PICTURES: Sacred Heart School brings the ‘Bend and Snap’ to Westport stage

Over three spectacular nights from February 10 to 12, along with matinee performances for the local primary schools, the Sacred Heart School traded their traditional image for a bubblegum-gum pink Legally Blonde Jnr inspired revamp, which was fitting for their last year as an all-girls school.

Legally Blonde Jnr brought its bend and snap to the big screen in 2001, based on Amanda Brown's novel about her personal experience while attending Stanford University.

Based on the hit film, the musical first premiered at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Theatre in 2007 and then transferred to Broadway later that year.

The girls portrayed their roles perfectly, all incredibly talented in their own way. Grace Donovan wowed the audience with her fantastic performance as Elle Woods, really understanding her role as the fashionable, upbeat sorority girl.

Grace is an exceptional performer with her history of being part of the Westport pantomime every year, including Cinderella last month.

Many of the girls traded the football pitch for the stage such as Mayo Minor players Aoibhinn McNamara as one of the Delta Nu’s and Katie Hughes as Pforzheimer.

The musical covers themes such as female empowerment where Viviann (played by Ava Moran) tells Elle ‘‘Girls need to stick together’’. This is a turning point within the show as the two are seen as enemies.

It also tackles the stereotype of ‘Dumb Blonde’ as Elle loves fashion and is your typical ‘girly girl’ but Elle proves it wrong by getting into Harvard Law, working hard and helping Brooke (played by Serena Walsh) win her court case.

Ms Donnelly and the three music teachers Ms Flattery, Ms Reed and Ms St John, did a fantastic job with the casting, choreography and the production of the show, making the show run through seamlessly. The set changes went really smoothly making the whole production very professional from start to finish.

One thing that really stood out for me on the final night was how much the girls were enjoying themselves on stage from their bright smiles, high energy levels and enthusiasm. It really made the show enjoyable to watch.

The cast also included the kind-hearted Emmett Forrest (played by Annaleigh Kelly) the hilarious Paulette (played by Aoibhinn Lyons) and murder suspect Brooke Wyndham (Serena Walsh)

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 McDonnell was Dewey, Lauren Cusack was Kyle, Sinéad McDonagh was the Prison Guard, Ella Horan was the Judge with Anna Meaney, Tara Macken and Caoimhe O’Grady taking on the roles of Aaron, Padamadan and Enid respectively. The Sacred Heart girls certainly put on a great show enjoyed by all in attendance.

Photographer Conor McKeown was on hand to capture the performance.

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