Blog: Sheridan Smith's Last Day on Legally Blonde
Date: 8 January 2011
Whatsonstage.com Award-nominated Sheridan Smith bows out of Legally Blonde The Musical at the Savoy Theatre tonight (8 January 2011) after 13 months tickling audiences pink as sorority girl Elle Woods. Her final matinee this afternoon was filled with messages, in-jokes and even a cameo from one of her former co-stars.
Duncan James, who played Elle’s boyfriend Warner Huntingdon III before Simon Thomas took over the role, popped up in Elle’s Harvard Presentation to whoops of applause from audience members, many of whom have seen the show multiples times. The singer, formerly of boyband Blue, also returned at the end of the show to present Smith with one of two huge bouquets of flowers.
Smith, who has been nominated as Best Actress in a Musical at the 2011 Whatsonstage.com Awards, was originally scheduled to leave the show in October 2010 but extended her run due to popular demand. Legally Blonde the Musical is shortlisted in a further six categories at the awards, which will be announced at the Whatsonstage.com Awards Concert at the West End's Prince of Wales Theatre on Sunday 20 February 2011.
There were more surprises in store for Smith at today’s matinee. In the show’s opening restaurant scene, Smith found two beers and some ready-salted Walkers waiting on the table, a reference to her most famous role on BBC sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. Later, beautician Paulette (Denise Van Outen) declared Elle’s manicure “perfect for a summer holiday in Benidorm”, another show on the lead actress’s CV.
But Smith had some tricks up her own sleeve, bouncing into the Harvard party scene in a “onesie” adult babygrow, in place of her usual Playboy Bunny outfit. She also landed a full blown kiss on Enid, the female law student with a major crush on Elle, much to actress Suzie McAdam’s surprise.
An emotional Smith struggled at times to suppress her laughter, but by the final curtain seemed closer to tears. She will perform one last time tonight, before fellow cast-member Susan McFadden take over the role of Elle on Monday. McFadden previously played Sandy in the West-End revival of Grease after winning BBC reality show, You’re The One That I Want.
Smith is next expected in the West End in Bridget Jones, The Musical, touted for 2012.
The Whatsonstage.com Awards Concert will include performances from a range of West End stars, including nominees and nominated productions in the 2011 Whatsonstage.com Awards, which cover the best of the 2010 theatre year. Voting in this year’s awards continues until 31 January with winners announced and trophies presented at the Concert on 20 February.
Concert tickets, which range from £25-£47.50, are now on sale and can be booked by phone on 0844 482 5133 or online at www.whatsonstage.com/concert.
As with the Launch Party, at which shortlists were announced in December, the Awards Concert is held in aid of this year’s adopted charity, The Theatrical Guild, which was founded by actors to provide financial and other support to front of house and backstage staff in times of need.
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- by Nancy Groves - Theatregoer Reporter
Any opinions expressed above do not represent the view of Whatsonstage.com nor any of its staff or contributors beyond the bylined author.
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| Internal Links |
 | Photo: First peek at Sunshine Boys Danny DeVito & Richard Griffiths - 19th Mar 2012 photos |
| Legally Blonde's Carley Stenson goes green as Shrek's Princess Fiona - 8th Mar 2012 news |
| Danny DeVito makes West End debut with Richard Griffiths in Sunshine Boys - 30th Jan 2012 news |
| Legally Blonde posts West End closing notices, 7 April - 25th Jan 2012 news |
| Cast: Ashfield & Thomas Go Blonde, Blackman is Gertie - 31st Aug 2011 news |
| WOS TV: Up Close With ... Legally Blonde's Lee Mead - 1st Aug 2011 tv |
| Top Ten: Awe-inspiring Stage Special Effects - 18th Jul 2011 features |
| Photos: Carley Stenson Takes Over as Legally Elle - 11th Jul 2011 photos |
| Photos: Lee Mead Plays Emmett in Legally Blonde - 20th Jun 2011 photos |
| Brinkley Models Roxie, Carley Stenson Plays Elle - 9th Jun 2011 news |
| WOS Winners Smith & Karimloo Join Gaumond - 6th May 2011 news |
| Blonde Natalie Casey, Seymour-Marsh Joins MDQ - 22nd Mar 2011 news |
| Natalie Casey Next for Legally Blonde??? - 21st Mar 2011 gossip |
| Lee Mead Plays Legally Blonde Emmett from Jun - 17th Mar 2011 news |
| Legally Blonde Starts Tour in Liverpool, Grease - 15th Mar 2011 news |
| Jo Caird: Hands Up Who Likes Musical Theatre? - 15th Mar 2011 blog |
| Susan McFadden Is Legally Blonde Elle from Jan - 17th Dec 2010 news |
| Photos: Van Outen Joins New Legally Blonde Cast - 10th Nov 2010 photos |
| Denise Van Outen Goes Legally Blonde, New Cast - 27th Aug 2010 news |
| Extensions: Sheridan Smith's Elle, Boheme & Mis - 26th Aug 2010 news |
| Van Outen Goes Blonde, Bundy Stays Stateside??? - 11th Aug 2010 gossip |
| OMG! Who Will Star in Legally Blonde from 23 Oct??? - 23rd Jul 2010 gossip |
| Jennifer Ellison Not Legally Bound for West End??? - 2nd Jul 2010 gossip |
| Photos: Richard Fleeshman Bows in Blonde - 29th Jun 2010 photos |
| Musicals Extend: Blonde, Dirty, Thriller & WWRY - 9th Jun 2010 news |
| Cast: Fleeshman Goes Legally, Hoods, Wolfboy - 11th May 2010 news |
| Musicals Extend: Legally Blonde, Priscilla, Stomp - 27th Jan 2010 news |
| Legally Blonde  - 14th Jan 2010 reviews |
| 1st Night Photos: Blonde Has More Opening Fun - 14th Jan 2010 photos |
| Review Round-up: What's the Verdict on Legally? - 14th Jan 2010 roundup |
| 1st Night TV: Legally Blonde’s Pretty in Pink Gala - 14th Jan 2010 tv |
| WOS Radio: Legally Blonde Team Face Questions - 7th Jan 2010 radio |
| Legally Blonde Reports 'Unprecedented' Sales - 22nd Dec 2009 news |
| Photos: Smith & Cast Launch West End Legally - 30th Sep 2009 photos |
| Sheridan Smith & Duncan James Lead Legally - 21st Apr 2009 news |
| Legally Blonde Sets UK Premiere for Savoy, 5 Dec - 1st Apr 2009 news |
External Links |
| Whatsonstage.com Awards Concert booking |
| Vote in the 2011 Whatsonstage.com Awards |
| Results to date in the 2011 Whatsonstage.com Awards |
| The Theatrical Guild website |
