Credit: Emily Cooper
Malkin Bowl, Stanley Park, to August 14, 2025
Tickets from $35 at 1-800-514-3849 or www.tuts.ca
Posted July 15, 2025
Theatre Under the Stars, celebrating its 85th season, must be revelling in this warm weather night after night. With no need for sweaters or jackets, we were all sleeveless and staying hydrated last evening at Legally Blonde The Musical. Amidst the towering cedars and Douglas firs, it’s a bit cooler and just watching the dozens and dozens of dragonflies dive-bombing the flying bugs made for great pre-show entertainment.
The opening number of Legally Blonde The Musical is one of the best songs in the show and one heck of an opener; “Ohmigod you guys” is a more-than-slightly hysterical celebration of Elle Woods, the blonde in question. Elle (small but mighty Abby Woodhouse) is sure that Warner Huntington III (Connor Hawkins) is going to propose that evening and she and her sorority sisters are so pumped. Sings one:
“Dear Elle,
He’s a lucky guy
I’m, like, gonna cry
I got tears coming out of my nose
. . .
He’s the campus catch
You’re a perfect match
Cause you both have such great taste in clothes
Of course he will propose”.
Good grief.
Credit: Emily Cooper
It doesn’t get much sillier than that. But then it all goes sideways when Warner, who’s off to Harvard law school, dumps Elle, telling her he needs someone more “serious”. With that, Elle decides she’s going to Harvard, too, and she’s going to show him who’s serious. And, of course, to win him back. “Pooh Bear”, Warner’s patronizing nickname for Elle, scores enough on the LSAT to get into Harvard law school, too, and off she goes, dressed in hot pink from head to toe.
Based on the 2000 novel by Amanda Brown, Legally Blonde was developed into a film in 2001, winning a load of awards and grossing $142M worldwide before being adapted into Legally Blonde The Musical in 2007.
Credit: Emily Cooper
Directed by Jayme Armstrong with musical direction by Eliza De Castro and choreographed by Lyndsey Britten, this is an upbeat, feel-good celebration of girl power. As Elle, Woodhouse is pretty and pert with a big voice and just exploding with energy. The tough part of this role is making the shift from, let’s face it, superficial Elle to serious Elle who takes on the case of fitness guru Brooke Wyndham (Angella Cody), falsely accused of murdering her husband. Woodhouse credibly makes that transition. We begin to take Elle seriously.
As Wyndham, Cody and the ensemble amaze us with skipping rope (“Whipped Into Shape”) and singing at the same time. You could get breathless just watching them.
Connor Hawkins plays the nasty Warner – the guy we love to hate – and Nathaniel Johnson plays Emmett – the guy we love to love and, obviously, the guy Elle falls for. Also on our hitlist is Callahan, Elle’s Harvard prof, played by Peter Jorgensen.
Always a highlight in Legally Blonde The Musical is Elle’s hairdresser friend Paulette who dreams of finding an Irish guy named Brendan and flying off to Ireland. Madeleine Suddaby simply rocks this role with her powerful voice and terrific comedic style. And, yes, Brendan does turn up in the form of a courier with a ‘package’ to deliver. And, yes, the entire ensemble goes Riverdance!
Credit: Emily Cooper
Costumes and set design are terrific (but not acknowledged in the online program). Think pink, pink, pink before Elle gets lawyer-ly. The stage is very effectively framed by four huge neon ‘parentheses’ that change colour throughout the show.
Legally Blonde The Musical raises some interesting issues around homosexuality. A major turning point in Wyndham’s trial revolves around a gay character and a whole load of clichés. “Is he gay or European?”, is the question they ask. “Look at his coiffed and crispy looks”, “Look at his silk translucent socks”. “Of course he’s gay’, “Totally gay”. “Or maybe European.” The question it raised with me and my guests after the show was whether we have progressed far enough in accepting and embracing gayness, to be able to have fun with those weary old clichés.
Credit: Emily Cooper
But the show is engaging with a huge cast all singing and dancing their hearts out. If this warm weather continues, don’t bother with a blanket but do take some bug repellent. Go early and take time to smell the roses in the Rose Garden and to admire the garden in front of the Stanley Park Pavilion. The venue is spectacular and the walk through the dark forest back to the car after the last song is sung is one of the most unique experiences Vancouver has to offer in the summer.
Legally Blonde The Musical alternates with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.