Jamestown Community College is currently presenting a super high energy show in Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin's show ''Legally Blonde.''
The show is a funny, colorful examination of a very old theme. It centers on a young woman named Elle Woods. When it opens, she is a senior at UCLA, and her whole sorority is holding their breath, waiting to learn that the man who was King of the Prom to her Queen, has popped the question. Instead, he tells her he's heading off to Harvard Law School, and she just isn't serious material for a Harvard grad's wife. ''You're Marilyn. I need a Jackie,'' he tells her.
Eventually Elle finds a way to get into Harvard Law on her own steam, to succeed there, and finds a man who understands and appreciates her for all her gifts, including her beauty.
Director Robert T. Schlick has cast his show very well. There are some extraordinarily good singers in the cast, beginning with Hillary Belin as Elle. The young woman has a lot of presence, and shines out in every way.
Another singing highlight was Logan Norris Beard as the man who values her for what she is. Praise, too for Lauren Scharf as the ''Jackie'' for which Elle has been dumped, and for Teal Weatherly, who returns to the JCC stage after an absence and rocks the role of Paulette, the hairdresser who teaches Elle to value both her beauty and her brains. Amanda Wickmark's exercise routine was truly impressive, especially when done while singing well.
There were no weak spots in the cast.
The pit orchestra, conducted to Mary Ann Harp was a major plus to the evening's success, although it would have been good if they had been closer and more audible to the action on stage and centered for the audience, instead of far to everyone's right.
The set by Steve Gustafson and Scott Barton was quite simple, but perfectly efficient. Daman Holland's choreography added all the spark a good show needs from its dancing. The gymnastics from a number of cast members was spectacular.
There were a few minor problems. The sound quality was difficult, making words often hard to make out. The whole show dragged out a bit too much, lasting two hours and 40 minutes. It needed to be pulled more tightly together.
Costumes by Jan Braeger and Jenn Rearick were such an important part of the show's message, and they were super hot.
I had a great time at the show, and I suspect you would, as well. ''Legally Blonde'' was reviewed in dress rehearsal, at the company's request. It opens tonight, and will play for the next three weekends in the Robert L. Scharmann Theatre, on the JCC Campus.