*/
There are lessons for the Bar in this musical, believes David Wurtzel.
Legally Blonde (Savoy Theatre) proves that good new musicals can still be written. They can also be performed by your favourite television stars who are indeed able to sing, dance and do dialogue (with occasional breathlessness) on stage. The combination is perfect: the women steal the show, the men provide the eye candy and the audience, who greet it with remarkable knowingness, gives it a standing ovation. You do not have to have seen the movie and I suspect that I am glad that I didn’t. It is easier to suspend disbelief in a theatre than in the cinema. Legally Blonde belongs in a theatre. Luckily, the entire cast led by Sheridan Smith with wonderful star quality and timing, plays it straight, though with gays, a lesbian and sexual harassment, straight may not be quite the word.
There are even lessons for the Bar in this show. Elle barnstorms her way into Harvard. Merit plays little part in this. However, she is blonde and beautiful, which puts her into the “minorities” category. She is also in love with one of the other students—alas, with creepy Warner (boy band star Duncan James). Perhaps his East Coast preppiness might once have seemed exotic to her, compared to the Malibu surfer dudes she grew up with. Finally, instead of writing an entrance essay she performs a glitzy song and dance routine. Chambers would undoubtedly find this a break from the usual pupillage rounds.
Elle’s performance in court, on the other hand, demonstrates the true advocate’s ability to understand and explore the motivation of the witness. While others sing, “is he gay or European?” she already knows the answer. Barristers who might otherwise sneer at the show should ask themselves whether they would know that a woman would not take a shower on the same day that she gets a perm. English law students would be struck by the fact that a law professor moonlights as a trial advocate, taking his students along with him to court, and they would undoubtedly cheer when the apprentices take over the case, facilitated by the fact that the defendant is paying privately.
An intellectual journey
Most of all the show has the lesson of girl power. Speaking as a minority (ie male) member of the audience, Legally Blonde is a fine example of women helping each other and of women rising to the top. The theme at the end is stated to be “be true to yourself” but that is incorrect. You cannot be true to what you don’t yet know about yourself. What Elle learns is that she can be taken seriously in her own right. Sad to say, her intellectual journey only begins because, OMG, a man throws away her fashion magazine and tells her to open a law book. But hey, it is only a musical.
David Wurtzel practised at the criminal Bar for 27 years and is a door tenant at 18 Red Lion Court. Prior to his retirement, he was a consultant in the CPD department at City Law School and consultant editor of Counsel. David is a member of the Counsel Editorial Board.
There are even lessons for the Bar in this show. Elle barnstorms her way into Harvard. Merit plays little part in this. However, she is blonde and beautiful, which puts her into the “minorities” category. She is also in love with one of the other students—alas, with creepy Warner (boy band star Duncan James). Perhaps his East Coast preppiness might once have seemed exotic to her, compared to the Malibu surfer dudes she grew up with. Finally, instead of writing an entrance essay she performs a glitzy song and dance routine. Chambers would undoubtedly find this a break from the usual pupillage rounds.
Elle’s performance in court, on the other hand, demonstrates the true advocate’s ability to understand and explore the motivation of the witness. While others sing, “is he gay or European?” she already knows the answer. Barristers who might otherwise sneer at the show should ask themselves whether they would know that a woman would not take a shower on the same day that she gets a perm. English law students would be struck by the fact that a law professor moonlights as a trial advocate, taking his students along with him to court, and they would undoubtedly cheer when the apprentices take over the case, facilitated by the fact that the defendant is paying privately.
An intellectual journey
Most of all the show has the lesson of girl power. Speaking as a minority (ie male) member of the audience, Legally Blonde is a fine example of women helping each other and of women rising to the top. The theme at the end is stated to be “be true to yourself” but that is incorrect. You cannot be true to what you don’t yet know about yourself. What Elle learns is that she can be taken seriously in her own right. Sad to say, her intellectual journey only begins because, OMG, a man throws away her fashion magazine and tells her to open a law book. But hey, it is only a musical.
There are lessons for the Bar in this musical, believes David Wurtzel.
Legally Blonde (Savoy Theatre) proves that good new musicals can still be written. They can also be performed by your favourite television stars who are indeed able to sing, dance and do dialogue (with occasional breathlessness) on stage. The combination is perfect: the women steal the show, the men provide the eye candy and the audience, who greet it with remarkable knowingness, gives it a standing ovation. You do not have to have seen the movie and I suspect that I am glad that I didn’t. It is easier to suspend disbelief in a theatre than in the cinema. Legally Blonde belongs in a theatre. Luckily, the entire cast led by Sheridan Smith with wonderful star quality and timing, plays it straight, though with gays, a lesbian and sexual harassment, straight may not be quite the word.
The Chair of the Bar reports back
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how global events can influence the performance of pensions and ISAs, and why taking a long-term approach to investing is often the most effective strategy
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, discusses what family law professionals need to know about hallucinogens, from the main hallucinogenic drugs encountered in family proceedings, to their effects and the testing options available
Harmony Christian Ministries is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
At the start of her term, Chair of the Bar 2026 Kirsty Brimelow KC set out a series of priorities for the year ahead. One of those priorities was children in the justice system
As the world becomes more digital, Barbara Vinagre Mota examines international research into the mental health consequences of judges’ exposure to graphic and immersive evidence, highlighting the importance of support systems
In an era of patient-centred care and growing concern over misconduct in medical settings, why do women still lack the right to choose women consultants for examination and treatment? Charles Davey investigates
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
