Olivia West, Reporter
@oliviawcourant
The theatre department’s spring musical, Legally Blonde, had its opening night on May 31 and had two more shows on June 1. The musical centered around a California sorority girl, Elle Woods, and her journey to Harvard Law. While she went to the school expecting to win back her ex-boyfriend and find love, Elle ends up finding herself and overcoming the obstacles that get in her way. Put on in the auditorium, the production drew parents, students, and teachers alike. For every show that the theatre department puts on, there are people tirelessly working on and off the stage to make sure that it is successful. Legally Blonde was no different, with leads, stage managers, members of the running crew, and more elevating the production quality.
Sophomore Lili Beecher, the musical’s assistant stage manager, said that she grew up watching the movie that the play is based on. “Watching Legally Blonde with my family is one of my favorite memories from when I was younger. As I’ve gotten older and have more understanding about the plot, the movie took on a new meaning for me and became even more impactful,” she said. “Putting on this play was really special to me because of this, and I had so much fun.”
Senior Lucy Coutts starred as Elle Woods. Throughout the production, Lucy said that she learned a lot about pushing past difficulties and stereotypes. “I think it’s very important to portray this character because she reflects a strong sense of self that we can all learn from. She has taught me that staying true to myself despite challenges in my way is so important to everyday life,” she said.
Another lead, Kaleigh McCarthy, played Paulette Bonafonté, or Elle’s friend and confidante. She said that the mental and physical energy, along with the vocal ability, that the musical required was very high, but that it paid off. With her own character, Kaleigh said that, while the role was challenging, she enjoyed it a lot. “Vocally, Paulette has some really difficult songs. The riffs I learned in ‘Bend and Snap’ took me a long time to master, as did the song ‘Ireland,’” she said. “The Boston accent is so much fun to do. I personally love doing accents, and to do one that I have been hearing my whole life was great fun to try and to perform.”
A member of the running crew, sophomore Claudia Stanley was excited about the musical. She said that the production stood out from previous ones because it was so fast-paced and high-energy, with a dynamic cast and plot. “It has a comedic base and, because it’s so based off of a well-known movie, it’s really fun and cool to see how the movie transfers to a musical,” she said.
The theatre’s spring musical was, as Lucy Coutts said, a modern and relevant show, fast-paced and had exciting characters. Both the people on the stage and off of it worked hard to put the production together and make it successful, and the message that the show conveyed was impactful. “Elle breaks the stereotype of a ‘dumb blonde’ and proves to everyone what she can do. This is a very exciting show and I think that our senior class fit very well into the roles, as well as the rest of the grades!” Lucy said.
Junior Ben Dooley, playing Warner Huntington III, and senior Lucy Coutts, playing Elle Woods, break up in the beginning of the play because Elle isn’t “serious” enough, motivating Elle to go to Harvard Law School. Elle Woods followed her ex-boyfriend all the way to Harvard Law, getting in because of her grades and her passion, as displayed in the musical number “What You Want.” Throughout Elle’s journey, she learned to accept herself, even if she stood out, and fell in love with Emmett Forrest, played by senior Wyatt Lysenko. Elle Woods befriended Paulette Bonafonté, played by senior Kaleigh McCarthy, and helped her to win back her dog in a legal argument. The main case that Elle is key to solving in the play surrounds Brooke Taylor Windham, played by junior Devin Findlay, and the murder of her husband. Elles’s graduation serves as a moment of reflection at the end of the play, where she talks about her friends, what she’s learned, and proposes to Emmett.
