Show's a fun night at theatre

LEGALLY BLONDE

Ashton Operatic Society at Oldham Coliseum, to Saturday

THIS might not be one of the largest modern musicals, such as Wicked, but it can be one of the most enjoyable.

Elle Woods on stage - in pink - is more enjoyable than Elle Woods in the movie of the same name, mainly because in theatre's fantasy world, a well-off Malibu bimbo who never thinks beyond her next tanning session really can use her dormant brain and get into Harvard. You know, one of the most intellectually snobbish and exclusive colleges in the world...

Elle (Ellie Birtles) can do that because she's doing it for love - namely that of her former boyfriend Warner (Sam Maurice), who dumped her before going to college, there to meet a girl with better connections.

Following him to Harvard, she catches the eye of law professor Callahan (Paul Allison) but has to fight the nastiness of many of her fellow students to get on - which she does spectacularly thanks to her ties to a murder defendant.

This all sounds a bit dull but in the right hands is a sweet and unerringly optimistic, funny night at the theatre.

And that, ultimately, is what Ashton provides, piling energy into the evening non-stop - courtesy of pretty dancing girls and fast-paced performances from the leading players, many of whom are young and not familiar members of this senior regional amateur company.

Director Lee Brennan if anything starts a little too manically, giving us little time to attune to high-pitched girlish voices over a slightly bass-heavy, slightly screechy sound balance - which means we (well, I) failed to follow all the smart lyrics that add a lot to the show's success.

But after settling down the evening finds a better tone and becomes an enjoyable amateur stab at this sometimes quite difficult piece, reaching its expected peak at a courtroom scene worthy, in its bad taste, of Mel Brooks.

Ellie Birtles offers a remarkably strong and commanding performance as Elle, building a sweet relationship with fellow student Emmet (Dominic Dunne), while Paul Allison is convincing as the shark-like professor.

Rachel Wareing is strong - with a good voice - as Elle's friend Paulette, and Gary Jones McCaw is good value as a succession of minor but memorable small characters.