More like this
Sheridan Smith conquers Legally Blonde critics
The show died on Broadway but looks like being a hit in London, chihuahuas included
London has a new musical star: Sheridan Smith, known for her television roles in Gavin and Stacey and The Royle Family, has received unanimously good reviews for Legally Blonde, which opened last night at the Savoy Theatre. Smith plays the part of the ditzy American teenager Elle, made famous by Reese Witherspoon in the 2001 film on which the musical is based.
The stage show did not go down well on Broadway where it closed after a short run - but all the signs are that its transfer to London will be a hit.
Elle, as millions of teenage girls who saw the film will recall, is dumped by her boyfriend - played by former boy band member Duncan James (above with Smith) - when he gets into Harvard Law School. Not to be outdone, she starts doing her homework and, by hook and by crook, follows him - chihuahua in tow - to Harvard where she is initially ridiculed for her pink outfits and bubbly personality. Needless to say, she ends up a hotshot lawyer.
"What redeems this flamboyantly preposterous show is that its tongue stays permanently in its cheek," says Benedict Nightingale, theatre critic of the Times, adding: "All along you can see where Jerry Mitchell's production is going, but, really, who cares? Certainly not the young women near me. They greeted the performers, especially a chirpy but mischievous Smith, as best friends."
Michael Billington of the Guardian found the show "for all its absurdity" infinitely more enjoyable than the movie and Sheridan Smith "far more vivacious" than Reese Witherspoon.
"Smith is perky, trim, and sings and dances excellently," says Billington. "Smith sails buoyantly through the show with a radiant smile as if warning us not to take it too seriously."
In the Independent, Paul Taylor writes: "With her brilliantly warm, winning, witty and all-round adorable performance as Elle, Sheridan Smith achieves stage stardom like some jaw-dropping hole-in-one in golf."
His conclusion? "Omigod I'm like so totally going again."
Among those braving the London weather for last night's gala opening were BBC chat show host Graham Norton, former Dr Who actor David Tennant and, suitably blonde, The X Factor runner-up Stacey Solomon. ·
