By MARILYN JOZWIK
The audience has rendered its verdict – they loved Waukesha Civic Theatre’s presentation of “Legally Blonde.”
The evidence was solid – lots of laughs throughout and hoots and hollers accompanying hearty applause after musical numbers during Waukesha Civic Theatre’s recent Sunday matinee.
After a brief delay to start the show due to some technical problems, the sorority girls of Delta Nu burst onto the stage for “Omigod You Guys” to celebrate the pending engagement of their president, Elle Woods. The excitement was palpable, like a bunch of teens at a Katy Perry concert. Often, it takes a scene or two to ramp up to this kind of energy, but, omigod you guys. That was amazing. And it only got better from there.
Especially when Hailey Hentz as Elle stepped onto the stage. This is perhaps one of the single most impressive performances I’ve seen on the local stage. The performance was spot on, totally effortless in creating the perfect Elle – a little naïve (OK, maybe a lot), a little spoiled (OK, maybe a lot), a lot diva. But Hentz also captured Elle’s inner strength, which really seemed natural to her character. And could she dance (she is a professional ballroom dancer)! Plus, her singing voice is perfect for Elle, with just the right hint of vulnerability at times.
Ami Majeskie is the show’s director and choreographer and I am always impressed with what she brings to the stage. This is no exception. The smiles and energy reached to the back rows and beyond.
The story of Elle Woods, played by Reese Witherspoon in the 2001 movie, is a sort of twist on the underdog. Elle, a fashion design major is certain to become engaged to her Harvard-bound boyfriend (Christopher Welsh) – until he dumps her in quest of someone more serious, to help him achieve his political career goals. Elle is crushed and sets her sights on getting into Harvard’s law school to be near him and prove she can be what he’s looking for.
At Harvard, the perky, pretty Elle is a fish out of water – not taken seriously by anyone. Until she meets Paulette (Keegan Timm), her hairstylist, who sees Elle’s potential, and Emmet (Phillip Steenbekkers), a shy law student who sees a kindred spirit in Elle. Elle learns to utilize her special skill set to earn the respect and admiration of her peers. Rather than the ugly duckling who reveals her inner beauty, it is the story of the pretty swan who reveals her inner strength and fortitude.
This show is non-stop fun, music and dance at a high level. The dance numbers were nothing short of spectacular, led by Elle, Serena, Margot and Pillar (Hentz, Sierra Rottier, Isabella Zeimet and Alyna Williams) and the Delta Nus. An especially impressive number is “Whipped Into Shape,” led by Brooke (Heather David), a fitness guru accused of murder. David leads a group of dancers in a marvelous jump-roping routine. The girls are singing while jumping rope (try that sometime) in sync during the high-energy piece.
The eight-piece orchestra, conducted by music director Ashley Makeever on keyboard, maintains a bright, full sound throughout. The vocals are all well-delivered.
A real crowd favorite was Keegan Timm’s portrayal of Paulette, the hairstylist who becomes Elle’s major support. Her rendition of “Ireland,” in which she sings of her dreams of meeting a handsome Irishman, was a huge hit. With her outfits and characterization, her character, literally and figuratively, adds bursts of color to the show.
And while there are tons of music and dance, there were uniformly wonderful performances, led by Hentz as Elle. I especially enjoyed Steenbekkers as Elle’s meek mentor and Mark Neufang as the arrogant, smarmy Professor Callahan.
The set is mostly dark wood tones with pink accents, a perfect backdrop for the pink-dominated outfits that filled the stage.
While not holiday-themed, Waukesha Civic Theatre’s “Legally Blonde” is the perfect show for the season of stories of transformation (think Scrooge), with a joyous, youthful attitude and loads of entertainment value.
If you go
Who: Waukesha Civic Theatre
What: “Legally Blonde”
When: Through Dec. 22
Where: 264 W Main St., Waukesha
Info/Tickets: (262) 547-0708; www.waukeshacivictheatre.org