From pink clothes to textbooks, what else does a musical need?
On Mar. 16, the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law (FTX Productions) put on a musical production of Legally Blonde. This was one of the four shows of the weekend at the Alumni Auditorium, where giddy friends and family gathered for the show to begin. As the lights dimmed, two members of the musical theatre group introduced the group and the show. They highlighted this performance was the highest attendance of the year.
The show began with a classic, preppy look and sound. The main character, Elle (played by Kate Ferguson) mastered the valley girl talk. Decked from head to toe with pink, the Delta Nu girls looked straight out of the original movie — but the musical aspect added a fun twist. The songs were creatively crafted to move along the plot while keeping the audience entranced.
Cast members moved expertly in their space, executing complex prop-incorporated dance routines, all while simultaneously singing. As our protagonist embarked on her journey to Harvard Law School, Ferguson continued to impress the audience with her infectiously confident energy that simply demanded attention.
Heartbreaker, Raymarck Unera, stunned with an excellent vocal performance alongside an impressive embodiment of the oh-so-infuriating Warner Huntington II. As intermission grew closer, and Elle attempts to not fail out of law school, actors Pierce Melanson, Keren Kayembe, and Owen Kuenzler continued to expertly bring the story to life. Not to mention a hilarious and heartwarming performance from Anitra Bowman as the iconic manicurist and confidant, Paulette Buonofonte. As the lights went out on Act 1, it was clear that these law students were not messing around.
In the second act, Elle began a process of self-development and realized her love for learning and practicing law. Elle’s first defense case was introduced and she connected quickly with the dance instructor accused of murdering her husband. The creative dance scenes demonstrated the endurance and pure talent of those on stage. By the end of the musical, Elle beat the odds and expectations of others and successfully defended the accused. A classic musical must be completed by a classic ending; Elle wins and gets the guy, Emmett.
Overall, the production was incredibly well done and kept viewers interested. Considering the limited props used, the set was creative and resourceful. The songs were very well written and the singing was shockingly impressive. Next time FTX Productions presents a musical, we will be there.
