Sceneworks Studios’ Legally Blonde at Ciccone Theatre is So Much Fun, it Should Be Illegal!

by Hayley Anderson

If you’re looking for a night full of fun, laughter, and pink, Legally Blonde at Ciccone Theatre in Paramus, NJ is the show to be at. Legally Blonde is one of my favorite shows, and Sceneworks Studios definitely did it justice with this performance. The producers (Ariela and Joseph Pizza), Director (George Croom), Assistant Director (Sebastian Tabakov) and staff and cast of the show do a fabulous job at creating a poignant story of self-discovery and staying true to who you are. Legally Blonde opens with an upbeat performance of “Ohmigod You Guys” which introduces Elle Woods (Ariela Pizza) and her supportive sorority sisters preparing for Elle’s engagement with her boyfriend Warner Huntington III (Aidan Olmo). However, it’s quickly discovered that Warner and Elle are hardly on the same page, and by the end of “Serious” Elle is left with no engagement ring, a broken heart, and rethinking everything she thought to be true. 

On a mission to win Warner back, Elle gets the blessing from her parents (Camryn Graves and Steven Cusimano) and puts in the work with Kate (Katie Surratt) to get into Harvard Law School. But once there, it seems getting in was easier than getting Warner’s love back. Warner has already found a new girlfriend in Vivienne Kensington (Kimmi Zimmermann), who gives Elle less than a warm welcome. It’s apparent that Elle sticks out like a sore thumb in Harvard, made clear in “The Harvard Variations” where students Aaron Schultz (Steven Cusimano), Sundeep Padamadan (Donovan Counts), and Enid Hoopes (Ava Holguin) succinctly list off their many achievements while turning their noses up at Elle. And getting kicked out of class by Professor Callahan (John Pickup) doesn’t help either. Throughout it all, though, Elle manages to pave her way and find new friends in Paulette Bonafonté (KileyRose Burke-Perez) and Emmett Forrest (Aidan Briggs), and, of course, her Greek Chorus of friends — Serena (Victoria Walker), Pilar (Sarah Marquis), and Margot (Jianna Rodriguez) — are there to support her.  

Throughout the performance, I was amazed by each actor’s ability to keep me immersed in the story even when they weren’t in the spotlight. My eyes couldn’t help but wander to each person during scenes as they all displayed different reactions and expressions for their characters. I found myself always wondering what the other clients at the Hair Affair, the salon Paulette works at, were talking about. Kiki the Colorist (Matthew Meade) made small talk with the patrons look effortless as he did their hair, and I could tell they were spilling serious drama in those chairs. During Elle’s first big chance to prove herself as a lawyer, she questions Chutney (Gianna DiTucci), daughter of the murdered Hayworth Wyndham, who has a big perm and even sassier attitude. Chutney is not an easy first witness for Elle, and I loved her expressions acting unbothered while she popped her gum in the courtroom. It’s also important to note that each actor articulated clearly, and I could hear every word said and every lyric sung without issue. This is especially evident in Enid’s (Ava Holguin) singing in “The Harvard Variations,” where she gets out more words in a single breath than I can count, all said perfectly. 

The energetic dance numbers had everyone in the audience captivated and I loved how each dancer had their own twist to every move. Perhaps the most intense dance number in the show, “Whipped Into Shape,” showcases the cast’s true talent in this area. Led by Brooke Wyndham (Genevieve Hall), each actor performs the jump rope choreography in an exhilarating way to open Act II. Brooke does an incredible job of keeping up with the dancing and singing of the scene without ever running out of breath, and by the end of the song, there was roaring applause from the audience. 

The theatre was constantly filled with laughter from the show’s hilarious comedic elements, especially when we first meet Kyle (Drew Hayes Peterson), the UPS man Paulette couldn’t be more enamored with. And of course, how could anyone keep a straight face during “There! Right There!”? During the crucial court trial as DA Joyce Riley (Sarah Grace Mastro) is questioning Nikos (Carlos De La Cruz), it becomes of utmost importance to prove whether her witness is gay or European to find out if he is perjuring himself. The whole scene is entertaining chaos, and even the Judge (Alyssa Goldman) weighs in with her opinion. The laughter from this scene is kept going with Nikos’ and Carlos’ (Michael DeRosa) dance after it’s revealed they are together.

The set (Bergen Community College), lighting (Miru Kim and Graham Frye), sound design (Nicholas Gonzalez), and Stage Manager (Eireann Ingersoll) Assistant Stage Manager (Jadelyn Diaz) all do a wonderful job of portraying differing atmospheres and new locations in the story. The set itself immediately wowed me, as its end walls can be rotated and decorated to represent new spaces. There is also a staircase that goes up the center of the stage, which allows for visual hierarchy between characters when necessary, such as in “Blood in The Water”. The details in this show never quit, from the decorated walls of the set down to every prop designed by CJ Einhorn. Elle even had a printed and completely pink resume to hand out (which is scented by the way). The choreography in the show, directed by Ariane Ryan and Assistant Choreographer Isabella Meseron, is fun and exciting to watch. It is easy to tell that each performer is not only well practiced in their moves but is also having fun while doing them. The costumes, designed by Rayneese Primrose and Assistant Margo Imparato, showcase each character’s style and personality. Color also plays a big role in these costumes, from Elle’s signature pink to Harvard’s students’ dreary browns and blues. Finally, the band for the show, directed by George Croom, does a fantastic job orchestrating the tone for each scene. They work hard to keep pace with the singers, slowing down or speeding up when necessary. The members of the band are George Croom (Keyboard 1/Conduter), Alex Birchwale (Keyboard 2), Aveion Walker (Reed 1), Tristan Shafran (Reed 2), Clyde Daley (Trumpet 1), Steven-Jon Billings (Trumpet 2), DJ Zentia (Trombone), Connor Waage (Guitars), Charles Casimiro (Bass), Ethan Lucas (Drum), and Julian Doppilito (Percussion). 

Overall, the cast and crew do a fantastic job with Legally Blonde, and their hard work paid off. A few moments in the show, some actor’s microphones got a bit quiet, but the performers adeptly made up for it by projecting and making sure the audience followed the mood with their expressions. The cast makes sure each person leaves with a big smile, and by the end of the show they had the audience on their feet wanting more. Fortunately, you have four more chances to see this show as they have performances on Thursday, July 24^th, 7 pm, Friday, July 25^th, 7 pm, Saturday, July 26^th, 2 pm, and Saturday, July 26^th, 7 pm. Don’t miss it! Tickets can be purchased here https://sceneworks.booktix.com/