Legally Blonde Brings Broadway Fun to Potomac

“Omigod You Guys,” have you, like, heard? Elle Woods has finally landed in Potomac! With energy and humor abound, Churchill High School’s production of “Legally Blonde” was a fun, captivating performance that left the audience smiling and tapping their feet until the very end.

Based on the 2001 film of the same name, “Legally Blonde—the Musical” opened on Broadway in 2007 to overwhelmingly positive reviews, winning several Tony nominations, as well as the Lawrence Oliver Award for Best New Musical. With music and lyrics by Lawrence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, “Legally Blonde” tells the story of a UCLA sorority girl, Elle Woods, who travels all the way to Harvard Law School to win back the love of her ex-boyfriend, Warner. While there, she struggles to assimilate into the preppy, cut-throat legal world, ultimately finding that she can use her knowledge of law to help the underdogs of the world, as she manages to successfully defend exercise guru Brook Wyndham in a murder trial by combining her experience with both hair-care and legal precedent.

In the lead role of Elle Woods, Genevieve Austin shined. Her voice was truly outstanding; able to hit even the highest of notes with ease and precision, and her acting was on-point throughout. She stayed true to her character, replicating perfectly the bubbly personality and infectious laugh from the film. Her stage presence was a sight to behold, as well, keeping the audience’s eyes glued to her whenever she was on stage, and allowing her to steal the show in her many duets.

What really brought the show to life, though, was the incredible amount of energy that the Delta Nu sisters brought to the table. Their beautiful harmonies, coupled with their hilarious antics, left the audience laughing out loud in such numbers as “Positive” and “So Much Better.”

As Paulette Buonufonte, Abby Newberger absolutely delivered. Her incredible voice, combined with impeccable one-liner delivery, made “Ireland” one of the most memorable numbers in the show. Another particularly strong number was “There! Right There!”—an incredibly entertaining performance in which Daniel Wigle and Aaron Ross were able to truly stand out as the gay, or possibly European, Nikos Argitakos and Carlos.

Other standout performers included Sloane Momsen, whose wonderful voice and talent for dancing allowed her to play Brook Wyndham to a T, and Nina Katz, whose hilarious portrayal of Enid and superb vocals had audience members laughing in their seats. One character that stood out in particular was Vivienne Kensington, played by Chani Wereley, whose preppy poise and sensational solos brought her character to life.

Despite a few sound glitches, the tech crew was excellent. With incredibly quick scene changes, strong lighting effects, and an incredible, diverse set, the tech crew deserves a special round of applause. Thought often overlooked, Churchill’s orchestra could not be easily forgotten. They never missed a beat, and tackled a tricky score with outstanding precision.

Trying to bring to life a production that is as well-known, well-loved, and challenging as “Legally Blonde” is an incredibly daunting task, but Churchill High School managed to meet the challenge, and do so with poise and creativity. Their production was a superb example of the power of high school theater—the cast’s energy was at once palpable and infectious, taking the audience on a ride that was just plain fun, and leaving them smiling all night long.