6/18/2015 Boiler Room's '' musical a perky production packed with pizazz - Nashville Entertainment | Examiner.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT / CELEBRITY Boiler Room's 'Legally Blonde' musical a perky production packed with pizazz

October 3, 2014 3:00 PM MST

Legally Blonde The Musical, Boiler Room Theatre, Franklin, TN

Rating: 

While The Boiler Room Theatre continues to await the completion of their original space in The Factory at Franklin, they resume their current theatrical season with a positively perfect presentation of "Legally Blonde" housed in the historic downtown Franklin Theatre.

Ever since Nashville's own Reese Witherspoon starred in the 2001 film adaptation of Amanda Brown's novel, "Legally Blonde", Music City has had a special relationship with the story of Elle Woods. When the film was adapted into a musical, that southern charm continued to enchant audiences as Lexington, Kentucky native, Laura Bell Bundy brought Elle Woods to the Broadway stage.

Boiler Room Theatre's director, Sondra Morton helps View all 7 photos further the local fascination by casting Franklin-born,  but current LA resident, Laura Thomas in the title role for their limited run of "Legally Blonde". Rick Malkin/www.boilerroomtheatre.com "Legally Blonde" tells the tale of a bubbly sorority girl from Malibu who sets her sights on a law degree at Harvard to win back the boyfriend who dumps her for

http://www.examiner.com/review/boiler-room-s-legally-blonde-musical-a-perky-production-packed-with-pizazz 1/4 6/18/2015 Boiler Room's 'Legally Blonde' musical a perky production packed with pizazz - Nashville Entertainment | Examiner.com being 'more a Marilyn than a Jackie'. Along the way, she's cheered on by her Delta Nu sorority sisters (among them: Britt Byrd, Harley Segar & Erica Haines), in the tongue-in-cheek form of a 'greek chorus'. For some time now, Byrd has been one of my 'theatre crushes' and she proves precisely why as sorority girl Margot. Even relegated to a supporting role, Byrd boilerroomtheatre.com/Rick Malkin makes the most of it and nabs laugh after laugh for every line, and every not-so-subtle movement.

Along her journey, Elle also encounters no-nonsense Professor Callahan (Bakari King). King is rigidly menacing in his role as the Professor, a massive contrast to his other uncredited role as a dreadlocked rasta spring breaker. Whether busting a move or belting out "Blood in the Water", King reigns supreme.

King's not the only one pulling double (and sometimes triple) duty in Boiler Room's "Legally Blonde". Two more of my 'theater crushes', Cat Arnold and Bryce Connor can be seen in no less than seven roles between them throughout the show. Arnold's floppy-hat-wearing, beach wrap curve-hugging turn as Elle's Mother and Connor's 'Bend and Snap'-resisting Nikos are both played to the absolute laugh-inducing hilt.

Among Elle's other friends/foes are her aforementioned ex-boyfriend, Warner Huntington III (Tyler Jeffrey Adams). Adams is quite adept at playing they stereotypical S & M role..that's 'stand and model' for those thinking otherwise. He comes across as possessing just the right combination of arrogance and kindness to keep Elle, and the audience interested.

Another of my 'theatre crushes', Christina Candilora, who was near-perfect in the lead of The Larry Keeton Theatre's "" last year, is equally adept at playing Warner's snide girlfriend, Vivienne, whom Elle refers to as "a constipated polo shirt with a mousy brown bob." In the days before opening, Christina Candilora even cut her hair into said bob in preparation of the role.

Katie Gant as Enid Hoopes is probably the most forthright portrayal of the character I've ever seen. While the film and even subsequent theatrical interpretations have downplayed Enid's sexuality, Gant presents the role with just the right balance of humor and realness that's so subtle but effective it's likely to go unnoticed by the general audience.

Like any good fish-out-of-water story, Elle also meets a couple of friends along the way. Emmett Forrest (Christopher Bailey) is a studious fellow law student who's also the professor's aide. Bailey delivers his lines with a sincerity and kindness that's totally believable in a sea of broad over-the-top interpretation usually associated with such a broad comedy. His chemistry http://www.examiner.com/review/boiler-room-s-legally-blonde-musical-a-perky-production-packed-with-pizazz 2/4 6/18/2015 Boiler Room's 'Legally Blonde' musical a perky production packed with pizazz - Nashville Entertainment | Examiner.com with Thomas' Elle is sweet and unaffected.

Darci Wantiez is hilarious as Paulette Bonafonte, the tough-talking hairdresser with a heart of gold and an acute eye for Kurt the delivery guy. Wantiez recently wowed 'em at the annual First Night Honors and could have glammed up Paulette in the typically overdone Jersey way. Instead, she plays the role a bit more realistically like a true Jersey girl, a welcomed change from previous incarnations.

Scott Wilson as Kyle, the jig-dancing delivery man who's the object of Paulette's affections is great, playing the usually overly studly role strictly for laughs. Because he's so dang tall, Wilson's other roles in the play stand out. While he's just as adept at playing Elle's father and the head of Harvard admissions, these two appearances occur too close together, causing slight confusion. But if an actor's towering height is the only flaw in an otherwise flawless show, so be it.

Congrats too, to the supporting cast, most notably Lauri Gregoire, a well-respected local dancer/choreographer, who unintentionally steals the spotlight during many of the show's larger production numbers.

Having seen Thomas in a number of shows when she was living here in middle Tennessee, I had no doubt she would fill Elle Wood's pink stilettos perfectly. Thomas does not disappoint. While she doesn't play Elle as naively as her predecessors, she brings an early confidence that's perfectly suited to our heroine. Her voice as strong and assured as her confident portrayal. Making her a complete theatrical triple-threat, Thomas not only fills Elle's heels, she kicks them high in some flawlessly fabulous choreography by Billy Ditty. Boiler Room's "Legally Blonde" is at its best during the show's bigger production numbers. Among Thomas' top musical moments as Elle are the show's infectious opening tune "OMIGOD You Guys". Elle and company keep the energy and fun going with "What You Want", marching band and all. Later in the show, the proven 'straight' man-trap move, "Bend and Snap" is always a crowd-pleaser.

With earworm-worthy musical numbers, a Broadway-quality cast and a creative use of the venue's movie screen by way of gorgeous multimedia 'sets' created by Broadway Motion Design in collaboration with Boiler Room's Sondra Morton, set designer Jim Troutt and stage manager Jayme Smith, "Legally Blonde" is one case study you don't want to miss.

The Boiler Room Theatre's "Legally Blonde" continues its limited run with evening performances Friday, October 3 and Saturday October 4 at 8 p.m. and a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee. To purchase tickets, CLICK HERE. If you missed my Rapid Fire 20 Q with "Legally Blonde" star Laura Thomas, CLICK HERE.

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