Legally delightful: Legally Blonde The Muscial at the Pantages Theatre

Legally Blonde: The Musical is one of the best times I’ve had at the theater in ages. Fluffy and frilly, it’s good old fashioned fun.

Adapted from the 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon as seemingly vapid Valley girl, Elle Woods, who gets into Harvard Law School just to prove to her boyfriend she’s not an airhead, the play is virtually a scene by scene recreation of the movie, but with musical numbers thrown in. And oh, how those numbers are thrown in.

Joyous, delightful and rousing, those song and dance numbers are what we are there for and they do deliver. And the joy is infectious. From the opening number of “Ohmigod You Guys,” complete with a Chihuahua who jumps into Elle’s arms on cue, you know you’re in for a fun ride.

From there you get many snappy numbers including “So Much Better” and the delicious “Bend and Snap” that keep the play in high gear. One especially outstanding number is “Blood in the Water” in which the law dean cynically informs the students they’re in for some hard work.

The show nicely incorporates a Greek chorus made up of cheerleaders. And the play is so hip, Elle even comments on having a Greek chorus of cheerleaders present.

The laughs are plenty. Especially fun was when Elle shows up for her interview sans personal essay with her application. Instead, she brings cheerleaders and a marching band to speak for her. Also amusing is when Elle shows up for a party in a pink bunny outfit and is told she’s no Gloria Steinem. And the running gag of Elle managing to incorporate her signature color of pink into every outfit, even when appearing in court, keeps the chuckles coming.

The first act is a bit long, clocking in at an hour and 10 minutes. But the second act moves so fast, you quickly forget you were getting restless at the first act.

The one thing that seemed strange is that every song is an upbeat one. No ballads or slow songs at all. I never realized how much the ballads were needed to balance out the uptempo ones. Oh, don’t get me wrong, the show is fantastic. And fluffy too. But some of the more upbeat ones might have carried more emotional punch if there’d been the slow songs as well. But since the movie was all about ever effervescent Elle Woods, throwing in a ballad might not have worked.

Legally Blonde: The Musical plays at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood through Sept. 6, then moves to the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Cosat Mesa for a two-week run.

To purchase Legally Blonde tickets at the Pantages Theatre.

To purchase Legally Blonde tickets at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.