Arts & Entertainment

Don't Miss: 'Legally Blonde,' Frothy, Pink Fun

A special matinee of "Legally Blonde" has been added for Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

Think pink.

That's good advice for audience members who are crowding in to the North Fork Community Theater in Mattituck for the 43rd Youth on Stage production, "Legally Blonde, The Musical," which runs through Sunday and is based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the 2001 film.

From the first, pink — deliciously frothy, bubblegum pink — is everywhere, from the costumes, to an amazing set created by Casey Rooney, and even to the pink cupcakes and cookies sold at the refreshment stand.

Pink, after all, is the color embraced by Elle Woods, portrayed to perfection by Sydney Campbell. Anyone who has seen the film, which starred Reese Witherspoon, will remember Elle's character as the sweet-as-sugar but slightly ditzy Delta Nu sorority girl, with an eye for fashion and a deep love for her bedazzled-collared dog and her boyfriend Warner, played to handsome leading man perfection by James Fink.

But when Warner unceremoniously dumps the unwitting Elle, saying that he's searching for a more "serious" flame, the Delta Nu sister develops a strong and previously untapped resolve, studying hard and heading to Harvard to impress her man. 

Campbell's portrayal of Elle's growth from giggly and girlish to going-places Harvard grad is nuanced with just the right mix of poignancy and powerhouse vocals. 

Performances of note include the always delightful Christina Stankewicz, who breathes laugh-out-loud life into her hairdresser character, Paulette — a woman smitten with her package-carrying deliveryman, Kyle, played by Michael Drozd in a performance so hysterically funny audience members roared. Dan Yaiullo's Emmett Forrest is spot-on.

Becca Mincieli, as the exercise guru Brooke Wyndham accused of murder, rocks the house with an energetic and impassioned rendition of "Whipped Into Shape," at the start of Act II. 

And the audience could be heard singing long after the stage was dark, humming along to the song "Omigod You Guys," as they headed out of the theater, smiling.

Directed by Jessica Raven, with a musical direction by Jacob Boergesson — whose cameo performance as Carlos displays his razor sharp comedic timing — and with some of the best choreography ever seen on a North Fork stage by Meagan Schmid — "Legally Blonde" is an unequivocal smash hit.

"Legally Blonde, The Musical" is a show as sweet and breezy as a summer day — with rock-solid family values to imbue at the same time. And perhaps no song has ever sparked a dance revolution as much fun as "Bend and Snap." The show sparkles with fun, laughter, sensitivity and a vibrant score that'll keep you singing for days. Don't miss it. 

Tickets are sold out for Thursday, Friday and Sunday performances of the show, which take place at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday —but walk-ins could still be accepted.

Tickets are still available for Saturday, with a performance at 8 p.m. and a new matinee added at 2:30 p.m. For tickets, click here or call 631-298-NFCT.


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