VIA West End World
Elle Woods goes from sorority fashionista to Harvard Law graduate in this fun and empowering musical
Since its premiere in 2007, “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” starring Laura Bell Bundy and Christian Borle, has stood the test of time and continues to live up to its predecessors, including a book and movie of the same name.
“Legally Blonde” follows Delta Nu sorority member Elle Woods as she embarks on a journey to reclaim her so-called lost love, Warner Huntington III, who unceremoniously dumps her right before heading off to Harvard Law School (“Serious”).
Attempting to get him back, Elle decides that she must go to Harvard Law to prove that she can be just as serious as everyone else at Harvard (“What You Want”). Upon arriving, Elle finds that she is having a harder time adjusting to Harvard life than she expected, with her struggles soon magnified upon learning that Warner has found a new girlfriend, Vivienne Kensington.
Emmett Forrest is one of the first people Elle meets when she arrives at Harvard Law. Emmett acts as a calmer, more straightforward counterpart to the enigmatic Elle Woods. Together, they come to realize that Elle is much smarter and more capable than she once believed, with or without Warner (“Chip on My Shoulder”). The audience is also introduced to Paulette Buonufonte, Elle’s aesthetician, who is one of the few people, aside from her fellow sorority sisters, who believes in Elle and what she has set out to accomplish.
Elle’s journey of embracing her inner aptitude for law leads her to many people, most notably Brooke Wyndham. Workout video star and previous Delta Nu member, Brooke, strikes up a kinship with Elle. The problem? Brooke is currently awaiting trial after being accused of murdering her billionaire husband, and Elle and her fellow classmates have been assigned to her case, along with their teacher Professor Callahan, in order to prove her innocence (“Whipped into Shape”).
As they work on the case, Elle and Emmett grow closer together, but someone else soon has their eyes on Elle. During the trial, Elle shows off her newfound lawyer skills, getting the team much closer to proving Wyndham’s innocence. That night, however, Professor Callahan decides to try and take advantage of Elle. She denies him and is promptly fired.
This setback shatters Elle’s confidence, believing that she was only chosen to help with the case because of what Callahan wanted from her. Even Emmett, who professes his love for her in the song “Legally Blonde,” claiming, “What about love? I never mentioned love. The timing’s bad, I know. But perhaps if I’d made it more clear, that you belong right here, you wouldn’t have to go,” cannot make Elle stay, and she leaves Harvard.
Luckily, Paulette, and even Vivienne, who has had a change of heart, are able to convince Elle to stay and finish what she started. Elle is finally able to embrace both sides of herself, wearing a pink dress the next day in the courtroom and wins the case, freeing Brooke Windham (“Legally Blonde – Remix”).
The musical ends with the song “Find My Way/Finale,” as Elle, valedictorian of her class at Harvard Law, graduates and proposes to Emmett, who excitedly agrees.
Some of the best songs within “Legally Blonde: The Musical” are certainly “Chip on my Shoulder,” “So Much Better” and “Legally Blonde,” as they capture the essence of Elle Woods’ journey. A few honorable mentions include “Blood in the Water” and “Whipped into Shape.”
Elle Woods’ story in “Legally Blonde: The Musical” continues to inspire girls everywhere, whether it be on the page, onscreen or even onstage.