It’s difficult to miss the buzz about Legally Blonde and its 2026 tour, with its West End names and 32 locations, everybody is eager to know if this revival will live up to expectation.
Legally Blonde hasn’t been seen in the UK since the 2022 production at London’s Regent Park Open Air Theatre, and hasn’t had a national tour since 2018. Therefore, this was the perfect time to bring Legally Blonde back as a national tour. It seems to me that the key aim of this revival is to bring Legally Blonde into the younger generation, and inspire a new age of young girls, from all over the UK, who dream of playing Elle Woods. Legally Blonde is so successful for the same reason that Wicked is still beloved 22 years after its release: because both shows foreground female talent, allowing actors to show the full depth of their skill, from flawlessly executed choreography, to comedic nuance, and heartfelt ballads. Therefore, walking into the theatre, it was lovely to see so many young girls who I’m sure were inspired by the numerous female leads.
A key change in this production of Legally Blonde is its modernisation, which moves the musical into a contemporary setting, to reflect the nearly 20 years that have passed since the musical’s release. Although I missed the nostalgia of the early 2000s, especially when faced with a bedazzled stanley cup on stage, overall, the modernisation was well received by the younger audience. This time change was most noticeable in the costumes which reflected modern fashion trends. Many costumes effectively hinted at the original musical whilst using modern items to create a specific style, for example, through the modern pleated leather skirts worn by Margot (Hannah Lowther) and Serena (Rosanna Harris), which revealed a hint of the 2000s through the peaks of animal print within the pleats. However, other costumes felt out of place on the stage. Most notably in the crowd of lawyers during ‘Blood in the Water’, who were dressed for somewhere between the office and a rave. Whilst there were some anachronistic features, overall I thought the production successfully targeted a Gen Z audience.
Amber Davies delivers an impressive, marathon performance as Elle Woods, almost never leaving the stage. However, it was the ensemble songs which really blew me away. Hannah Lowther, Rosanna Harris and Remi Ferdinand (as Margot, Serena and Pilar) were the perfect actors to open the show. As they threw themselves into the choreography, their energy immediately engaged the audience and I was hooked from the very first line. I must commend the incredible choreography by Leah Hill, which particularly shone in ‘What You Want’ and ‘Bend and Snap’, and was skillfully delivered by the ensemble cast who truly brought the show to life.
Additionally, ‘Bend and Snap’ was made all the better through the standout performance by Karen Mavundukure who played Paulette. Mavundukure is an incredible asset to the show, with an incredible voice and fantastic comedic timing. Whilst there were moments in the show which I felt missed the comic potential, Mavundukure never failed to squeeze a laugh out of the audience, resulting in an overwhelming applause at the end of her performance. Another great comedic performance came from Raiaz Fisher, as Chutney, who’s exaggerated accent was incredibly funny and a great addition to the second act.
On the whole, Legally Blonde is a wonderful revival of the 2000s classic. Whilst aspects of the production have been changed for the modern tour, I would advise both old and new fans of the musical to get their tickets to see this fantastic company. I have no doubt that the show will be enjoyed all over the country, and that nobody will be able to get those songs out of their head.
Rating: ★★★★☆
