Legally Blonde

HHHH

Theatre Royal, Brighton, Monday, June 11

A fluffy pink musical extravaganza with a #metoo moment is the lovely mix-up of Legally Blonde The Musical.

For this mother, watching with her young teenage daughter, it is a joyful fun way to learn the message to forget about the boy and work hard for yourself and no one else.

Legally Blonde has been adapted from the successful 2001 film starring Reece Witherspoon as Elle, a girl who likes nothing better than manicures, shopping and tiny dogs, who goes to law school to prove her intellectual worth to the man who dumped her.

The story follows Elle, played by Lucie Jones, as she battles with everyone else’s preconceptions that she’s just a dumb blonde who shouldn’t be taken seriously.

Harvard Law School doesn’t know what it is in for when they let the pink-clad dynamo into the faculty.

Lecturers end up dancing with pink, shiny cheerleaders as Elle turns her entrance interview into an all-out song and dance spectacular. While the original film isn’t a musical, the story is a natural fit with many opportunities for the effervescent Elle to burst into song.

As to be expected, the bad boy Warner, played by Liam Doyle, turns out to be less a catch once Elle discovers the benefits of hard work and winning for herself.

There are some hilarious lines as she discovers what studying the law means when faced with a real murder trial particularly a very funny scene wondering whether a witness is “gay or just European”.

Jones, the UK 2017 Eurovision contestant is perfect as the ever-positive Elle.

Rita Simons who played Roxy in EastEnders has a great voice as hairdresser Paulette and Bill Ward, best known as nasty Charlie Stubbs in Corrie and James Barton in Emmerdale, is perfect as the ambitious law professor.

Caroline Sutton

Event Preview

The Darkest Hour

Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham, Thursday, June 21

With the entirety of Europe on the brink of destruction, Joe Wright’s The Darkest Hour tells the stale of the early days of Winston Churchill’s second stint as Prime Minister of the UK.

The choices are far from simple; either Churchill can agree to meet Adolph Hitler and sign a peace treaty or he can fight for the ideals that he, and his country, hold valuable.

I think we all know how that went.

The film, which starred award-winning actor Gary Oldman, stole the headlines upon its release, being dubbed as, possibly, one of the greatest war movies of all time.

Oldman plays the role of Britain’s ferocious leader impeccably and was, rightly, highly commended for it.

With an all-star supporting cast to back him up, including Lily James, Kristin Scott Thomas and Ben Mendelsohn, it is no wonder that Oldman shines so brightly.

The film had been criticised for the scope it covered but that is something you will have to judge for yourself.

Scoring 7.4 on IMDB and an impressive 85 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s clear that this film was a smash among critics and the public alike.

Now, the Ropetackle in Shoreham is showing a special re-screening of the movie.

In fantastic movie-watching surroundings, get lost in one of the great modern day war movies.

For more information and tickets visit https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/

Just Announced

A/Wheatus/ InMe

Concorde 2, Brighton, Monday, November 12

This isn’t a co-headline show, but such is the pedigree of these three bands that it seemed unfair to mention one but not the other two.

A are set to headline the seaside venue of Concorde 2, in their first tour since supporting Hell Is for Heroes in 2017.

The Suffolk alt-rockers have been going steady since 1993, save for a two-year hiatus in 2005, having made a name for themselves with Nothing, their 2002 single which broke into the UK Top Ten.

Nothing was taken off the band’s third studio album, Hi-Fi Serious, which they will be playing in full as part of this tour.

Since their reformation in 2007, the band have toured sporadically, with appearances few and far between.

An opportunity to see them in action should not be sniffed at.

If the chance to see A headline wasn’t sweet enough, they’ve definitely knocked it out the park with their tour support

Everyone has those bands who they would pay to go and see just to hear one song.

For myself, and I’m sure many others, that band is Wheatus.

The band who broke into mainstream culture with their turn of the millennium, sing-along anthem, Teenage Dirtbag.

The song that is still sung at shows, parties and karaoke across the world, due to its infectious catchiness and, of course, that it’s just a belter of a track.

However, Wheatus, above, have more in their

arsenal than just one hit.

This is proved by the fact that they are constantly on the road and apparently in the process of recording their seventh studio album.

Their line-up may have changed over the years, save for mainstay frontman Brendan Brown, but when they ask “Listen to Iron Maiden, baby, with me?” how can you possibly say no.

Finally on this, seemingly, epic tour are InMe.

The Essex rockers, who themselves are somewhat of touraholics, have been going strong since ’96.

With six studio albums to their name. Their live performances are also something to be marvelled at.

With three top bands on what night, November can’t come soon enough at the Concorde. Get your tickets while you can.

Visit https://www.concorde2.co.uk/ for tickets and more information.