THE Broadway and West End musical Legally Blonde is here to brighten up your dark and wet November nights at Cardiff’s New Theatre.

Based on the best loved movie, the musical follows beautiful and popular sorority sister Elle Woods who loves to be pampered and is passionate about pink. When she is dumped by her boyfriend Warner Huntingdon III for a more serious girlfriend she puts down the credit cards and picks up the books. Packing up her trusty pooch, Bruiser, she bags herself a place at the prestigious Harvard Law School to try and win him back. With the support of her new friends she learns that you can be both smart and fashionable and after discovering that she can use law for the greater good, she uses her new-found skills to defy the odds and prove that pink really can save the day!

Almost never off-stage Lucie Jones shines as Elle Woods with her beautiful voice propelling you to feel good and enjoy the show. From the opening number Lucie brings a strength to the character of Elle that’s missing from the film. By far my favourite song was What You Want with Lucie showing her dancing skills.

Liam Doyle was fantastic as the well-to-do Warner Huntingdon III and the song Serious, where Elle is expecting him to propose is played so well. Liam and Lucie’s comic timing through the choreography was outstanding and continued at that level throughout the show.

Rita Simmonds was a revelation with a really beautiful voice and great characterisation of Paulette Bonafonté and I thought Bill Ward’s interpretation of Professor Callahan was great and he commanded your attention when he was on stage.

The highlight of the second half was the performance of Gay or European with many laugh out loud moments through the words of the song and choreography.

Every part of this fun, fluffy musical will lift your spirits on these dark winter nights from bubble gum pop songs to the bright set and fun choreography.

Legally Blonde the musical is at the New Theatre until Saturday November 25.

Rachel Howells