★★★★ Omigod You Guys! Legally Blonde: The Musical Is a High-Energy Hit!
- Marika Page
- Mar 6
- 3 min read
Few films capture the spirit of early-2000s pop culture quite like Legally Blonde, starring Reese Witherspoon. The musical adaptation of the beloved Hollywood film has since become a classic in its own right on the theatre stage, delivering the same humour, heart and infectious energy. We saw the opening night of Legally Blonde: The Musical at the Lyceum this week and it was pure joy from start to finish.
Packed with catchy numbers, the show wastes no time pulling the audience into Elle Woods’ world. The opening number “Omigod You Guys” bursts with energy and perfectly introduces the vibrant Delta Nu sorority, while the Act One closer “So Much Better” is a triumphant anthem that captures Elle’s determination to prove her worth at Harvard Law.
Leading the charge is Amber Davies as Elle Woods, who is an absolute joy from the moment she steps on stage. Davies embodies Elle’s charm, optimism and resilience to a tee, making her both instantly likeable and deeply relatable as she fights to be taken seriously in a world that constantly underestimates her. Opposite her, George Crawford brings warmth and sincerity to the role of Emmett. His vocals were delivered with an effortless ease that makes his performance particularly endearing. Jocasta Almgill gives an impressively athletic performance as Brooke Wyndham, absolutely knocking her show-stopping solo “Whipped into Shape” out of the park. Singing powerfully while skipping rope throughout the number is no easy feat, yet she executes it flawlessly, earning well-deserved cheers from the audience.
Another standout came from Karen Mavundukure’s performance as Paulette, Elle’s best friend. Her heartfelt and hilarious rendition of “Ireland” is a true showstopper. Mavundukure’s powerhouse vocals bring the house down, and she easily steals the all of the scenes she appears in, alongside her love interest Kyle the UPS man (Ty-Reece Stewart) who also brought a lot of laughs to the show.
The ensemble deserves huge praise for the sheer energy they bring to the production. With a relatively small cast covering multiple roles, performers often appear in quick succession as entirely different characters. While this can occasionally be a little distracting, the transitions are handled smoothly and professionally that the momentum of the show never falters.
Adding an extra dose of charm are the real-life dogs Milo and Sprout, who appear throughout the production as Bruiser Woods and Rufus. Their appearances consistently delighted the audience. After all, you can’t have Elle Woods without her beloved Bruiser Woods, and they were an irresistibly cute addition to the show.
Visually, the production is a delight. Set designer Colin Richmond creates a vibrant, fluorescent pink dreamscape that perfectly captures the playful spirit of the show. The costumes by Tom Rogers cleverly highlighted the contrast between worlds: bright neon colours reflect Elle’s sunny UCLA sorority life, while the darker blacks and greys of Harvard Law emphasise the more serious environment she must navigate.
Under the direction of Nikolai Foster, with choreography by Leah Hill, the production maintains an impressively high level of energy from start to finish. With music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, and a book by Heather Hach, the show retains the wit and heart of the original story while thriving as a theatrical spectacle in its own right.
Ultimately, Legally Blonde: The Musical is an exuberant, high-energy production that never takes itself too seriously—and that’s exactly where its charm lies. With a cast clearly having the time of their lives on stage, that infectious sense of fun quickly spreads to the audience. If you’re looking for an evening filled with laughter, uplifting music and unapologetic fun, Legally Blonde: The Musical is well worth your time.
The production is currently on tour across the UK until Saturday 2 January 2027, and is playing at the Lyceum until Saturday 7 March.
