Omigod You Guys!

Legally Blonde – Paramount Theatre

 

Paramount Theatre’s Autumn offering is a funny, creatively produced, scrumptious, hyper-caffeinated musical draped in pink and brimming with timely themes and positive role models for young women. You might call this show a guilty pleasure, especially if you’re a fan of the 2001 Reese Witherspoon film that inspired this show. No one can deny, however, that this musical version is filled with heart and is just plain fun. It shouldn’t be missed.

Tony Award-winning choreographer Jerry Mitchell chose the perfect vehicle for his Broadway directorial and choreographic debut when he staged this movie-based musical. The script, written by Heather Hach, with clever lyrics by Neil Benjamin and an infectious score by Laurence O’Keefe (“Bat Boy: the Musical” and “Heathers: the Musical”), offered Mitchell an excellent opportunity for showcasing his now familiar signature, fast-paced, high-spirited style and fresh, innovative dance moves. 

In Paramount’s exciting new production that kicks off their eighth season, Trent Stork follows in Jerry Mitchell’s footsteps. Mr. Stork, Jim Corti’s talented, longtime casting assistant, both directs and choreographs, assisted by co-choreographer Megan E. Farley. With expert musical direction by Kory Danielson, who also conducts the show’s impressive 13-piece pit orchestra, this contemporary twist on the Cinderella story is a pure delight. His style is much like Mitchell’s, guiding his cast to find the truthful individuals in a cast of cartoon characters. Also like Mitchell, Mr. Stork keeps his production in continual motion which, despite it’s two-and-a-half hour running time, seems to fly by. 

The show opens with the kinetic “Omigod You Guys,” a musical ear worm that will haunt theatergoers long after the final curtain. It sets the bar high with its energy and establishes the frenzied pace for rest of the show, transitioning into numbers like “Serious” and “Do What You Want.” “Whipped Into Shape,” a live cardio workout video that opens Act II, is a perfect example of Stork’s inventive choreographic ingenuity and talent. The number incorporates aerobics, jumping rope and dance moves that leaves the theatergoer blown away and breathless.  

Trent Stork’s cast is as strong as any seen at the Paramount. In her Paramount debut, vivacious Casey Shuler makes a lovable, effervescent singing-and-dancing Elle Woods, the Malibu Barbie sorority blonde-with-brains, determined to win back her man by attending Harvard Law School with him. Sophie Grimm is both bewitching and comical as Paulette, Elle’s bodacious new beautician friend who, like Elle, is simply looking for love and a little respect. She dreams of the soothing Celtic Moods of Ireland and her own Riverdance Romeo. Elle and her sorority sisters, forming a Greek chorus, teach Paulette how to be confident and use what God gave her in the show-stopping “Bend and Snap.” Audiences will be charmed and inspired by these two friends, who create a bond of friendship, support and girl power that is the real heart of this show.

Another newcomer to the Paramount stage is Gerald Caesar as Emmett, Elle’s charming, handsome young mentor at Harvard Law School and, eventually, her love interest. As the young Harvard attorney, Mr. Caesar possesses a smooth vocal style and an amiable, open personality. Caesar lights up the stage with his charisma and winning smile. Also new to the Aurora theatre is Tyler Lain as Elle’s heartthrob, Warner Huntington, III. Whether clad in his California surfer duds, or transformed into a preppy Ivy League student, Lain is a natural-born comic actor. He makes a likably goofy antagonist for our heroine. No newcomer to Chicago audiences, Jacquelyne Jones, who plays Warner’s pedigreed new girlfriend, Vivienne Kensington, displays beauty, brains, some powerful high notes and an appropriate New England icy disdain for Elle Woods.

A veteran of the Windy City theatre scene, James Rank solidly portrays Harvard’s hard-nose Law instructor, Professor “C-Minus” Callahan. As BrookeWyndham, the Jane Fonda-inspired exercise guru, whose videos have sold millions, Jenna Coker-Jones is a knockout. This wonderful, multitalented actress impresses with her commitment, her strong characterization and physical dexterity, as well as her in her powerful vocal styling. Another newcomer to the Paramount stage, but with an impressive resume from Broadway and beyond, Jenna recently appeared locally as Amy, in Mercury Theater’s “Company.” 

James Doherty, who scored in the House Theater’s Jeff Award-winning “United Flight 232,” is hilarious here as Kyle B. O’Boyle, the UPS deliveryman whose package inspires the “Bend and Snap” number, instantly winning Paulette’s heart. The entire ensemble are all magically impressive, led by Elle’s terrific trio of sorority sisters. They’re played with unstoppable energy by Kyrie Courter, Sara Reinecke and, especially, Lucy Godinez. And male ensemble members Anthony Sullivan Jr. and Yando Lopez, as Nikos and Carlos, contribute a special glee and gaiety in “There! Right There!” But, in spite of all this talent, the show is often stolen from its human cast by two, well-trained little dogs named Frankie and Romeo, who play Elle’s iconic Chihuahua, Bruiser and Paulette’s Bulldog, Rufus.    

Jeffery D. Kmiec’s impressive, beautifully fluid scenery, dominated by Grecian pillars, giant staircases and a huge iPhone that descends from above to display a variety of texts, postings and selfies, all courtesy of projections magician, Mike Tutaj. Nick Belley’s colorful lighting highlights every single moment of this show; additionally, Theresa Ham and Katie Cordts provide an array of superbly designed and crafted costumes, wigs, hair and makeup, the icing on this theatrical confection.

Trent Stork opens Paramount Theatre’s 2018-19 season by presenting an entertaining, heartwarming and inspiring story, produced with polish and featuring high-powered choreography, catchy pop tunes with witty lyrics, and played full tilt by a topnotch cast. At a time when we need it most, this show is guaranteed to make you laugh, set your toes a-tapping and put you back in the pink.    

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

 

Presented September 5-October 21 by Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the theatre box office, by calling 630-896-6666 or by going to www.paramountaurora.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.