The sisters of Delta Nu at UCLA crowded around Elle Woods, their sorority’s president, as she hysterically bawled. Why would her boyfriend, Warner, break up with her because she “wasn’t serious enough?” She had a 4.0 average! Sure, she was in fashion merchandising, and her future wasn’t at the top of her priorities, but she was “seriously in love with him!”
On both Oct. 18 and 19, Elle Woods sang and danced her way to the Gogue Performing Arts Center to apply and get accepted to Harvard University. She would prove to Warner that she was serious and could win back his love if it was the last thing she did.
“We went to see Legally Blonde for a class field trip, and I had so much fun! The play was amazing, and the actors did so well,” said Isabelle Smith, sophomore in interior design.
Another sophomore student majoring in interior design shared her thoughts on the idea of Legally Blonde as a musical edition rather than the classic movie.
“I didn’t know what to expect. It was very different from the movie, but I still enjoyed it,” said Catherine Taylor, sophomore in interior design.
Regarding this change, Taylor elaborated on this not-so-subtle change from the original.
“The overall plot was similar to the movie, but there were a lot of little differences that were in the musical and not in the movie. I thought the musical aspect added a fun element to the story. It definitely portrayed the storyline in a different way than the movie, but it was very entertaining,” Taylor said.
Another viewer, Isabella Caswell, an interior design major in her second year, shared that she loved the added “musical” aspect. Caswell shared her favorite of Elle Woods’ journeys at the Gogue Center that night.
“My favorite scene in the play was definitely the ‘Bend and Snap’ scene because it was hilarious, and the actors and actresses did a great job,” Caswell said.
However, Taylor had a different opinion on her favorite moment.
“My favorite scene in the show was the song ‘So Much Better.’ The whole cast was involved in some way, and the music, dancing, acting, etc. was really entertaining and enjoyable,” Taylor said.
After finally arriving in Boston to begin her journey as a Harvard law student, Elle met characters such as her mentor, Paulette.
Taylor describes Paulette’s actress, Ashley Morton, as both “entertaining and hilarious.”
However, Caswell and Taylor both agreed that Hannah Bonnett, the actress for Elle Woods, was their favorite. Taylor explained her reasoning.
“While everyone was amazing, I think the actress who played Elle Woods was the best. She did such a good job of portraying the character and was a very believable actress,” Taylor said.
At the end of Elle’s memorable but challenging time at Harvard, she finally discovered who she really was. After growing and maturing, she became an intelligent and independent woman, and Warner finally fell at her feet again. However, Elle had already made up her mind that she didn’t need him anymore. In the end, she was able to keep her pretty-in-pink persona and still discover the keys to success through independence and education.
The audience at the GPAC that night was impressed with girly and pink-obsessed Elle’s character development.
“We can learn self-confidence, believing in yourself, and that you can do whatever you put your mind to from Elle Woods,” Taylor said.
To make the experience even more captivating, Smith, Caswell and Taylor all agreed they would go back to the Gogue Center to see another play.
“The environment is really welcoming, and I love the space. I look forward to visiting again,” Taylor said.
Many Auburn students don’t realize it, but the GPAC offers a student discount for those who want to sit back and enjoy a nice play with their friends. All Auburn University students can purchase tickets for only $20 to performances presented by the Gogue Center.
Students can also contact the box office before a performance to check for free tickets. Often, people will donate them back to the Gogue Center if they are unable to attend.
“The Gogue Performing Arts Center is a beautiful space, which made seeing the play even more enjoyable!” Smith said.
While Elle Woods has left Auburn to continue her job as a successful lawyer, the GPAC has many other upcoming events.
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