Legally Blonde - The Musical

Limelight Carnegie Youth Theatre this week presented Legally Blonde The Musical this week at Carnegie Hall and the verdict is guilty of producing a spectacular show.

Originally a 2007 musical with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Neil Benjamin and a book by Heather Hatch based on the book by Amanda Brown and the MGM movie from 2001. The story surrounds young blonde Elle Woods (played by Amelie Christie) who excels at Harvard Law School to win back her boyfriend Warner (Gregor Scott). Her growing legal knowledge can help others like her pal Brooke Wyndham, played by Katie Haslam, an exercise queen but facing a murder trial and befriends Emmett Forrest played by young Aaron MacGregor.

Pic Credit: Alastair More Photography

The Premiere was in San Francisco in 2007 and moved to Broadway the same year. Nominated for seven Tony Awards, it sadly won none. MTV hosted a reality show to find the next lead with 20-year-old Bailey Hunter declared the winner. Closing in October 2008 it played nearly 600 performances but failed to recoup its investment.

London West End version opened at the Savoy Theatre in January 2010 with Sheridan Smith winning her Best Actress In A Musical Olivier Award, one of three won by that production. It closed in April 2012 after 974 performances.

This Limelight Carnegie Youth production has over 60 young people from P1 to P6 primary classes as well as a Kids and adult section, the latter of which are already preparing for a major production of Grease which opens on October 6th at the Alhambra Dunfermline.

With such an American theme there were many challenges to stage this show but after the opening big number Omigod You Guys the stage explodes with lights, striking choreography courtesy of Vicky Smith and a vocal chorus that will leave you singing this for days. If a musical has a better opening, I have yet to see it. The band too, after the opening overture are conveniently balanced as they produce a big sound to announce themselves. An orchestra in effect with 15 seasoned members conducted and assembled by MD Fraser Morrison. As Creative Director he had so much to get right, and he told us there are many highlights in this show and many challenges to overcome since rehearsals started in August 2024. He credited Katie Haslem, currently studying for a BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre for her role as Brooke who at the start of the second half leads on Whipped Into Shape, set in the Correction Center with the ensemble singing as the jump through skipping ropes. There are many highlights though and on the non-PC Gay Or European song hilarity results helped by the timing of young Theo Hart who has about four parts in this show. One welcomed inclusion is the Ireland song and routine which was dropped in some recent productions but included here complete with all the clichés and Irish dance and performed impeccably by 15-year-old Anna Yates Connor from Woodmill High School.

Attention to detail all helps set the scene and from the Front of House volunteers in pink doesn’t welcome you, the set design and the many costume changes for Elle will win you over as will her wee chihuahua Bruiser played by Marley or bulldog Chester who plays the part of Rufus and earning at least one backstage volunteer a bonus Dog Handling Certificate. With so much dialogue and big songs keeping the US accents spot on is achieved throughout with the major parts played by Oliver Morrison as Professor Callahan and looking twice his age of 18 and Aaron MacGregor playing Emmett captivating in his duet with Elle, Chip On My Shoulder.

Huge credit of course to Amelie Christie in the lead role with her accent and never faltering character, many costume changes, challenging prep school vocals and a mature performance where she becomes MS Woods, could be 25 years old but is in fact a 15-year-old from Queen Anne High School. Her versatility shone here and did so too early this year in this very theatre (in the WhyNot acclaimed production of Chicago). I hear she will be in the Limelight production of Grease The Musical too later this year at the Alhambra Dunfermline (from October 6), continuing her development which surely must lead to a professional theatre career.

The show ran from June 19 – 21 at Carnegie Hall Dunfermline

Legally Blonde – The Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