The Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Legally Blonde Broadway musical literally blew my mind away. The cosy and welcoming Breytenbach theatre at TUT was full of performing arts students as well as theatre lovers.

The plot, which follows a pink-loving blonde (Elle Wood) on the road to self-discovery, is based on the novel Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown as well as the popular film starring Reese Witherspoon. Elle’s seemingly perfect life is turned inside out when her boyfriend breaks up with her because he wants to pursue a Harvard Law degree and sees the blonde as superficial. This motivates her to pursue the same degree while trying to prove her worth. Her appearance proves a barrier; people don’t take her seriously and she struggles at school until she sheds her pursuit for validation from others.  Elle soon realizes her potential and outshines her peers with her intuition and intellect, also leaving those who first underestimated her with a lesson. Do not judge a book by its cover.

The cast is culturally diverse. The lead Sarah Malherbe surprisingly looks like Reese Witherspoon. The performances were amazing with convincing accents, pitch perfect singing and breathtaking dancing. Everything from the props to the orchestra was on point. I am definitely no theatre expert but the student production seemed worthy of professional praise.