The sixty-sixth season of Music Circus summer productions of popular musicals kicked off last week with the musical version of “Legally Blonde.” The play is based on the film (from Amanda Brown’s novel) that starred Reese Witherspoon and was such a big hit that it led to a sequel. The musical (music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin; book by Heather Hach) deviates minimally from the movie. Thus, it is light and inconsequential. It is also fun, and the Music Circus production, directed by Michael Heitzman, delivered on all counts.
The story concerns Elle, the blonde of the title, who is jilted by her college beau when he is accepted to Harvard Law School. Not to be outdone, Elle studies up for the LSAT (Law School Admission Test), aces it, and gets admitted to Harvard, too. The bulk of the story then takes place at the law school, where Elle, despite her valley-girl approach to the academic experience, manages to do quite well for herself.
The moral, if there is one, is something along the lines of “don’t judge a book by its cover,” which should also qualify as a spoiler alert if you aren’t catching the drift of the plot. In any event, it’s all presented with a lot of light-hearted, good-natured froth, save for one incident (that is too easily dismissed in the stage version) of abusive conduct. Otherwise, it’s just a fun show, and last week’s production, if it is the worst of the new season, will likely mean that the remaining five productions should be pretty good.
The Music Circus cast was led by Lauren Zakrin in the Witherspoon role. She played it well, although she was overshadowed by two others in the cast. Ryah Nixon was one of them. Playing Paulette, the hairdresser, she provided comic relief for the rest of the comedy, which is saying a lot. But the scene- stealing role went to ensemble member Seth Danner as the UPS delivery guy who ended up being Paulette’s love interest. Mr. Danner spoke only a few words, but he was perfect as the “hunk” who stole Paulette’s heart (in a side storyline that would otherwise be almost a throw-away). And his single short solo dance in the second act was the show’s highlight.
Others in the cast who were impressive included Paul Schoeffler as the law professor who went too far in his admiration of Elle, Ryann Redmond as one of Elle’s classmates, and James Michael Lambert, as the teacher’s assistant who provides support for Elle in more ways than one. Jordan Bondurant and Shannon O’Boyle also had significant roles. And a fifteen-member ensemble acquitted itself well in supporting roles and in the show’s limited song and dance offerings.
The musical selections are not the kind that have you humming tunes as you leave the theater. “Omigod You Guys” is a sprightly opening number that is reprised in the second act. “Ireland” offered Ms. Nixon a solo that she fully delivered. “Find My Way” featured Ms. Nixon and Ms. Zakrin (who sang well but didn’t get much material to work with).
On the technical end, in addition to Mr. Heitzman’s direction, the relatively limited choreography was by Mara Newbery Greer, Stephen Gifford was responsible for the scenic design, and Darren R. Cohen was the musical director (conducting a thirteen-piece orchestra).
In all, the production worked for what it was supposed to do, namely, to provide the audience with an enjoyable evening of frivolous entertainment: happy times at Harvard Law School.
The summer productions continue at the Music Circus next week with “Hello, Dolly!” Tickets and information are available at the theater box office (1419 H Street), by phone (916-557-1999) or online (SacramentoMusicCircus.com).