Legally Blonde
at Herndon High School

Reviewed on April 23, 2016

Hailey Scherer
Flint Hill School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

Most girls would not respond to a devastating breakup by suddenly deciding to apply to and attend Harvard Law School, but Elle Woods is not most girls. In the decision between beauty and brains, Elle Woods chooses both, staying true to herself all the while, inspiring audience members to do the same in Herndon High School's production of Legally Blonde.

Based on Amanda Brown's novel and the 2001 film, Legally Blonde hit Broadway in the spring of 2007, with music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin. Elle Woods is a UCLA Delta Nu sorority president who goes from pursuing her ex-boyfriend's affections to realizing her own potential and self-worth, repeatedly defying stereotypes and exceeding expectations with pluck, unrelenting optimism, and a healthy dose of the color pink.

Allie Lytle embodied the character of Elle Woods to the fullest extent, engaging the audience completely with her spunky effervescence. She conveyed Elle's very essence even in her singing, with bright tone and masterful vibrato, consistent with Elle's simultaneously bubbly and sophisticated personality. She and Nathan Burns (Emmett) shared thoroughly believable chemistry that had the audience cheering for them every step of the way.

Kishan Rao carried the character of Elle's slick-talking, upward-climbing ex-boyfriend Warner through his smooth-as-silk vocals and charming smiles. Jessie Jorgensen conveyed the character of Vivienne expertly through a pompous tilt of the chin and an appropriate smirk, presenting nicely the contrast between her preppiness versus Elle's peppiness.

Anna Hughes (Margot), Emma Anderson (Serena), and Robin McGrath (Pilar) complemented and supported Lytle in playing the principle members of Elle's "Greek Chorus," her sorority sister entourage. They and the rest of the Delta Nu Ensemble punctuated the performance with enduring energy and enthusiasm, a vital element in this production, even if this energy sometimes faltered during more heavily choreographed sequences. The numbers "Bend and Snap" and "Legally Blonde Remix" were high points in the show because of the verve and sparkle with which these girls infused those performances.

Isatu Fofanah (Enid) and Chase Hummel (Kyle) earned laugh after laugh as they took their comedic characters to the next level. Fofanah commanded the stage with her hilariously over-the-top and purposefully aggressive presence, drawing the audience's eye each time she appeared. Hummel, playing the attractive UPS delivery guy, earned fits of laughter with his swagger alone, exuding appropriately exaggerated levels of testosterone-charged confidence.

Becca Wichman (Paulette) never so much as blinked every time her microphone suddenly cut out, impeccably maintaining her adorably quirky character and establishing a seemingly genuine friendship with Lytle (Elle) right before the audience's eyes.

The members of the ensemble were developed, individual characters, helping the audience to fully immerse into Elle's world. The entire cast maintained character interactions even when not speaking lines, and to a commendable degree not often seen in high school productions.

Pink back lights accented key moments of Elle's character development, literally highlighting the most integral parts of the show, a highly effective lighting design choice. From the drama of boyfriends to the triumph of the underdog, Elle Woods conquers all with energy to spare. The cast and crew of Herndon High School did the same, bringing the audience into her world with a believable, cheery quality, delivering a memorably enjoyable rendition of the preppy, peppy, and very pink Legally Blonde.

Rebecca Goodhart
Dominion High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

The feminist movement has roots that one can follow to the depths of history, and its presence continues to permeate modern society. One cause that those in this movement advocate is ensuring that young girls have role models to inspire them to fulfill their potential. Elle Woods, the lead character of Herndon High School's Legally Blonde, is one such role model that teaches young women that nobody, least of all themselves, can stand in the way of their goals.

Legally Blonde's message dates back to a novel of the same name that was published in 2001, with a film adaption hitting theaters in the same year. The author of the book studied at Stanford Law School, and assembled amusing stories about her experiences there into the first basis for the novel. In the 2007 musical, sorority president Elle Woods follows her ex-boyfriend to Harvard Law School in order to win back his love, and ends up learning more about what she can accomplish without him along the way.

