Theater Review: 'Legally Blonde, Jr.' by Thomaston High School Drama

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

The drama club of Thomaston High School is presenting a well-rehearsed production of “Legally Blonde The Musical, Jr.” For the first time, the troupe is performing on the stage of the Thomaston Opera House. The Drama Club director, Breanna Riollano (aka “RIO,”) is grateful to Landmark Community Theatre for making this dream a reality because it has been an incredible opportunity for the Thomaston High program.

Riollano writes that “working with students in a capacity that fosters community, growth, acceptance, love, hard work, and dedication has been such an honor. I could not ask for a more rewarding experience.” She works with assistant director Shana Marques and McGowan has joined the production team as musical director.

Thomaston senior Jillian Alena shines brightly in the role of the blonde and whip smart Elle Woods. She has been involved in theater for ten years and it shows. Recent credits include Jovie in “Elf” at her high school, and Roxie Hart in “Chicago” with NVPA, as well as directing “Clue” at the high school last fall.

Matthew Paolino (Wadsworth in “Clue’) sings really well in the role of the vapid and supposedly “Serious” Warner Huntington III in his tenth theater production. Tyler Veonesi (Lt. Shank in Landmark’s “West Side Story”) gets to play the villainous Professor Callahan. Junior Konnor Birkenberger makes his mark in the role of Emmett Forrest. He recently played Mr. Green in “Clue” at his high school and A-Rab in Landmark’s “West Side Story.”

Violet Alvey (Colonel Mustard in “Clue") is adorable as the hairdresser Paulette Buonafonte, singing well with good stage presence. Therese McDonald (Professor Plum in “Clue") takes on the role of Kyle, the UPS man, with Jacob Caviasca in the role of Paulette’s common law husband.

Natalja Collaku sings well in the role of Brooke Wyndham. As Elle’s sorority sisters, Emily Mazzarella plays Margot, Mia Orsini has good stage presence as Serena, and Christina Spina (Mrs. Peacock in “Clue") is Pilar.

Eighth grade student Elyse Ariola is law student Enid Hoopes. Charlie Moran plays featured Delta Nu Kate and Galeen. Therese McDonald also plays Grandmaster Chad. Jenna Johnson plays the department store manager and Kiki. Ava Nicosia plays law student Aaron Schultz and Miguel Rodrigues gets to play both Sundeep Padamadan and the courtroom judge. Avery McDonald (Scarlet in “Clue") dons a permed wig to play the stepdaughter Chutney.

Seventh grade student Britta Saghafi is a standout in the role of fitness video guru (and accused murderer) Brooke Wyndham in what is only her second role with Thomaston. She can sing and dance (“Whipped Into Shape,) and act, and does it all well in her role. Alivia Monge plays Vivienne’s friend Whitney in her stage debut.

Elyza Morey is Sabrina and Ava Orsini steps up to play the saleswoman in the opening number “Omigod You Guys.”
Three teachers get cameos as Harvard admissions officers, a role that I would love to play. Susan Santovasi, a teacher of English, Legal Studies and Computer Science since 2003 plays Withrop. John Long is Lowell in his second cameo role in a Thomaston production and Heidi Laus, a History teacher for the past 22 years, is Pforzheimer.

Restaurant servers are played by Veronesi, Rodriguez and Carmelo Segui.

Salon workers and customers are covered by both Orsini sisters, Christina Spina, Emily Mazzarella, Eliza Morey, Elyse Ariola and Avery McDonald.

There are many noticeable differences between the adult and Jr. versions of this show. The law class paternity case study has been changed, the scene with Elle shopping at the department store with Emmett is cut, as is the silly courtroom shower scene. The gay pool boy is also not involved in the courtroom scene. There is Elle’s onstage quick change and many of the expected lines. The shortened version of the show moves along briskly. Kudos to the members of the crew for making everything run smoothly.

“What? Like it’s hard?”

The two directors are credited as the choreographers of the fun dance moves. Riollano served as lighting designer and Marques worked as production designer and operator. The performance opens with a fun video with the three members of the production team. There are also a slew of projections that work well to set the scenes and recorded tracks for the singers to follow, some of which contained some oddly-timed sections to challenge the singers.

The opening night audience contained a slew of fellow students who loudly supported their classmates on the stage. Thank you to the production team for the invitation to attend.

The show runs less than 90 minutes and is presented without an intermission. The remaining performances are scheduled for March 23 at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. at the Thomaston Opera House. Student tickets are $10 and adult tickets are $15. Concessions will be on sale in the lobby. Tickets are sold online at tickets.landmarkcommunitytheatre.org or at the door.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She is also a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column IN THE WINGS and theater reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the newspaper.
Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the CCC Facebook page.