For a musical that’s become synonymous with pink outfits, pop anthems and perfectly coiffed hair, Legally Blonde spends surprisingly little time asking audiences to admire appearances. Instead, it focuses on dismantling them.

Nearly every major woman in the show enters the story wearing a label. Protagonist Elle Woods is the most obvious example, quickly dismissed as the ditzy blonde. But while she may be the face of Legally Blonde, she doesn’t change alone. Every woman she meets, whether rival, mentor or friend, plays a part in her journey, and each undergoes a transformation of her own. Vivienne Kensington is cast as the cold-hearted rival. Brooke Wyndham is reduced to a glamorous fitness celebrity. Paulette Bonafonté is seen as just the ‘comic relief’.

Spend time with the actresses behind Vivienne (Vanessa Kee), Brooke (Sandra Riley Tang of The Sam Willows fame) and Paulette (Siti Khalijah Zainal), and a different version of the musical begins to emerge: one that’s less about a single heroine and more about the women who learn to stop judging one another, and start lifting each other up. Their characters, and perhaps the musical itself, are all about looking beyond first impressions.

No one embodies that better than Vivienne Kensington. Long remembered as Elle Woods’ antagonist, Vanessa Kee laughs at how completely her opinion of the character changed once rehearsals began. “I have grown to be a Vivienne stan once we got into rehearsals and I dove deeper into her character,” she says. “The verdict is out: Vivienne Kensington isn’t the villain of the show.”

“In fact,” Kee adds, “I think the biggest misconception people have is that she’s tough and unfairly mean. She actually has a very strong sense of justice and values merit very much. Once someone’s earned Viv’s respect, which is hard because she has high standards for herself and the people around her; she softens up very much and can be a very loyal friend.”

Instead, Kee offers a defence that almost turns the story on its head. “Think about it. All Viv wanted was probably to get together with her childhood boyfriend; Warner and Viv went to boarding school together (facts!) and live happily ever after. But this blonde chick comes along and attempts to steal her boyfriend over and over again with unsavoury tactics. I would be pissed too, to be honest.”

Playing both Vivienne and Elle during rehearsals has only reinforced that belief. “I find it the MOST fun to be playing both Vivienne and Elle, and I do believe that they are honestly two sides of the same coin. Both intelligent, ambitious and driven in navigating a male-dominated environment that is Harvard Law. Our job as actors is to believe and empathise with whoever’s shoes we are stepping in, so yes, I do believe both my girlies are entitled to the opinions they have of each other.”

Ultimately, she argues, neither woman is really the problem. “Unfortunately, these two great girls have been pitted against each other due to a badly behaved man, ahem, Warner, and a high-pressured environment. What is more important, though, is that these two ladies get an opportunity to have their perspectives of each other changed, for good.”

That shift from rivalry to mutual respect remains one of the show’s most powerful messages. “Heck yes! I think this show does a great job at championing keeping an open mind, especially when it comes to meeting people vastly different from you. Sometimes you have to let people surprise you, and also have the innate confidence and wisdom that there is space for everyone to blossom. As Elle Woods says, ‘We shouldn’t try to look good by making each other look bad.’ That behaviour is SO outdated.”

Kee believes audiences may even walk away seeing Vivienne in a completely different light. “I think Viv is known to be very ‘serious’, but I hope people will witness how much she enjoys the sisterhood towards the end of the show. She has a little pink and sparkle in her too!”

And despite her composed exterior, Vivienne still has room to surprise herself. “Short answer: yes,” Kee laughs. “Can’t tell you what it is though. She’s kinda silly.”

If Vivienne asks audiences to reconsider the “villain”, Brooke Wyndham challenges another stereotype entirely: that beauty and intelligence somehow exist at opposite ends of the spectrum. “People see the glamorous, fitness-influencer side of Brooke, but underneath that is someone who’s incredibly committed,” says Sandra Riley Tang. “That really resonated with me because I know what it takes behind the scenes to make something look effortless. People often only see the final product, not the years of work, setbacks and consistency that got you there. Brooke has that quiet resilience, and I really connected with that.”

The parallels between Brooke and Tang’s own career were impossible to ignore. “When you’re in entertainment, people can sometimes assume what they see is all there is. They see the performances or the photos, but not the planning, the creative direction, the rehearsals or the business side of what we do. If anything, it’s exciting to me when people are interested to discover what’s more beneath the surface.”

Playing Brooke also offers a different kind of creative freedom. “As RRILEY (her solo pop project), I’m telling my own stories and sharing parts of myself, so there’s a certain vulnerability that comes with that. Playing Brooke is different because I get to borrow someone else’s perspective. I still bring parts of myself into the role, but I’m serving the story rather than telling my own.”