An outgoing personality like that of Elle Woods can quickly overshadow the performances of other cast members, but Herndon High School's ensemble eliminated this possibility with infectious élan that allowed for engaging storytelling from every sector of the show. Characters in the background maintained distinct personalities through carefully crafted costumes and reactions.
Balancing Elle's brash side with her benevolent side is a challenge that Allie Lytle effortlessly overcame by delivering confident ultimatums as persuasively as she did sympathetic pleadings. Elle's determination resounded in each belt of Lytle's voice, which she easily toned down during moments where her character exhibited compassion or woe. The endearing and purposefully awkward interactions between Elle and her newfound friend, Emmett (Nathan Burns), authentically depicted how two people can unintentionally fall in love.

Although most of Elle's conflict centered on her struggle to prove herself as a lawyer, the villains of the story maintained a substantial presence that provided Elle with realistic adversaries to rise against. One notable foe is Jack Norcross's Professor Callahan, whose fierce gesticulations and cutting remarks in numbers like "Blood in the Water" gave his character the intimidating aura expected of a stereotypical law professor. Elle's classmate and rival in love, Vivienne (Jessie Jorgensen), also exhibited a convincingly antagonistic attitude through her snide denigrations from the moment she haughtily strode on stage.

Adorning the stage was an enormous "L" and an equally as immense "B" that doubled as clever backdrops and movable platforms. Faulty blocking occasionally created moments where characters were obscured by other cast members, but there were also moments where the choreography heightened the vivacity of the performers. This was apparent in a vigorous Irish dance number that called for all of the energy that the cast could produce, and received that energy in spades.

Herndon High School's performance of Legally Blonde serves as a reminder to aspiring youth that when they are told that their dreams are impossible, it merely means that they have yet to prove themselves to the world.

Mavis Manaloto
W.T. Woodson High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

She's blonde, she's decked in pink, and she's seriously ready for Harvard Law School! But is Harvard Law School ready for her? It's Elle Woods at Herndon High School's production of "Legally Blonde"!

"Legally Blonde" started first as a novel of the same name by Amanda Brown and then proceeded to become a movie in 2001. With music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Neil Benjamin and book by Heather Hatch, this modern musical follows stereotypical blonde Elle Woods as she follows her ex-boyfriend Warner Huntington III to Harvard Law School in hopes of winning back his heart. Along the way, with the help of the girls of Delta Nu, quirky Paulette, and adorably awkward Emmett, she learns of unusual potential and uses it to win her case and the hearts of her peers. This show was nominated for seven Tony Awards in 2007 and five Olivier Awards in 2011, winning three including Best New Musical.

Herndon High School's production was filled with hilarious one liners provided by Elle Woods (Allie Lytle), Enid Haupt (Isatu Fofanah), and Brooke Wyndham (Annie Taylor), amongst many others. The cast's energy, facial expressions, and commitment were consistent throughout, making it an exciting show to see. From songs such as "What You Want" and "Legally Blonde Remix," the cast's excitement reached the audience and was evident on the audience's faces.

Allie Lytle's Elle Woods was portrayed with the perfect combination of ditzy and charming. Her strong vocals never fluctuated throughout the high-energy show, which should be highly applauded. As she grew as a character, the audience fell in love with her. Another standout was Isatu Fofanah as Enid Haupt, whose loud and proud lesbian character added to the show's hilarity.

The cast featured many comical actors in roles such as Kyle the sexy UPS guy (Chase Hummel) with his on-point strut, Nikos (Shivam Shrivastava) and Carlos (RJ Mosuela) as secret gay lovers, the sassy Delta Nu Trio (Emma Anderson, Anna Hughes, Robin McGrath), and Paulette (Becca Wichman) as the spunky beautician. Although their choreography and blocking could have been more precise, their energetic spirit matched the high-energy show to a T.

The lighting of this production, from pinks to blues to reds, set the show's mood and elevated the scenes. While the orchestra could have been honed some, they played on with vigor and dignity. The props of this show featured a special highlight: live dogs! The dogs of Elle Woods and Paulette provided the audience with oohs and ahhs.

Herndon High School's production of "Legally Blonde" left the audience with an important lesson: staying true to yourself will get you far in life. Case closed!

