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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Beck Center’s
‘Legally Blonde’ is to dye for<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">News-Herald,
Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The
Morning Journal, Geauga Times Courier<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Member,
American Theatre Critics Association <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">This
review will appear in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">News Herald
</I></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">on
7/13/12</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=body4><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
color=#333333>The Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood has its bases covered,
musical theater-wise.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>On its
intimate Studio Theater stage is the </FONT></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">hard-driving</SPAN><SPAN
class=body4><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT color=#333333>
“Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” while down the hall and at the other end of the
artistic spectrum is the fluffy, sugar-sweet “Legally Blonde” on its main
stage.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=body4><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p><FONT
color=#333333> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=body4><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT color=#333333>A
meringue of a musical comedy, “Legally Blonde” gives us
</FONT></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Elle Woods, an
underestimated sorority girl who is dumped by her boyfriend for someone more
serious and less, well, blonde. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Unfamiliar with rejection, t<SPAN
class=body4><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
color=#333333>his life-sized Malibu Barbie complete with accessories
</FONT></SPAN></SPAN>pursues him to Harvard Law School, where she enrolls to win
him back.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Along the way, she
delivers a song and dance at regular intervals and discovers her own self-worth
between refrains.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=body4><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
color=#333333>Spawned from </FONT></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">the MGM film starring
Reese Witherspoon <SPAN class=body4><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
color=#333333>rather than the more respectable realms of legitimate theater or
classic literature, “</FONT></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class=body4><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: windowtext; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Legally
Blonde” </SPAN></SPAN>requires those in attendance to leave their brains at the
door.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But not their high
expectations, for this show is a thoroughly charming and endearing
entertainment.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=body4><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The
upbeat and deceptively complicated music by </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>Laurence O'Keefe, as delivered by a wonderful and well-staffed orchestra
under Larry Goodpaster’s direction, offers infectious confections as songs.
<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Musical numbers, such as “Omigod
You Guys” and “Bend and Snap,” give the show a full-throttled forward momentum,
which is embraced and embellished in Scott Spence’s direction. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The stage is awhirl with energetic,
well-orchestrated activity from start to finish.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>Nell Benjamin’s lyrics and Heather Hath’s dialogue are wittier than one
might expect.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Like tasting a bit of
zest in a face full of seemingly sweet dessert, their words occasionally give
one pause.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>So, too, does Caitlin Elizabeth Reilly’s performance as Elle. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>While the film and national tour renditions of Elle range from perky to
perkier, Reilly adds what could best be described as self-awareness and spunk to
the character’s repertoire.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This
lets some of the air out of her effervescence and, at times, seems disingenuous
amidst </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Martín
Céspedes’ delightful I’m-just-a-p</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>retty-girl choreography with its runway model movement and very high
altitude attitude.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>These distractions of depth are made up for by members of the
ensemble.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They seem more in step
with the show’s saccharine sensibilities and, like Reilly, come equipped with
phenomenal singing voices and stage presence. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Comprised largely of Beck Center regulars
like dance captain Holly Kay Harris and Kelsey Elizabeth Smith, ensemble members
move as one and master everything that </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Céspedes
can throw at them.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This includes
the astoundingly athletic “Whipped Into Shape” production number featuring the
ripped Shannon Eller as fitness guru Brooke.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And they make it all look easy.
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>This production also offers a very strong supporting cast, particularly
the hilarious Kimberly Bush and Caitlin Rose as the desperate-for-a-man
hairdresser, Paulette, and the desperate-for-a-woman law student, Enid Hoopes,
respectively. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Erin Diroll, Ashley
Coleman and Anna Register, as Elle’s sorority sisters and Greek choir
conscience, are terrific as well. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>Carrying the burden of a slow burning romance as well as most of the
show’s sustained high notes is Jamie Koeth as upper-classman Emmett
Forrest.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>His “Take It Like A Man”
duet with Elle is a highlight of the production.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>All this is complemented by Ben Needham’s clever and attractive scenic
design—a collection of set pieces and parts that are swiftly constructed and
deconstructed with each scene—and </SPAN><SPAN class=body4><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">character-correct
costuming by David Glowe.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Rapid
costume changes are performed seamlessly while other technical aspects of this
production, such as lighting and sound, are still works in progress as of
opening night. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=body4><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Given
its popular culture pedigree, “Legally Blonde” is an unexpected delight and,
despite some quirks, this </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Beck Center
production of it is fun clear down to the follicles.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">“Legally Blonde: The
Musical” runs through August 12 at the Beck Center for the Arts in
Lakewood.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For tickets, which
range from $17 to $28, call 216-521-2540 x10 or visit <A href=""><FONT
color=#0000ff>www.beckcenter.org</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>