This musical is exactly what it is advertised as: an excited reproduction of the classic musical Legally Blonde with a little more youth!

Written by Laurence O’Keefe and Neil Benjamin with Kendra Humphrey at the helm, Legally Blonde Jr follows the unabashedly feminine Elle Woods— played by Danika Reinhart in the first portion of the show’s run— as she leaps from her UCLA sorority into the serious world of Harvard Law. Chasing the coattails of her former boyfriend (nearly fiancé) Warner— played by Jacklyn Boulay— Elle navigates the preconceived notions of her peers and learns to value herself beyond the eyes of a man. As a fantastic portrayal of feminist empowerment, Legally Blonde in all its forms will be a great watch.

The highlight of the show for me was the incredible vocal prowess of our Elle Woods, Danika Reinhart. There were vocal talents throughout the cast, however Reinhart stood out as particularly exceptional in her projection and vocal control; every riff she took on was handled with terrifying ease and was supported by deliberate acting choices. One particular song where Reinhart’s talents were made totally obvious was “So Much Better” where, during the popular chorus, Reinhart could have been a part of the broadway cast recording and I would have been none the wiser. All of the iconic moments within this production were handled with stellar grace and were an absolute joy to watch.

If you’re seeking some lighthearted joy and want to witness the incredible power of youth theater, Legally Blonde Jr should be on your list tenfold. Go support the future of Edmonton’s theater community and enjoy some feminist fun on the way!