Legally Blonde is ‘explosion’ of dance and upbeat songs

The stage musical, which first premiered in San Francisco in 2007, is adapted from the film starring Reese Witherspoon and the 2001 novel by Amanda Brown.

It was written by Heather Hach with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin.

It was first performed in the UK at the Savoy Theatre in 2010 and won three Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical.

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The show focuses on Elle Woods, a stereotypical fashion student from Malibu, who beats all odds to be admitted into the prestigious Harvard law school in an attempt to win back her law student boyfriend Warner.

It features bold choreography, flamboyant characters and upbeat songs.

The cast of Legally Blonde: The Musical at the New Theatre in Oxford (Image: Matt Crockett)

Elle Woods was played by Amber Davies, who was a finalist on Strictly Come Dancing in 2025, as well as being the winner of Love Island in 2017. Amber sang the title song Legally Blonde with lots of emotion, showcasing her skilful versatility as an actress.

Another star in the cast was Hannah Lowther, in the role of Margot, who gained popularity on TikTok through posting musical theatre style videos of herself while working shifts at Tesco.

She now boasts 1.3 million followers on TikTok and hosts the popular podcast ‘How Very Hannah’.

The stand-out singer was Karen Mavundukure in the role of Paulette, whose impressive vocals were showcased in the comic song Ireland.

She also demonstrated her gift for comedy through the iconic song Bend and Snap, which was accompanied by an energetic dance number.

The cast of Legally Blonde: The Musical at the New Theatre in Oxford (Image: Matt Crockett)

The cast ensemble must also be congratulated for their slick choreography and the infectious joyful energy which they brought to the show.

Each cast member embodied the lively nature of the musical through their commitment to the upbeat dance numbers, which deserves extra congratulations due to the heatwave.

And of course two dogs, a chihuahua playing Bruiser Woods and an English bulldog playing Rufus, won audience hearts from the second they stepped on stage.

Sprout as Bruiser Woods with Amber Davies (Image: Matt Crockett)

The show finished with the emotional ballad Find My Way, in which Elle reflects on her journey and the people who have helped her to achieve her dreams.

I would highly recommend this incredible show to any fan of high energy, joyful and funny musicals.

Legally Blonde: The Musical arrived at the New Theatre on Tuesday and the show finishes on Saturday, May 30.

Mercy Ffrench