Stepping Out

Delta Nu Sorority member Elle Woods (Becky Gulsvig) has her life planned out. She's just graduated with a fashion degree, lives to shop and expects her boyfriend, Harvard Law bound Werner Huntington III (Jeff McLean), to propose any day now.

Werner, however, has plans of his own, and they don't include marrying a sorority bimbo. He needs a smart girl, a Harvard girl, to help him achieve his goals in life.

Not only does he unceremoniously dump poor Elle on what she thought was the Big Night; he actually tries to console her by dropping down on one knee.

Elle sets off on a mission to win back her prize, studying her blonde head off to earn the required LSAT score to qualify for Harvard.

Her new life goal is to become exactly like Werner's new girlfriend, egghead and Harvard classmate Vivienne Kensington, and win back Werner from Vivienne's evil clutches.

Elle actually goes so far as to try to have her hair dyed brown; she's saved from herself by stylist Paulette, who sings a hilarious number, Ireland of her dreams of dancing with no upper body movements like the Riverdance troupe. This sets up another number later, complete with Riverdance-esque moves.

Elle also didn't factor in third-year student Emmett Forrest, who grew up far from Elle's sheltered, pampered Malibu lifestyle, not only serves as her mentor but also helps as a buffer between the frightened first year students and their formidable Professor Callahan. Will he divert her attention and love interest from Werner?

The law students are put to the test when they have to defend Brooke Wyndham, a fitness mogul, of murdering her rich, older husband. The catch? Only Elle knows Brooke's alibi, and she's sworn to secrecy.

Legally Blonde is based on the novel and the movie by the same title, and touches on the same stereotypes and culture clashes. Elle is a bit dumbed down in the stage version, and even more so when Werner is around.

Gulsvig and McLean are excellent as the leads, and are helped by a strong supporting cast including Natalie Joy Johnson as Paulette, Michael Rupert as the sexist and egomaniacal Professor Callahan and Coleen Sexton as Brooke Wyndham.

Musical numbers include Bend and Snap, Take it Like a Man, Omigod You Guys and There! Right There!

Does Emmett win Elle's heart? Does the group clear Brooke of the charges without betraying her hypocritical alibi of having liposuction the day of the murder? Watch Legally Blonde at the 5th Avenue Theatre and find out for yourself!

Legally Blonde plays at the 5th Avenue Theatre through March 14. For ticket information, call (206) 625-1900, or visit www.5thAvenue.org.