Legally Blonde - Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

The positives: Michael Ahomka-Lindsay (Emmett), Courtney Bowman (Elle) and Eugene McCoy (Callahan) were all great. Particularly McCoy. As mentioned earlier, Emmett being played by a PoC really adds to the character, especially when hearing about his struggles during Chip. Allie Daniel was brilliant too (ensemble). She really sold the hell out of the part and was probably the stand out in an otherwise very weak ensemble.

The negatives: I don't even know where to begin, really.

Let's start with lyrical changes: I just didn't get a lot of them. In the programme, they make a big fuss about things that have happened that have caused a seismic shift in attitudes - things like the Me Too movement and George Floyd's murder. Most of the lyrical changes in relation to these are very minor and don't really change much. One that really annoyed me though was Callahan says "and he can get you high and laid". This was changed (I can't remember what to...), but surely the whole point of Callahan's character is that he IS a bit shady? There were a lot of other changes too, but the majority I don't remember. However, despite all of these lyrical changes, they didn't change the references to Elle being thin (there are 3-4 throughout) and of course, it seems out of place given that Bowman isn't skinny (and this isn't a dig!)

Direction: I don't understand the need to make everything so modern - and a lot of the time it's done super badly. So, for example, during Whipped Into Shape, the lawyers are watching on Zoom... the problem is, is that it isn't obvious at all. There are loads more things like this - the cast have "phones" out constantly throughout the entire thing. It's jarring and weird. The dogs... I don't get it. Pointless change. In fact, it's somewhat ironic that they've went all out to be "woke", and yet, when changing the species of bruiser, they've chosen the most stereotypical breed for a gay dog. The constant sexual references are weird too - ranging from Emmett finding Elle's vibrator, to the dogs humping on stage, to Margot randomly humping other members of DN...

Ensemble: Just not good. Isaac, in particular, was genuinely dreadful and flat throughout.

The costumes... do I need to comment?

Overall, I just don't get what they were trying to accomplish. I Legally Blonde but this was just... not good. I really hope that they don't take some of these creative decisions forward to future productions.

Can't believe I forgot to comment on the dogs in my review. Embarrassing.

They've posted another trailer and tbh its no better. The vocal sounds really iffy

It's worth seeing I'd say (for free), just to experience how *not* to do musical theatre.

What are the changes to the trailer? I've only watched the new one quickly without comparing but it seemed very similar to the first?

If you’re old, white, cis and fat but LGBT are you “in” or “out”?… asking for a friend 😌

I do think some of the teen theatre fans are just a bit naive and perhaps they need to broaden their theatre tastes beyond Six and Heathers. I quite like that the theatre blogger Mickey Jo sees more than just musicals because I think you do yourself a huge disservice if you limit yourself to certain shows or types of shows. 

Definitely, and that's the same in all walks of life and media. You need to expose yourself to different viewpoints. Social media creates dangerous echo chambers where people are never challenged and just get encouraged by their followers. And when people do challenge them they block them or turn theif followers on them.

We are now paying the price for the very individualistic society social media has created

I think you only count if you’re bald too...

Never said anything about your being white, straight, balding or fat - don't put words in my mouth. 

And thank you for correcting me. I didn't realize that Isaac also uses he as I didn't follow them on twitter. 

Wasn’t putting any words in your mouth.
Merely adding a shot of humour at the end at my expense.
I found it amusing that some of us older generation (white old straight fat balding irrelevant - take your pick) who are being accused ELSEWHERE of being out of touch/not worthy of watching a show were using correct pronouns.
Try not to be ‘disappointed’ in us. Maybe research the facts yourself next time before trying to shame us.

I do feel for Isaac and Courtney. It must be exhausting fighting against this prejudice daily. They have rights to be upset and angry. But yes in comparison Isaac’s response was just as prejudicial.
Even though the demographic he was calling out is a privileged group in comparison, you don’t fight prejudice with prejudice. I think it was a very revealing post of his. And while the young are allowed to make their mistakes I do hope a wiser someone has had a quiet word before the ego gets any bigger.

Edited to say: *in comparison to Courtney