You’ll want to “Bend and Snap” your way over to Dulaney High School to see their production of Legally Blonde!

Elle Woods is beautiful, popular, and president of the Delta Nu sorority, waiting in expectation for her boyfriend Warren to pop the question. In a brutal twist of fate, Warren breaks up with Elle and moves to go to Harvard Law, and find a girl who would be more serious. Elle, shocked by the betrayal, decides to get into Harvard and prove to Warren that she can be serious when she wants to be, and along the way befriends the owner of a hair salon and a few fellow law students.

The students of Dulaney managed to capture the energy of this well-loved show perfectly. The actors and actresses stuck true to their characters, even in minor roles where it can be difficult to stay enthusiastic. The technical aspects enhanced the overall experience, adding extra dimension to an already terrific show.

Elle Woods, played by Mary Charlotte Gitlin, had an excellent singing voice and a lovely demeanor about her. Gitlin’s portrayal of her character was befitting of the clever Elle Woods. Michael Cheng, the man behind the ever-brilliant Emmet, had a strong, well-executed sound that resonated throughout the auditorium. His facial expressions and actions on stage bewitched the audience with its sincerity.

Mia Coulbourne, who played Paulette, acted as the comforting and hilarious friend of Elle. Her voice was simply stunning, leaving the audience hypnotized by its exquisiteness. Jake Alperstein, the fan-favorite UPS guy, left the audience in gut-busting laughter with every scene in which he appeared. Claire Marsh, Elle’s enemy-turned-friend Vivienne, had a beautiful transition from cunning and quick-witted to caring and supportive over the course of the show, and a surprisingly elegant singing voice. The ensembles, such as the Delta Nus, dancing prisoners, Harvard students, and hair salon customers, were all overflowing with spirit and brightness, and took the show to another level by remaining in character and adding funny moments that those with a keen eye could enjoy.

Julia Clark, along with the rest of the lighting crew, did a sensational job in setting the mood, including a dark blue for “Serious” and a clever addition of green for “Ireland”. The spotlights were right where they needed to be, and stayed consistent throughout. Scene changes were quick and concise, thanks to the leadership of Gokul Natarajan and the work of the Dulaney Stage Crew. Enviable outfits, masterminded by Cate Ondusek and the geniuses of the costume crew, helped the actors to confidently flaunt their stuff onstage. The addition of a student pit orchestra was very impressive, and kept up with the pace of the singers. The sound crew, headed by Phillip Park, helped the plentiful voices to shine, with much work put in to make them sound their best.

You’ll be seriously in love with Dulaney’s rendition of Legally Blonde!

by Aidan Henderson of Chesapeake