Legally Blonde (Norbury Players)

Things are looking decidedly 'pink' at the Norbury Theatre in Droitwich at the moment and there is some distinct legal jargon in the air, you might want to look-up the phrase 'malum prohibitum' or on the other hand you could just ask Miss Elle Woods who despite only a 4.0 average in fashion merchandising and against all the odds has managed to qualify for a course at Harvard Law, this is of course Legally Blonde !

Hot foot from her success as Snow White in pantomime, Molly Hill creates another piece of stunning characterisation as Miss Woods with a crystal clear vocal to match. I'm sure nobody is quite sure why she feels the need to chase ex boyfriend Warner Huntington III (a gloriously self-centred performance from Jake Jones) all the way from Malibu to Massachusetts but, it's amazing what one will do for 'love'.

If you are travelling that far you're going to need some support from your friends whether in person or as the obligatory Greek Chorus commenting on the moral issues of the time (of which there are many) and Margot (Megan Harrington), Serena (Erin Maiden) and Pilar (Molly Taylor) provide just that with bags of enthusiasm and powerful vocals.

As if it isn't bad enough that Warner has dumped Elle but, he's now hooked-up with the somewhat dislikable Vivienne Kensington a forthright performance from Ellie Davison (don't worry she really isn't that bad, you and Elle will grow to like her). Vivienne doesn't have the monopoly on dislikability (is that a word, if it isn't it should be !) in fact Paul Steele as Professor Callahan is probably in the gold medal position on that front, when he isn't enjoying the 'blood in the water' he's hitting on his interns and it takes some acting skill to play bad without tipping over into nasty and losing the audience.

If Warner is no longer the love interest there has to be somebody else and that comes in the form of Emmett Forrest (a delightfully under-stated and incredibly charming performance from Sam Jeffrey), whether in 'ratty corduroy' or a slick suit you can't fail to like this guy and it is obvious from early on he is the one for Elle (sorry Warner, had your chance, muffed it).

Performance of the Night Award has to go to Hayley Gass as hairdresser and life advisor Paulette Buonufonte, an all round peach of an interpretation of a complex character, great acting, great vocals, great everything. Only fair that she gets the right man in her life, not the slob Dewey but, that piece of 'walking porn', the delivery guy, Kyle B O'Boyle, interestingly played by the same actor (Matthew Jeffrey), obviously there is some commonality when Paulette is attracted to men.

I would normally refer to an old WC Fields quote when it comes to the presence of animals on stage and despite the fact that I don't think Sid as Bruiser or Lola as Rufus are keen to be pursuing a lengthy career in acting, their mere presence led to a level of unplanned and severely cute upstaging.

This production is littered with other notable performances, Kate Green's uber-feminist Enid Hoops, Grace Duggan's perm bedecked Chutney Wyndham, Luke Mills's gay or European (or indeed both) pool boy Nikos Argitakos and Brenda Binnie presiding as Judge from the 'John' (that's the toilet for the uninitiated).

However if what you are really looking for is a 'nutcracker butt' or to 'whip your way to tighter buns' I'd have a word with Emma Waters as Fitness Queen Brooke Wyndham as I'm sure she will have a DVD or two she can sell you (that's after her and her fellow inmates have recovered from skipping and singing at the same time, that's tough !).

Directed by Melanie Brown, Musical Direction from Laurence Nicholas and Choreography from Lois Press this is a night of full-on entertainment you don't want to miss.

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