'Legally Blonde' brings nearly 600 to River Campus on Wednesday night

There was a pervasive air of confidence among actors and instructors before the opening performance of "Legally Blonde: The Musical" on Wednesday at the River Campus of Southeast Missouri State University.

"I'm a little nervous, but I'm ready," said Molly Dowd, a senior portraying the musical's lead character, Elle Woods. "I think we're all ready. We won't let the audience down."

Dr. Kenn Stilson, director of the musical, said the actors were "hungry" for opening night.

"They're so ready," Stilson said. "These kids are so full of energy and life. I'm excited for them."

Almost 600 people were in the Bedell Performance Hall for the first performance of "Legally Blonde: The Musical," which also marked the first performance of the 2013-2014 River Campus theater season.

"We saw the movie and enjoyed it," said Sonny Minor of Cape Girardeau, who attended the performance with his wife, Barb. "We decided that we should go see the musical."

Rick Dittlinger of Benton, Mo., said he has always enjoyed attending musical productions at Southeast.

"We're fortunate to have a university so close that can put on shows like this," Dittlinger said.

"The college kids try harder," added Rick Dittlinger's wife, Scarlett. "It's their chance to shine."

The audience was introduced to Elle Woods and her Delta Nu sorority sisters in the musical's first number, "Omigod You Guys," which expressed excitement of an impending proposal of marriage to Elle by her boyfriend, Warner Huntington III. But when Elle is later dumped by the Harvard Law School-bound Warner over dinner, she embarks on a plan to win him back by managing to enroll at the same law school, much to the surprise of Warner and to the chagrin of her snobby classmates, who disapprove of her personality attire, and her pet Chihuahua, Bruiser.

But the musical, particularly through the title song, "Legally Blonde," demonstrates there is more to Elle than being a man-chasing ditz as she discovers that her knowledge of the law can help others. In her own way, she helps defend an exercise queen in a murder trial, and at the end of law school Elle ends up being the valedictorian of her class.

"Legally Blonde: The Musical" will be presented 7:30 p.m. today through Saturday with a matinee performance scheduled at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Bedell Performance Hall on the River Campus. Tickets for the musical are $17 and $20 on sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the River Campus box office at 518 S. Fountain St. Tickets also can be purchased by calling 651-2265 or visiting rivercampusevents.com.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

518 S. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.