That doesn’t make the role any easier. Brooke’s showstopping number, Whipped Into Shape, remains one of musical theatre’s most physically demanding songs. “My first reaction was, ‘Oh my God, I have to do THAT?'” Tang laughs. “It’s one thing to sing standing still, but it’s truly another to skip rope continuously while staying in character and making it sound effortless. Cardio is definitely my weakness, but I think the biggest lesson has been trusting technique and not letting adrenaline take over. It’s definitely equally a mental challenge as it is a physical one.”

Like Vivienne, Brooke isn’t who audiences expect. “I think the biggest misconception is that because she’s beautiful, confident and a fitness icon, she must be superficial. Same as Elle, Brooke completely flips that stereotype. She’s smart, she’s loyal, she’s resilient, and she refuses to let other people’s perceptions define her. I think that’s something a lot of people can relate to: being judged before they’ve even had the chance to show who they really are.”

Asked whether Brooke surprises herself over the course of the story, Tang simply smiles. “Hahaha… perhaps.”

If Brooke represents resilience and Vivienne learns empathy, Paulette Bonafonté becomes the emotional glue that quietly holds everyone together. “Even though she isn’t the main character, she becomes one of the first people who truly believes in Elle,” says Siti Khalijah. “She really gives off this ‘Big Sis Energy’. She doesn’t judge Elle and she’s someone Elle can be herself around. She gives Elle her full support, encouragement and a safe space.”

That generosity also happens to often overshadows Paulette’s own struggles. “I think people sometimes forget that Paulette also has a vulnerable side. She spends so much time encouraging others, but she needs that encouragement too. Because of what she’s been through, she’s lost confidence in herself, but she never loses hope. By the end of the show, thanks to Elle, we see her rediscover her confidence and I think that’s really beautiful.”

It’s also why Paulette and Elle’s friendship has remained one of the musical’s most beloved relationships. “What I love most about their friendship is how genuine it is. They come from completely different worlds, but they instantly form this connection and sisterhood. It’s such a supportive and uplifting relationship, and I think that’s something audiences will really connect with. I’m also looking forward to bringing Paulette’s humour, heart and warmth to the stage through that friendship.”

Then, in true Paulette fashion, Khalijah imagines exactly what her salon would look like if it existed in Singapore. “If she were in Singapore, Paulette’s salon would definitely be a neighbourhood favourite! It’s where all the aunties, students, office workers, and even the Pilates girlies would come to get their hair done. Everyone would feel at home because Paulette would make sure everyone feels welcome. People would come for a trim but leave with more confidence, some life advice, a little bit of gossip, and a lot of laughter. I think that’s Paulette’s superpower: she treats everyone like a friend.”

Taken together, if there’s one thread connecting all three women, it’s that Legally Blonde asks audiences to reconsider the stories they tell themselves about other people. Vanessa Kee hopes audiences remember that “sometimes you have to let people surprise you.” Sandra Riley hopes they become “more conscious of their own assumptions of people they encounter every day.” And for Siti Khalijah, it begins with simply believing in someone before they believe in themselves.

For Kee, Legally Blonde is ultimately about learning to value yourself instead of chasing other people’s approval. “When you start valuing YOUR dreams and finally step into your innate worth, instead of worrying about people’s perception of you, what is right for you will become a lot more clear. Self-love, girls and boys.”

For Tang, the lesson is about challenging the assumptions we make every day. “You don’t have to fit into someone else’s idea of what capable looks like. This show is full of people who are underestimated for different reasons, and it’s a reminder that intelligence, strength and kindness come in so many forms. I hope audiences leave perhaps being more conscious of their own assumptions of people they encounter every day.”

And for Khalijah, it comes back to the quiet power of believing in someone before they believe in themselves. Paulette may not be the protagonist, but by offering Elle kindness without judgement, she becomes the first person to remind her that confidence isn’t something handed to you by other people, it’s something you rediscover with the help of those who choose to stand beside you.

Perhaps that’s why Legally Blonde continues to resonate nearly two decades after it first premiered. Beneath the glitter, the glamour and the unmistakable shade of pink is a musical filled with women who refuse to remain the stereotypes they’ve been assigned. Instead, they lift one another up, challenge one another to grow, and in doing so, remind audiences that the most interesting people are almost always the ones we thought we had already figured out.

In many ways, the same could be said of this production itself. With an all-Singaporean, all-star principal cast stepping into some of musical theatre’s most iconic roles, SRT’s Legally Blonde is a reminder of just how far Singapore’s theatre industry has come. The talent has always been here. The experience is here. The star power is here. If audiences have ever wondered whether local performers can carry a musical of this scale, this production is their answer.

Supporting local theatre has never simply been about buying a ticket out of loyalty. It’s about recognising excellence when it’s already on our doorstep. If Singapore audiences want to see more productions of this ambition, performed by artists of this calibre, then this is the moment to show up and fill the seats. Because if we don’t stand behind our own stars now, when they’ve proven they belong centre stage, when will we?

Legally Blonde plays from 29th July 2026 at the Esplanade Theatre. Tickets available here