a life of serious intensity and hard work. Harvard Law is known to many as the most difficult and prestigious schools in the nation, a school of sharks. This shark tank is no place for a fluffy pink puppy, but what if one were to appear? This culture clash is put to the test in Loudoun Valley High School's rendition Legally Blonde the Musical.

Legally Blonde the Musical first premiered on Broadway in April 2007. This adaptation of the novel by Amanda Brown as well as the 2001 film was brought to the stage with music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Neil Benjamin as well as book by Heather Hach. The musical tells the story of a sorority girl, Elle Woods, and her enrollment to Harvard Law School in an effort to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner. While there, her knowledge and resolve are tested by her peers and ultimately the murder trial of fitness tycoon Brooke Wyndham.

Alie Campbell captivated the audience as Elle Woods. Campbell's commitment to character was clear, even when she was not the focus of a scene. This along with her excellent vocal performance flooded the stage, instantly adding energy to the show. Alongside Campbell shone Grace Vaughn and her performance as Paulette. Vaughn created a memorable character with her fine-tuned comedic timing. Every scene or number which featured Vaughn was hysterical as a result of her show stopping dynamism.

Sandy Tweeten's ability to perform a song successfully while jump roping was one of the highlights of the evening. Her commitment and strong character choices added to the overall stereotypical themes expressed in the musical. A similar task was achieved by Jackson Herwig as Professor Callahan. Herwig used the song Blood in the Water as an opportunity for characterization, striking fear in the hearts of his students. The Greek Chorus of sorority girls who helped Elle on all of her important life decisions were a refreshing addition to the musical, adding a burst of energy to an already fun and energizing scene. The students at Harvard did the same in their detailed cohesiveness and attention to what was going on in front of them.

The Viking Players Stage Crew were the unsung heroes of this performance. The ease with which each scene change was executed made for a constant flow of energy, without this skillful implementation the show would have lagged. Aside from Alie Campbell's successful performance as Elle Woods, her music direction was commendable in that it brought individuality to this production. The technical aspects of Loudoun Valley's Legally Blonde the Musical each contributed to the unique way in which the piece was tackled.

The cast and crew of Loudoun Valley High School's Legally Blonde the Musical brought to life the iconic story of sorority girl gone successful lawyer with strong dedication and captivating animation. This high energy performance proved that you can't judge a book by its cover, even when that cover is fluffy, pink, and fabulous.