Mayo school all set to perform Legally Blonde Jnr

It’s that time of year again when musical fever hits us all in the Sacred Heart School in Westport. Everything in the school goes a little bit 'Fame' - a reference picked especially for older readers - or 'Glee', if the younger readers prefer! This year our Transition Year Students and their teachers have produced the wonderfully bubble-gum pink 'Legally Blonde Jnr'.

Legally Blonde Jnr follows Elle Woods (played by the ever-effervescent Grace Donovan), a fashionable, upbeat sorority girl whose life is turned upside down when her boyfriend, Warner Huntington III (wonderfully portrayed by Róisín Quinn), dumps her because she’s not 'serious' enough for his future political ambitions. Determined to win him back, Elle hatches a bold plan: she’ll follow him to Harvard Law School.

Once there, Elle discovers that Harvard is a world that doesn’t quite know what to do with her pink outfits, bubbly personality, or Chihuahua Bruiser. She faces scepticism from classmates and professors, but with the help of new friends—especially the kind-hearted teaching assistant Emmett Forrest (a role played convincingly by Annaleigh Kelly) and the wonderfully brash and hilarious Paulette (played by Aoibhinn Lyons), Elle learns to trust her intelligence and instincts.

When she joins the defense team for a high-profile murder trial involving fitness guru Brooke Wyndham (Serena Walsh takes on this part), Elle proves that her unique perspective and determination are exactly what the case needs. This duck-out-of-water story teaches us all that we don’t to need to change who we are to succeed, a very important message for all of us to hear.

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The cast also includes the following: the Delta Nu’s are Lucy Noonan, Aoibhinn McNamara, Emma McGarvey and Emily Grady; Ava Moran takes on the role of Vivienne, with Professor Callahan being portrayed by Ruby Wilson and Chutney by Aoibhinn NicDhonnacha and Whitney by Ríona Kilbane. Supporting roles are played by Orla Palas (Kiki), Melody Corcoran (Cashier), Christine Clarke (Stylist), and Katie Hughes, Aisling Helberg and Kazu Sangare in the roles of Winthrop, Lowell and Pforzheimer. Maria Mc Donnell is Dewey, Lauren Cusack is Kyle, Sinéad McDonagh is the Prison Guard, Ella Horan is the Judge with Anna Meaney, Tara Macken and Caoimhe O’Grady taking on the roles of Aaron, Padamadan and Enid respectively.

We are delighted that students from local primary and secondary schools, and other organisations will join us for our matinee performances. They can look forward to mini goodie bags and a raffle each day. We have learned from the accompanying teachers that they look forward to our musical for another reason beyond the professionalism of the show: namely the delicious treats provided by our Home Economics teachers and students that are served to them during the intermission, and are a big hit every year!

The school gym has been transformed once again with much thanks due to our set designers and the wonderful stage management and prop team. Everything is very pink – which seems oddly fitting for our last year as an all-girls’ school!

The first public performance takes place in our school gym, on Tuesday, February 10 and then again on Wednesday, February 11 with the final night on Thursday, February 12. All shows start at 7pm with doors opening from 6.30pm each evening. Tickets are currently on sale from the school reception and are priced at €15 for adults and €12 for students/children/ OAPs. Tickets do sell out for these performances (particularly the final night show!) so we recommend purchasing in advance where possible, but we anticipate that limited tickets should be available to purchase on the door for the Tuesday and Wednesday performances. We are looking forward to seeing you there.

Pictured above are Transition Year students who will take part in Legally Blonde Jnr this week, top row, from left: Aoibhinn Lyons, Ruby Wilson and Serena Walsh. Middle row: Emily Grady, Lucy Noonan, Emma McGarvey and Aoibhinn McNamara. Bottom row: Ava Moran, Riona Kilbane, Grace Donovan, Annaleigh Kelly and Roisin Quinn.

PICTURES: Mayo school set to take to stage in musical showpiece