by Jill Shaughnessy
“What, like it’s hard?” to put on a production of Legally Blonde at LSE? Maybe. But even without a proper theatre, the Drama Society managed to execute a successful production of the modern musical classic. I would have absolutely loved to see this cast on a real stage with a full pit, but they did well with what they had. The musical itself is very upbeat and the cast was lively and energetic. The leading lady Elle Woods, played by Harriet Shaw, was truly a reincarnation of Laura Bell Bundy. Despite a few inconsistencies we can write off as nerves, her voice nearly matched the original cast recording. Her talents really shined in her incredible stage presence and acting. Another standout was Kosta Burgess as Professor Callahan. Does LSE have musical theatre training all of a sudden? Because this dude is in the wrong place. He is very talented and could have a career on the West End if he wanted to. This is the second production this year that I have seen him play the villain and the casting has been spot on every time. Fabian Jones also won over the crowd, with his Irish dancing skills and comedic timing as Kyle the UPS guy. Additionally, Leisl Yeap really impressed with her strong voice showcased in the second half. I’ve always felt that Vivienne deserved her own song and Yeap cemented that. I was also bracing myself for bad American accents but was pleasantly surprised by the impressive accent work by the majority of the cast.
The staging was simple at times and some moments could have used a little more choreography, but the dancing that was there was brilliant. The Delta Nus were very in sync in their bend and snaps and the Brooke Wyndham jump roping routine is always impressive. I could tell that the ensemble was made up of strong dancers and wished that they had more time to shine. For instance, I would have loved to see more of Jillian Verzweyvelt, who played Gaelen, with her incredible high kicks that would make even the Rockettes envious. The costuming and props were definitely positives and the production ran very smoothly in terms of lighting, stage management, and sound. It was all very impressive for a student production. My favourite numbers were “Gay or European” and “What You Want” as they exemplified the strengths of the Drama Soc.
To be honest, though, I felt like the production would have benefitted from stronger male voices. I also wasn’t the biggest fan of a human playing the two dogs in the show, but it makes sense for efficiency and comedy. I feel that backdrops and more fully realised sets would’ve helped further develop the atmosphere as it felt as though something was missing, but I understand that this likely resulted from budgetary constraints. All in all, I always enjoy the Drama Soc’s productions and Legally Blonde was no exception. They put a smile on the audience’s faces and showcased the talent at LSE. In my eyes, they won their case.
