Legally Blonde the Musical is coming to Aylesbury this month

Jan 12 2012 by Camilla Goodman, Buckinghamshire Advertiser

LEGALLY Blonde was one of my favourite films as a teenager, so when it was turned into a musical in 2007 I was dubious about how it would work. However, after going to see the show in the West End not long after it opened I was left pleasantly surprised. It even ended up winning the title of my favourite musical. I was therefore delighted to find out I would have the chance to watch it again, but this time a little closer to home, after it was announced the Legally Blonde the Musical tour would be running at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre from January 31 to February 4.

The tour has a star-studded cast including Brookside’s Claire Sweeney as Paulette, X Factor finalist Ray Quinn as Warner and former Family Fortunes host Les Dennis as Professor Callahan.

The musical focuses on blonde beauty Elle Woods, played by Faye Brookes. Elle Woods can handle anything. So when her boyfriend, Warner, dumps her she decides to follow him to Harvard Law School and win him back. With some help from new-found friends Paulette, Emmett (played by Iwan Lewis) and her chihuahua Bruiser, she learns that it is so much better to be smart.

Elle becomes friends with Paulette while she is studying at Harvard. Elle has a breakdown while Paulette does her nails and the pair bond. Elle later helps Paulette by using her newly-found law knowledge to help gain custody of her dog back from her ex-husband and of course helps clumsy Paulette to seduce the delivery guy with the famous 'Bend and Snap' technique.

Liverpudlian Claire Sweeney has taken on the role of divorced manicurist Paulette, who is personally my favourite character in the musical. Claire told the Advertiser she had her sights set on the role of Paulette since she attended the opening show in the West End.

“I fell in love with the show and that part,” she explained. “Luckily the opportunity came my way. It’s a passion, it’s just something I really wanted.”

So what does Claire think of the character of Paulette?

“She’s brilliant,” she said. “Absolutely brilliant. What’s nice is not committing to a role like Elle with the whole thing resting on your shoulders. I think Paulette is cracking, she’s a lovely warm character. It really is great fun. It’s just such a laugh.”

The musical actually benefits characters like Paulette who we get to see more of than we do in the film. This is something that Claire was really pleased about.

She said: “You get to know her more in the musical and you get to know more about her relationship with the UPS guy. The audience get to empathise more with her and care more about her.”

Personally I believe Legally Blonde was born to be a musical and actually works better on stage than it does on screen, and I am not the only one who thinks so.

“The show is quite true to the film and it has a great score. It’s really clever,” Claire said.

So with our Claire having quite a strong Scouse accent, does she struggle to capture Paulette’s American accent?

She said: “I’ve done one before and I don’t really think about it. It comes quite naturally. I’ve been off for a while so it’s quite weird hearing it all around me.”

So what does Claire consider to be the best thing about being in Legally Blonde?

“It’s high energy,” she explained. “It’s fun and the audience love it. It’s positive. After doing Tell Me On A Sunday it’s quite nice to do something light and frothy.”

Claire played Paulette in Legally Blonde before Christmas but then had to put it on hold while she appeared in pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk at Davenport Theatre, in Stockport, which finished on Sunday, January 8.

However, she was back at work on Tuesday, January 10 rehearsing for the show.

Co-stars Ray Quinn and Les Dennis are no strangers to Claire after she worked with them both in Brookside.

She said: “I know Les and Ray after working with them on Brookside and they’re both lovely. I’m just looking forward to getting back into it and working with Les and Ray.”

Due to commitments Claire is only on tour with the show until February 11, going to Southend, Aylesbury and her home town of Liverpool, which she added she was very excited about.

It looks like Claire will have a pretty busy schedule until then.

“It’s not that bad,” she said. “All the dates are commutable from home and the Liverpool one is in my home town so it’s not that hectic and I get to go home afterwards.”

Claire is no stranger to the stage after taking on starring roles in the West End’s Chicago and Guys and Dolls. But does she still get nervous before a performance?

She said: “I will be but once I get on stage and back into it I’ll love it.”

You can catch Legally Blonde the Musical at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, in Exchange Street, Aylesbury, from Tuesday, January 31 to Saturday, February 4.

Tickets are priced from £18.50 to £59.50. For tickets, call 0844 871 7607 or visit www.atgtickets.com/Aylesbury.