She’s pretty, she’s dressed in pink and she’s ready to take the world by storm.
Enter Elle Woods, the main character in Mount Baker Secondary School’s spring musical Legally Blonde.
Hailey Conroy stars as Woods in this coming-of-age classic, about a young woman who takes chances and pursues her dreams despite the obstacles that are thrown her way. Throughout her journey, she learns that you don’t have to sacrifice your values to be successful, and that hard work and determination will get you where you want to go.
“It’s one of my favourite musicals. I find the music really catchy and the script is just so sweet,” said director Emily McCue.
The musical runs May 9 to 11 at 7 p.m., and May 12 at 3 p.m., at Key City Theatre.
Woods is a Delta Nu sorority girl and aspiring fashion designer, who is going steady with her boyfriend Warner Huntington III (Finn McBurney). She expects a proposal from Huntington, but he breaks up with her instead, telling her that he needs a partner that is more serious if he wants to achieve his dream of going into politics.
Determined to win Huntington back, she enrolls in the same law program as him at Harvard, and follows him to the school, only to realize that she’s a fish out of water and doesn’t fit in with the serious and stuffy academic culture.
Her classmates and teachers view her as a frivolous fashionista and don’t take her seriously in the beginning, but she’s got a strong head on her shoulders and pushes past the judgement to focus on getting high grades.
As she navigates her new life, she makes a few friends like Paulette Bonafante (Joelle Carlisle) and Emmett Forrest (Hudson Gross), and she even represents a former Delta Nu sister Brooke Wyndham (Avery Tomlin) in court in a murder case.
As the story unfolds, she becomes less focused on winning Huntington back, and more about succeeding as a lawyer.
“Everyone grows to kind of respect her,” said McCue. “It’s a beautiful story of her being underestimated and proving everyone wrong.”
Legally Blonde has taken many different forms over the years. It started as a book by novelist Amanda Brown and was made into a movie in 2001, staring Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair, Luke Wilson and Matthew Davis. In 2007, it was adapted into a musical by playwright Heather Hach, with music from composers Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin.
McCue said the play is similar to the movie, although it dives a little deeper and there’s more character development. There’s also a snappy track of songs, directed by Cranbrook musician Justin Swanson, including Daughter of Delta Nu, Whipped into Shape, and Bend and Snap.
“They’re really upbeat catchy kinds of dance songs, a couple of ballads, but it’s all just really bright and colourful,” said McCue.
Students were involved in the play on many levels, helping with costumes, props, the set, lighting and sound. Candice Fisk, Cyndel Fisk, and Chloe Dickeson helped bring the characters to life with dynamic choreography.
“I’m just really grateful that I had the opportunity to teach these kids and see what they’re capable of. They’re just blowing me away. They’re absolutely incredible,” said McCue.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for youth, and can be purchased at www.keycitytheatre.com