by Terrance Mc Arthur

Court is in session! All rise for Legally Blonde: The Musical!

Based on the 2001 Reese Witherspoon-starring film (which was based on Amanda Brown’s novel) this frothy 2007 musical is now in session in a Good Company Players’ production at Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater through January 12. Heather Hach wrote the script, while Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin handled music and lyric chores.

Elle (Karlie Stemler) is dumped by her Harvard-bound boyfriend, Warner Huntington III (Sam Szpor), because she’s not a serious-enough woman to be the spouse of a future senator. Too try to win him back, she applies for the Harvard Law School program…and is accepted! Ridiculed by the self-important Professor Callahan (Greg Ruud) and Warner’s new “serious” girlfriend (Kaitlyn Wheeler), Elle gets support from Emmett (Jonathan Wheeler), a teaching assistant, and Paulette (Camille Gaston), a beautician. After proving herself in class, Elle becomes one of Callahan’s interns on a murder case. Brooke (Trinity Mikel), an exercise guru, is accused of murdering her billionaire husband. Can Elle’s beauty sense and fashion savvy save Brooke from prison? Well, it is a musical, so getting there is more than half the fun.

Cast of GCP’s production of “Legally Blonde”

Stemler is lovely and energetic as Elle, developing purpose and drive in her performance as she goes from the loss of Warner to discovering that she has good instincts and chart her own course in life. Jonathan Wheeler’s Emmett comes into the show like a corduroy nerd, and goes out like a polished legal lion, thanks to Elle’s fashion makeover. Wheeler makes the transition believable.

Emmett (Jonathan Wheeler) and (Elle (Karlie Stemler) in GCP’s production of “Legally Blonde”

Szpor looks like what Elle would want at the beginning of the musical: tall, dark-haired, and handsome. The characters start appearing—shallow, conceited, entitled—a male Karen. Kaitlyn Wheeler as Vivienne, at first seems like a match for Warner—entitled, vindictive in putting Elle in embarrassing situations, and a legal shark in training. Her journey to realizing that Elle might be traveling a path of worth is reflected in her face and posture. You initially hate her, but she grows on her.

Elle (Karlie Stemler) and Warner Huntington III (Sam Szpor) in GCP’s production of “Legally Blonde”

Ruud is a malevolent presence as a law professor who trains his students to be amoral, opportunistic sharks. He is the Grinch of the legal world as he growls his way through the song “Blood In the Water.”

Professor Callahan (Greg Ruud) in GCP’s production of “Legally Blonde”

Gaston is at the top of her game as the wise cosmetician with a shy streak when it comes to showing her interest in a man…especially the studly UPS man (Benjamin Geddart, understudied by Peter Hartley), who delivers. Mikel wakes up the second act with her athletic antics as a celebrity fitness instructor who wants her students “Whipped Into Shape.” She can sing and jump rope at the same time. Wow!

Paulette (Camille Gaston) in GCP’s production of “Legally Blonde”

Alyssa Hayes shows good theatrical instincts as a feminist put off by Elle’s pink fluff image. Kaitlin Dean, Malinda Asbury , and Jenna Ericson play bubbly sorority sisters who become a Greek Chorus of Elle’s thoughts, doubts, and fears. Eric Bako and Michelle Olson are giddy laughmakers as Elle’s parents. Must be mentioned: tiny Sasha as Bruiser, and sturdy Pavlov as Rufus—fine canine performers in a play full of people.

Ginger Kay Lewis Reed’s costumes make Elle Pretty In Pink. David Pierce’s set takes us to the Halls of Ivy.

Because Legally Blonde is about female empowerment (in a playful way), the Junior Company gives time to the Y-chromosome crowd, saluting songs about boys, from “Macho Man” to “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” by way of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” and I’m just Ken.”

The verdict is in. It would be a crime to miss this lively journey through the hallowed halls of law school.

Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater is at 1226 N. Wishon Ave. at Olive Ave. For tickets and further information, go to gcplayers.com, or call (559) 266-9494.

If you love local theatre, be sure to check out Mysteryrat’s Maze Podcast, which features mysteries read by local actors. You can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and also on podbean.

Check out more theatre reviews & other local entertainment articles in our Arts & Entertainment section. You can also find more theatre coming up on KRL’s Local Theatre event page.

Terrance V. Mc Arthur worked for the Fresno County Public Library for three decades. He is retired, but not retiring. A storyteller, puppeteer, writer, actor, magician, basketmaker, and all-around interesting person, his goal is to make life more unusual for everyone he meets.