Nandi Ndoro
The Madeira School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - FX/HE

The path to success and happiness is one that we have all chased since early childhood. Whether it be to a corporate career or a philanthropist organization, the image of vocational success begins to take many molds through our lifetimes. However, what happens when we do not fit those images of power? Herndon High School's production of Legally Blonde perfectly captures the pursuit of happiness and the transformations required to achieving our goals. Luring the audience into the idiosyncratic story of Elle Woods (Allie Lytle), a glimpse of her personal success is shown as well as her lessons of staying true to blonde roots.

Written in 2001 by novelist and liberalist Amanda Brown, Legally Blonde made a mark in the modern feminist movement. The novel, and later turned Oscar-winning film, comically showcased the gender-based struggles of the modern woman seeking vocational growth. When the novel was transposed into a Broadway musical in early 2007, with score and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, Legally Blonde continued its exhibition of empowerment amongst women. The live production received over five Tony Award nominations that added to the rapid success of the show.

The musical revolves around Elle Woods (Allie Lytle), a blonde, ditz from Malibu, California who also acts as president of her college sorority, Delta Nu. After suffering from devastating break up, by her elitist, and Harvard-bound boyfriend, Warner (Kishan Rao), she sets out to the East Coast, in hopes of winning back her ex-boyfriend. She is offered miraculous admission into Harvard Law School, but eventually finds that her ambitions are no longer focused on Warner, but on becoming a lawyer. Through unlikely companions, like her hairdresser, Paulette (Becca Wichman), and colleague Emmett (Nathan Burns), she is chosen to intern in the murder trial of exercise guru, Brooke Wyndham (Annie Taylor). She wins the case, and finds herself valedictorian of her graduating class.

The effervescence, and zeal of Elle Woods (Allie Lytle) was skillfully depicted and rooted throughout the performance. Lytle stunned the audience with her continuous vitality and smooth transitions into Elle's ever-changing emotions.

The ensemble also played a huge role in elevating the story of Elle Woods. Acting as her guiding angels, the fervid, Delta Nu girls not only highlighted her transformation, but demonstrated their own vocal talents as well. In animated performances like "Oh My God, You Guys!" and "What You Want (part 2)", the ensemble painted some of the most entertaining scenes of the show. Although the sound proved to be an obstacle in hearing the dialogue between certain characters, the actors showed expertise in projecting their voices.
Though the transitions between scenes were sometimes not entirely smooth, the set was cleverly designed, using mobile, large wooden structures, an "L" and "B", as platforms for the props. The set glowed with a crimson red, and was filled with the pink furniture of Elle Woods, fittingly blending the Delta Nu, sorority girl with the Harvard Law graduate.

Celia Konowe
South Lakes High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

When a blonde sorority girl from Malibu walks into Harvard Law School with her canine best friend Bruiser, all people see is the color of her hair. However, as presented in Herndon High School's truly energetic production of Legally Blonde, Elle Woods challenges and breaks every stereotype, all while discovering herself and the love of her life along the way.

Based on the novel by Amanda Brown, Legally Blonde was adapted into a movie in 2001 and premiered on Broadway in 2007, and tells the story of a girl who chases her love from California to Massachusetts, only to find something even better when she gets there.

Opening the production was the Greek Chorus, made up of three Delta Nu sisters, Margot, Serena and Pilar, portrayed by Anna Hughes, Emma Anderson and Robin McGrath. The three sorority girls worked together cohesively, bringing energy to the show with their spirited dances and dynamic vocals in numbers such as "Omigod You Guys" and "Positive." The ensemble as a whole remained engaged and continued to carry the energy of the show throughout despite some choreography and vocals that lacked strength.

Allie Lytle genuinely portrayed the bubbly Elle Woods through her exceptional acting choices, smart comedic timing and perky attitude. Her vivacious vocals, along with her stellar range of emotions, enhanced her character's depth, as she transitioned smoothly from a peppy, love-oriented Delta Nu in the opening number to a determined lawyer in "So Much Better." Her voice paired beautifully with that of Nathan Burns (Emmett, an empathetic lawyer who helps Elle reach her full potential), who showed off his character's multi-leveled personality in "Chip On My Shoulder" and the chemistry between the couple in "Legally Blonde."

