Review: Mon River Arts Gets 'Serious' with LEGALLY BLONDE

It's not too often that Elizabeth, Pennsylvania is fortunate enough to see real talent grace its stage. Mon River Arts' production of Legally Blonde delivers a surprisingly high-energy performance, coupled with remarkable vocals and excellent use of the Grand Theatre's space.

Based off the 2001 movie of the same name and starring Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde follows the journey of Elle Woods (Katelynn Reist) from fashion merchandising, southern California sorority girl to playboy bunny, Harvard Law School student. A blonde, who prefers all things pink, Elle is determined to follow and win back her love, Warner Huntington III (Spencer Dillman). Along the way, Elle is joined by her Greek chorus and befriends the Irish-crazed hairdresser Paulette (Candice Fisher) and law teaching assistant Emmett (Sam Viggiano)--all of whom deliver steady performances and are well-prepared for the roles they are tackling.

This production is one different than any other that has ever been staged at the Grand Theatre; the set is large, simple, and effective, the vocals are phenomenal and impressive, and the ensemble is fierce. Even the dance numbers in the pressed-for-space area provide the perfect amount of pep when dancers sync together. Some acting flaws, in the form of not maintaining a consistent character, detract from this performance, but in a way that does not heavily impact the production.

The lead for the show, Reist has her work cut out for her; although she dons nearly a dozen different pinkly decorated costumes throughout the show, one thing remains consistent--her voice. The role of Elle seems to have been made for the Seton Hill grad, as she effortlessly and flawlessly sings on key for the entire two and a half hour spectacle. Her forced smiles and gazes during dance numbers add a level of awkwardness, but these are overshadowed by Reist's ability to command the stage.

Professor Callahan (Bob Scott) and Brooke Wyndham (Mary Pochatko) both deal with similar issues. Scott, as a determined and ruthless Harvard professor, remains stoic throughout the performance, raising his voice at times but never fully embodying the emotions. Pochatko, Callahan's client and the exercise diva on trial for the murder of her husband, settles into her character after her number "Whipped Into Shape." The Mon River Art debut of this soprano is memorable, largely in part of her shockingly powerful voice.

With a cast of over two-dozen, two dogs included, Legally Blonde is as fun and entertaining as it is powerful and perfect for the community. The show explores topics of stereotypes, love, homosexuality, friendship, and determination, to name a few. At its core, Legally Blonde is about finding oneself and staying true to it. Mon River Arts seems to have found itself with this musical, and one can only hope that the company continues producing work of this caliber.

To see or not to see score: 7/9; Recommended Show

Photo credit: Diana Lasko.

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