Legally Blonde as presented by DCU Drama Soc

DCU’S ST PATRICKS AUDITORIUM DUBLIN 

9th, 10th & 11th April 2024 

Adjudication date 10th April 2024

The evenings were getting brighter and it was so lovely to arrive in daylight before the sunset following a drive through Dublin City Centre in all its glory on such a lovely sunny Spring evening. And as I arrived at St Patricks DCU this vast complex that thousands call home I was in awe of this vast building and  it's gorgeous grounds in our capital city. I could have been in the countryside such is the impressiveness of the size of the buildings and the land it stands on and it's surrounds. Breath-taking. This is a hall and when I arrived, hundreds of people spilled into the Theatre's vast entrance area. The front-of-house group had a gorgeous air of calmness, laughter, and confidence. 

Ms Amy McLoughlin was the Director of this production. I liked Ms. McLoughlin's direction very much. Ms McLoughlin displayed a lovely clarity and strict adherence to the spirit of the original material and film in this production. There was a gorgeous brightness and energy throughout this, and the essential themes of empowerment and self-discovery came across very well through many of the roles. I liked the directors' use of space on the stage, and the different levels and depths added layers to the critical moments in the show, with superb use of the background and foreground. The comedic timings were so well executed, and there were many, but also so many gorgeous, emotional moments that were beautiful in themselves; along with the fun, there was a lovely story underneath and lessons to be learned. 

The Musical Director was Georgia Goodall. Backing Tracks were used for the accompaniment in this production, and they worked exceptionally well. It is not always easy to combine backing tracks with stage production, given timings and set changes, and to stick to the rhythm, which can be pretty constraining, with a live orchestra being more accessible to move and accompany. Whereas here, it did work well. The sound was excellent, the cast kept on time with every note. I must mention that Ms. Goodall and another person sitting in front of the cast on two chairs were brilliant, ensuring an extra blanket of security, I think, for the cast. Although this was not required as the cast were superb, It was still lovely to see. 

The Choreographer was Abbie Nolan. Energetic, fun, and colourful always, the choreography here mirrored the upbeat nature of this show. Dance routines were excellent, technically awe-inspiring, and again enhanced the story – such as “What You Want” and “Bend and Snap.” I would imagine that the Director and Choreographer worked very well together here so that the dancers danced and most definitely told the story with excellent direction. The routines themselves were performed very well with a skilled and well-rehearsed cast.

I loved the Department Store Clothes rails that were expertly whizzed around the stage! I liked the set with Warner and Elle in the restaurant downstage right, which was very influential again, using the space on both sides of the stage. I did feel that with the pink set during the story, the “H” was challenging to see as it looked like pink on pink, and I couldn’t make out the lettering. However, this set still worked was functional and moved freely. I would like to have seen more attention to detail in it and a little more covering the stage as there were many times there was a lot of space on the stage when just one or two individuals were on it. I did feel some of the sets were a little plain, such as the panels in “Oh My God.”

In The Finale, the whole cast sat on chairs with their backs to the audience, as the story of each character and where they ended up was told, which was done well. I loved it. The brick wall effect as a set was also very clever and functional. 

The lighting was indeed lovely. Particular mention of the beautiful colours, such as the scene “Ireland” and the Delta Nu scene. The vibrant, gorgeous colours were bright, cheerful, and fun. Lighting transitioned smoothly through each scene, and I loved the cooler tones, such as those in the courtroom, with far more formality contrasting deeply with the warm, bright lights in the Delta Nu scenes for example. The use of spotlights was glorious throughout. 

The sound was very effective, and the dialogue and lyrics were delivered clearly and crisply. The clarity and precision of the dialogue and lyrics were equally outstanding, making it easy to follow along with the story, even in the most fast-paced scenes. Also, the balance between the vocals and backing tracks was spot on, and the sound levels were consistent throughout the entire performance, which is a difficult feat to achieve. The sound team's attention to detail was evident, as every sound effect and cue was timed perfectly, adding to the overall experience and making the show even more enjoyable. The sound quality was excellent, and there were no issues with feedback or distortion, making it a seamless experience for the audience. 

The costumes were stunning and beautifully tailored to each character’s personality and style.. I loved Paulette's costume in Act 1. Elle’s costumes were all very chic and elegant, especially the attention to detail on the navy blue office suit for the courtroom scene, to mention but one. The dramatic change in Emmet after his visit to the Department Store with Elle was fabulous and a great scene. They used pink, which was prominent throughout the entire production, a signature colour for the show, and it was beautiful to see how it was incorporated into each costume in different ways. The costumes for the Delta Nu sorority sisters were awe-inspiring, and the costumes for the courtroom scene were also very well done with more formal attire and subtle colour tones, particularly mention to Vivienne’s Costume and, indeed, Warner’s. Superb. Overall, the costumes added to the show's vibrancy and were crucial in bringing the characters to life.

The hair and makeup for each character was well done. The attention to detail was evident with each character's unique and distinguishable look. Using bright and bold colours for the Delta Nu sorority sisters’ makeup was a great touch and added I’m sure to their energetic personalities. The hair was styled differently to suit each character, from Elle’s signature blonde locks to Paulette’s curly hair. The makeup for the courtroom scene was also very well done with a more natural look, which was appropriate for the setting. 

