Blonde moments at Aylesbury

Jan 19 2012 by Lawrence Poole, Buckinghamshire Advertiser

THERE promises to be more than a few ‘blonde moments’ when a hit West End musical arrives in Aylesbury later this month.

Adapted from the big screen 2001 romantic comedy of the same name, Legally Blonde The Musical, has been showered with plaudits and awards and now it has taken to the road.

Featuring ex-Brookside actress Claire Sweeney, game show host Les Dennis and singer Ray Quinn, the show arrives at the Waterside Theatre on January 31.

Based around the character of Elle Woods – played by Reese Witherspoon in the film – and Grease star Faye Brooks here, when she is dumped by her boyfriend, Warner, she decides to follow him to Harvard Law School and win him back by showing she is not a bimbo.

What follows is a mixture of fun-loving anthems, all-American high school humour and good old fashioned song and dance schmaltz. Directed by the Tony and Olivier Award winning Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray), she is joined by Iwan Lewis as Emmett (Fame in the West End, Passion at The Donmar Warehouse) with Claire Sweeney returning as Paulette, Les Dennis as Professor Callahan and Ray Quinn as Warner. On the production, Howard Panter, joint chief executive of Ambassador Theatre Group, said: “Legally Blonde The Musical is a roaring success, people across the UK from Bristol to York and as far as Glasgow have taken Legally Blonde into their hearts and are having an Elle of a party at the theatre.

“Critically acclaimed on tour and getting standing ovations night after night, we are thrilled that Legally Blonde The Musical, the success story from Broadway and London is continuing around the UK before embarking on a further international tour.”

Said to be pure sugary escapism, it should be one to blow away those mid-winter blues then.

l Legally Blonde The Musical at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, from Tuesday, January 31 until Saturday, February 4. 7.30pm (2.30pm on Tuesday/Saturdays as well). £18.50-£59.50. Call 0844 871 7607 or visit www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury.