Cortland Standard .net

By KATIE KEYSER
Living and Leisure Editor
SUNY Cortland’s “Legally Blonde — The Musical,” was so much fun, and clever, at its opener Friday at the Dowd Fine Arts Theater.
Based on the 2001 American comedy film of the same name starring Reese Witherspoon, the story is a delight — Elle Woods, a UCLA graduate and blonde Californian, played by Jacqueline Collins, follows her ex-boyfriend Warner Huntington III, played by Ben Shimkus, to Harvard University, enrolling in the law program and “getting serious” to win him back after he dumps her. Along the way, she discovers she’s so much brighter than she, or anyone else, thought.
This show, which will be staged 8 p.m. tonight, April 17 and 18, and 2 p.m. Sunday and April 19, runs two-and-one-half hours, including a 15-minute intermission. But it’s a quick run, with all the wonderful dancing, action and great story.
The theater was packed with a mixed crowd, including children and parents, which is a testament to the appealing story. And the crowd gave an enthusiastic standing ovation at the end.
The musical version, with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, with book by Heather Hack, has clever and appealing songs like “Positive,” “Ireland” and Whipped Into Shape,” that the college kids bring to life with their terrific voices.
Standouts are Collins, perfect in the lead role with her beauty, vivacious personality and voice, Nikki Ferrara who plays Brooke Wyndham, an exercise maven on trial for murdering her husband, Joseph Gugliemelli who plays Harvard professor Callahan, Allison Tamburello, who plays Paulette and the endearing Andrew Cuccaro who plays Emmett Forrest.
The choreography in the show, directed and staged by Kevin T. Halpin, is clever and creative.
“Whipped Into Shape,” for example, portrays Brooke Wyndham leading an exercise workout with the ensemble, and they do it with jump ropes — in sync, to music — and then freeze on a dime, because it’s staged as a video and Callahan stops the tape. He makes a point to his lawyers and then starts the tape again. Dancing bursts forth.
The “Bend and Snap” scene was a joyous rendition of the power of women to seduce all surrounding males by flaunting the butt and bust in a dramatic sweeping move. The music, the dancing, and the kid’s vocal ability, made it happen.
I loved the personality in Paulette, a working-class hairdresser who befriends Elle. Tamburello has a winning way of bringing this character to life with her sense of humor and a voice that takes over the stage. Her love interest, Kyle, the UPS man, played by David Newman, puts on quite the strut coming into that hair salon. What a riot.
I loved the set design by Myra Giorgi, who made smart, colorful pieces that gave the idea with minimal elements.
The Delta Nu House exterior sets the stage and it opens up into dramatic multi level interiors. After that, simple, colorful and effective designs take over.
The pit crew under the direction of Josh Smith was talented. Joel Pape’s lighting and sound, Preston Marye’s technical work and Mark Abrahamson’s stage managing, moved the show forward.
I loved how Halpin was mixing up the stage to dramatic affect. In the scene when Warner tells Elle he’s breaking up with her, the couple are silhouetted against a dramatic blue back wall with a few tables in a “restaurant” and a wandering violinist. Warner says the fateful: “I’m breaking up with you,” and the sound of a record scratch wrenches through the air. “What!!!!?” Elle screeches. I love these elements.