Additionally enjoyable performances were those by Kishan Rao (Warner) whose strong voice depicted his character's charisma, yet true colors in "Serious"; Jessie Jorgensen (Vivienne), who admirably portrayed Warner's snooty new girlfriend, only to turn everything around in "Legally Blonde Remix" with her bright vocals; Jack Norcross (Professor Callahan), impressively creating a cold character that justified the nickname "C- Callahan" in "Blood in the Water; Becca Wichman (Paulette), whose solid vocals in "Ireland" and comedic moments elevated her quirky personality; Chase Hummel (Kyle), who brought humor to his portrayal of Paulette's love interest through his use of physical comedy; and Isatu Fofanah (Enid), portraying the radical feminist role with such moxie, making her a crowd favorite.

Despite some microphone and sound system problems, the leads powered through, phenomenally maintaining their characters with virtually no hesitation. Simplistic yet colorful costumes were used effectively to establish separation between some roles, such as Elle and Paulette, while creating cohesion between others, such as the Delta Nu sisters. The audience was further won over by the presence of two dogs in the show, portraying Elle's dog, Bruiser, and Paulette's dog, Rufus.

Herndon High School presented a bright production that ultimately declared to never let stereotypes define who we are, to always stand by what we believe and to never judge a book by its cover, or in this case, by hair color.

Claire Briggs
Flint Hill School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

Through the support of her excited sorority sisters of Delta Nu, two adorable dogs, a quirky salon owner, a handsome UPS delivery man, and a scruffy yet sweet teaching assistant, Elle Woods takes on the challenge of leaving behind her friends and family in California so she can attend Harvard Law School, where she hopes to win back her slick ex, Warner. On Saturday April 23, at Herndon High School, Herndon High School Theatre put on a highly entertaining production of the musical Legally Blonde. The musical is based on Amanda Brown's novel and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film of the same name, with the music and lyrics written by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin and the book by Heather Hach.

Through she faces many hardships in her new home such as tough professors, snobby classmates, and being taken seriously- Elle (played by Allie Lytle) tackles them all with her confident, bubbly personality and an array of fashionable pink outfits. While at first she may seem naive, and even what some might refer to as a "dumb blonde," Elle proves herself to be much brighter and more capable than even she thought she could be. Though she goes to Harvard Law School to get back her ex, Warner (played by Kishan Rao), Elle's encounters with Emmett, the adorable teaching assistant (Nathan Burns), Professor Callahan (Jack Norcross), Warner's new girlfriend, Vivienne (Jessie Jorgensen), and Paulette, the friendly salon owner (Becca Wichman), show that she is more than just a pretty face.

Allie Lytle was fantastic as Elle, connecting with the audience and maintaining vocal clarity and a high level of energy throughout the show. Her bright voice reflected her character well, and she was delightful to watch. Her voice and stage presence were particularly noteworthy in the song "What You Want."

Other enjoyable performances were those of the Delta Nu Ensemble, particularly the characters of Margot (played by Anna Hughes), Serena (Emma Anderson), and Pilar (Robin McGrath). The three had great energy and enthusiasm, and each did a good job of creating her own character that was fun and unique. The performance of Isatu Fofanah as Enid Haupt was incredibly passionate and she commanded the stage each time she had a line. Jack Norcross was brilliantly slimy and full of swagger as Professor Callahan; his performance in the song "Blood in the Water" was particularly laudable. Annie Taylor as Brooke, the exercise queen on trial for her husband's murder, shone in every scene she was in, even when she only had a few lines.

The costumes, makeup, and props of this show also deserve commendation, as they matched the scenes and characters of the musical very well. Although the sets were quite impressive, the ambitious set changes proved a bit distracting at times. And while most of the leads could be heard throughout their performance, problems with the sound were also somewhat distracting. However, the cast managed to stay in character throughout these small mishaps and were very committed to their parts.

All in all, Herndon High school Theatre's rendition of the musical Legally Blonde was extremely fun. The cast should be congratulated on a great performance.