The use of props was good, especially in the case of the two dogs. The thong belonging to Carlos brought the house down, the encyclopaedias, used for reference, were excellent, and Elle's handbag, which she never went anywhere without, were standout moments and props in the show, which were very good and highly appropriate. 

The gorgeous Aisling Leahy played the part of Elle Woods. Ms. Leahy was a standout performance that genuinely captured the vivaciousness, humour, and determination of Elle Woods. Ms Leahy's vocals were excellent throughout, looked very good, and had lovely costumes. Ms Leahy had a fantastic energy and a spring in her step that was enviable, and she was just a beautiful Elle inside and out and a great friend. Lovely dialogue, gorgeous stage presence, and overall, a delightful Elle. Ms Leahy was most definitely a star of the show: superb performance, and congratulations. 

Eanna Kavanagh played Emmett Forrest. Equally impressive, with his heartfelt portrayal of this lovely character, Mr Kavanagh had the audience in the palm of his hand from the moment he arrived on stage with his gorgeous, gentlemanly, shy demeanour and just his lovely star qualities as a friend and student with lovely acting ability and a beautiful stage presence. 

Mr Kavanagh's stage chemistry with Elle was palpable and added great depth to the storyline. The scene in the department store was fantastic, and the transformation as you emerged as the well-dressed absolute gentleman was so well done. The transformation was jaw-dropping. Mr. Kavanagh and Ms. Leahy as Elle acted well together, and it was a joy to watch Mr. Kavanagh on stage in this role. 

Jude Olurotimi-Omole played the part of Warner Huntington 11 1, and what a cool dude this gentleman was in this role. Mr Olurotimi-Omole had a significant stage presence; he looked fabulous and acted well. His words were both comical and yet very convincing. The scene where Mr. Olurotimi-Omole as Warner met Elle in the restaurant to break up with her was a highlight, especially in his calmness and authority when Elle understands it to be a proposal. You played a blinder here in this role, and I congratulate you. Well done. Superb 

Olivia Foley played the part of Vivienne Kensington. This was another standout performance, with her sharp-tongued and ambitious character brought to life with a dry wit, disdain for Elle, and magnificent acting; this excellent role was brilliantly acted. Ms Foley looked great and was a tour de force on stage. She had super diction, too, and when eventually her disdain and jealousy for Elle dissipated, it was lovely to see the character change. It was moving—well done, Ms Foley.

Serena, Pilar, and Margot, played by Triona Mulvey, Annika Chow, and Emma Duff, were an utterly dynamic trio who brought great humour and energy to their roles. Their harmonies were spot-on, and their comedic timing was impeccable. These girls were simply fabulous, brilliantly cast, acted, and sang with your hearts, and in the end, these young ladies' hearts burst with pride for Elle. It was so lovely. It was an emotional moment, such as their pride for their gorgeous friend. Great costumes, fun, and beautiful. It was simply a joy to watch these three young ladies in these three roles. 

Laura Rourke played Paulette. I loved Ms. Rourke in this role. This was an excellent performance by Ms. Rourke, with her sassy and gorgeous character brought to life with great flair and humour. The scenes with Paulette and Elle were standout successes. Ms. Rourke has a fabulous voice, and “Ireland” was simply gorgeous. Sung from her heart, it was great. Great costume, the lovely friendship between Ms Rourke and Elle was enviable, and what a magnificent duo Ms Rourke made with Kyle / Dewy, played by Sam Kennedy. 

Caragh Davis played the part of Brooke Wyndham. Equally impressive, with her athletic and energetic performance in the "Whipped Into Shape" number being a particular highlight, I was tired even watching this young lady as she was simply fabulous in this role. Ms Davis looked the part, acted the part, and acted so well that I felt sorry for her when she had to reveal her alibi. This was a gorgeous part and a huge key in the overall story, and Ms Davis, you were super as Brooke Wyndham. 

Patrick Fox played the part of Professor Callahan. What a fantastic interpretation of this role. Dressed impeccably, he looked the part, acted the part, moved around the stage confidently, and left a lasting impression on me in this role. Well done, Mr Fox. 

Frances O'Neill played the part of Enid Hoopes. Ms. O’Neill’s facial expressions were hilarious. Ms Hoopes had such a lovely, fun, and serious personality. Acted intensely, revealing a tremendous character who added much to the production. 

Sam Kennedy played Dewey/ Kyle. What great roles! It was so funny, very well acted, and simply excellent comedic timing—a memorable character who added a lot of personality to the show.

This gorgeous chorus was crucial in this uplifting production. The backbone of the show, great supporters of Elle Woods, brought her world to life with beautiful melodies and lovely harmonies. You were law students, Salon owners, Courtroom Attendees, and Witnesses. I can't begin to imagine how you all played different roles throughout the show, not just one – a sure testament to the talent on stage for this production. The Chorus was outstanding here, with so much vocal power and energy it was mesmerizing. As a group, you enhanced an already strong output and made a huge impact. You were one of the most vital parts of this production, and I looked forward to you coming on stage each time. I applaud you. Well done. 

I thank you all and wish you all well in the future. I hope many of you involve stage and theatre in some shape or form because this group, your group, had talent in bucketloads. I wish you all well and bravo on a wonderful production and a truly lovely evening of entertainment. 

Caroline Daly Jones

AIMS Adjudicator Sullivan 2023 / 2024 

Photo Credits: Alannah Leddy