Curate Yourself: Legally Blonde the Musical

Legally Blonde is a modern classic about Elle Woods, a preppy blonde beauty who decides to follow her ex-boyfriend to Harvard Law School and teaches everyone around her that blondes can be smart and successful. It’s musical adaption very closely follows the film’s story except it has a plethora of wonderfully fun and catchy music numbers.

The story of Legally Blonde is an important one for this progressive generation. Not only does it teach to stay true to oneself and not judge a book by its cover, it also delivers a powerful message of female empowerment: women can be smart and successful by their own effort without depending on men. Very rarely do you see a film with a female law student as the main character. Here, the women support each other and help bring each other up (there is one character who starts off an unlikeable slob, but she changes and becomes Elle’s loyal friend in the end). Interests in fashion, hair, and other things that women are usually negatively stereotyped for enjoying is portrayed positively, and it shows that women don’t have to be like men to be great.

Personally, I enjoyed the musical more than I did the movie. For one thing, I really like musicals and the musical numbers are absolutely great and uplifting. Also, I feel like the music allows for deeper explorations of the characters’ personalities and relationships. In the film, I didn’t totally follow Elle Woods’ and Emmett Forrest’s romantic – or even friendly – development. In the musical, songs like “Chip on My Shoulder,” “Take It Like a Man,” and “Legally Blonde” have the two characters sing their inner thoughts about each other. It’s very emotional and personal, and I was able to feel their developing relationship much better.


Musicals are one of my favorite forms of literature that weren’t brought up in class, so I enjoyed having the opportunity to watch one for the blog. Legally Blonde is a fun, meaningful musical that leaves an impression as powerful as its film counterpart.

*Link to Legally Blonde the Musical: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKMsllsH0zI

Comments

  1. sjangApril 17, 2017 at 9:57 AM

    I am really glad to find another musical fan here :) I didn't watch "Legally Blonde" either fiml or musical yet. Even though I really don't like prejudice on women, becuase I am also a part of this tilted world, automatically I have predice on blonde woman subconsciously. And it makes me reluctant to watch "Legally Blonde". I think the translated title "금발이 너무해" also amlified my prejudice on the blonde girl and the movie/musical itself. Thanks to you, I will watch this. And if there is a chance to watch the musical version (I remember that Korean production performed "Legally Blonde" in Korea few years ago. Previous Girls' Generation's member Jessica acted as the protagonist), I will watch :)

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