Review: (Vancouver) Legally Blonde

Light and fluffy and totally entertaining
TUTS remount isn’t perfect, but it’s still fun to watch
by Chris Lane
@chrislanetweets

Just in case you thought the movie wasn’t campy enough, Legally Blonde: The Musical features even more pink and even more squeals, right from the energetic first number, Omigod You Guys.

It’s about as peppy as you would expect, but also somewhat formulaic and predictable. And yet it’s hard not to cheer for Elle, delightfully played by Reese Witherspoon’s doppelganger, Jocelyn Gauthier.

Review: (Vancouver) Shrek

Catch the Fun
by Jay Catterson

The 2014 season of Theatre Under the Stars went off with a rousing start last Tuesday with the opening of Shrek: The Musical, based on the hit DreamWorks Animation film and storybook by William Steig. This show has changed a bit since its Broadway bow, but even with all the post-Broadway tinkering done to David Lindsay-Abaire's book and lyrics and Jeanine Tesori's music, the clunky parts of the show still remain; however, the majority of the show does work, and it is done justice by the TUTS cast, directed by Sarah Rodgers. 

Review: (Vancouver) Theatre Under the Stars - How to Succeed...; Legally Blonde

How To Succeed... (photo by Tim Matheson)

O...M...G...
How to Succeed succeeds, but Blonde has more fun!
by Jay Catterson

Another season of Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) has arrived in Vancouver, and in fine form, I might add. As is mostly the case, TUTS mounts two productions each season, alternating on different nights; this year, the Malkin Bowl stage in Stanley park hosts both the 1961 corporate musical satire How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, and the book-turned-hit movie-turned hit Broadway show Legally Blonde: The Musical.

How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, directed by Sarah Rodgers, was a good production overall, but was far from perfect. Rodgers' direction was tight and Shelley Stewart Hunt's choreography was peppy, plus the delightfully colourful costume design by Chris Sinosich truly captured the fashion trends of 60's corporate culture. The leads, for the most part, were strong, and handled the classic score by Frank Loesser and the comical book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert well. Andrew Cownden had a unique charm and a distinct crooner's warble to carry off the career-driven hero, Finch (although at times he did struggle with some of the loftier notes of his numbers). Georgia Swinton was equally as charming and vocally stellar as Finch's love interest, Rosemary. Other notable standouts include Cailin Stadnyk as the hilariously ditsy bombshell Hedy, Joel Wirkkunen as company president Biggley and Caitlin Clugston as the sarcastically hilarious secretary, Smitty.