***** 5 Stars
“Bleeds diversity and acceptance from its heart “
Edinburgh based Captivate theatre now enjoy a hard-earned reputation of excellence for producing story and performance driven theatre that sees over 250 creatives working across 9 shows and 4 venues across the 2025 Fringe festival.
Interestingly for the first time in its 16-year history the company tackle a musical which has Choreography at its core. Legally Blonde the musical debuted in 2007 with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe & Nell Benjamin and book by Heather Hach based on the 2001 motion picture tells the story of Elle Woods a law school blonde who sets out to define expectations and along the way discovers herself and just what she can achieve.
Captivate deliver a joyous production that bleeds diversity and acceptance from its heart in a fast paced and excellently directed and choregraphed show from Colum Findlay. The stellar 24 strong ensemble cast live and breath every moment on stage delivering pinpoint dance with fabulous vocals and expertly handled comedy.
Performances across the board are excellent with Elsie Watson taking on the lead role of Elle (she will alternate with Niamh Osborne) her performance imbues everything an Elle should be and more with lush vocals and perfectly judged emotions throughout. Speff Strachan’s “Paulette” is a comedy tour de force but always truthful. Filling the role of sleazy Callahan is Rory Maclean who delivers well in a character that’s completely driven yet devoid of humanity. Bailey Easton is a standout as “Emmett” he lets the characters heart shine through in an emotionally delivered performance. A special mention must go to Emma Clarkson as “Brooke” initially portrayed as bitch driven by vanity when in reality it’s her female empowerment that ultimately grabs the audience in a wonderfully physical performance.
Director Findlay makes the most of the intimate space aided by a fabulous lighting design from MM Sound and lighting and the show is lifted by Charlotte Nicholson’s excellent wardrobe design, even Nicholson herself pops up on stage for a cameo that lands well. Musically the show is a triumph with musical director Fraser Hume and his 10 strong band revelling in the pop infused score.
This is a Legally Blonde which transcends the Fringe Festival, blending together excellent storytelling, sublime performances and a heart felt mantra that we can be who ever we choose to be, and we all deserved to be loved for who and what we are.
You won’t go wrong in rounding out a festival day with this endearing and spectacular production! Truly unmissable Fringe theatre at its best!
Legally Blonde, The Edinburgh Academy- Magnusson Theatre (Venue 70) For more info go to: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/legally-blonde
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