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On Thursday March 13^th last the curtains opened to a packed, sold-out hall in St. Nathy’s College for the opening night of our three-night theatrical triumph Illegally Blonde, where the audience had been transported to LA and Harvard.  Little did they know what a show the Transition Years had in store for them.

The opening scene saw Elle Woods (Ava O’Brien) and three of her sorority sisters from the “Delta Nu” gang, Serena, (Maeve Deeley), Anna (Mollie Jordan), and Kate (Sonya Radchenko) belt out “Omigod You Guys” in LA. This high-energy, fast-paced song set the tone for the three unbelievable nights which followed. Amplified by the foundation that was Ms. Stack’s seventy-strong choir, it captured the girls’ excitement and energy as they prepared Elle for what they thought would be an inevitable liaison with her beau, Warner Blake IV! (Daniel Anderson).

However, a conversation between Anna and Meagan (Mollie Jordan and Meeko Yu) hinted that all was not well in the “Elle and Warner camp.” With a sense of foreboding, we moved to “St. Nathy’s Tavern” where Elle and Warner had arranged to meet.  Oblivious to the real reason why they were there, poor Elle made several references to her “ring finger” and alluded on numerous occasions to the proposal that she so desperately had yearned. Well, Poor “Pooh Bear” certainly got that wrong! Warner Blake IV went off to tell his ‘respectable’ new belle, the villainous Vivienne Westwood (Kayleigh Collins) that the dastardly deed was done and that he was a free man. As the curtains closed, we saw Warner under one spotlight to the right of the stage and Elle, a lonely solitary figure on the left standing alone in her new pink dress lamenting the loss of her perfect boyfriend. What better song to express her feelings than Taylor Swift’s Power Ballad “You belong with me”? This song told the story of unrequited love from Elle’s perspective. You could feel the anger as she listed out the reasons why she saw herself as a better match for Warner than his new girlfriend Vivienne. She made contrasts between herself and Vivienne, it was clear that she was the more down-to-earth, obvious option, she was your typical American sweetheart. The song had a very relatable theme which resonated with the audience as they watched poor Elle nurse her broken heart. 

Despite the sadness, it nonetheless had a catchy melody and an upbeat rhythm. Ava delivered it in spades, with an array of highly charged emotional vocals. Wow! what a voice! Even Tommy Marren asked her on Midwest the previous Wednesday morning if she needed a defibrillator? No danger! Her version was earnest and honest. She made the Taylor Swift song feel like she had written it for Warner Blake IV himself! The choir then joined in for the anthemic chorus giving it even more strength and power.  As soon as the audience heard those “twangy” guitars they could not help but join in too, and every single person in the hall was tapping and nodding. Ava held every note and never missed a beat. Ava O’Brien, “You were our St. Nathy’s ‘Taylor Swift’ and our PE Hall was your ‘Aviva!’ and you certainly filled it! Look out Taylor Swift! Kudos to our exceptionally talented Music teacher Ms. Stack who lifted the hall with her choir and who spent hours and hours making sure every note was on queue.

Next song up was What You Want Warner. This served as a crucial turning point in Elle’s life and showed her determination to prove herself beyond stereotypes. This song was energetic, upbeat, and filled with humour. Rather than giving up, Elle decided to get into Harvard to show him that she was capable, and worthy of his love and that she was certainly not a shrinking violet, a “Blonde Bimbo” or a “Dumb Blonde”. Not wanting her friend to lose the run of herself the clearly grounded, diligent and studious Meagan (Meeko Yu) reminded her that if she really wanted Harvard, then there would have to be sacrifices, lots of study and no Spring Break. Meagan again stressed the two choices “Elle, if you want Spring Break, there will be NOOOO Harvard and NOOOO Warner!” Meagan then went on to explain what a “Personal Essay” was, as Elle and her “Delta Nu” sorority sisters clearly did not know.

Next up was that feel good song from the ‘80s, “It’s Raining men” and our men from St. Nathy’s certainly put on a show to be remembered!  “The Weather Girls” would indeed have been proud. The stage was set, the lights dimmed, and an anticipatory hush fell over the audience, as they did not really know what to expect next? Suddenly, the unmistakable opening beats of It’s Raining Men thundered through the speakers. There they were, ten of TYs finest, lined up (Finian Malone, Sean Mc Cann, Jarlath O ‘Gara, Luke Mc Keon, Nathaniel Cooney, James Mc Grath, Evan Murray, Daniel Anderson, Paudi Gilligan and Matthew Naughton) with their backs to the audience, swaying left and right to that unmistakable sound, looking resplendent in their High-Vis vests that were barely clinging to their bulging biceps. When they spun around the audience could see the silhouette of their torsos under the High Vis and the dimmed lights.

With exaggerated hip thrusts, they launched into a carefully choreographed extravaganza of high kicks and twirls. The audience roared and laughed. Kudos to Ms. Emma Coleman our wonderful and extremely talented Choreographer for such a fantastic show of “Burlesque Bravado”. The audience barely had time to recover before the men flung themselves on the floor and then proceeded to pop up one by one as though a teacher were calling the roll!  “Tall? anseo! Blonde? present, Dark? Here, Lean? Rough? Tough? Strong? and Mean?” All were certainly present.

The scene then shifted to Elle’s home, where her ever-loving parents (Finian Malone and Aoife Cattigan) were somewhat aghast with her reasons for wanting to go to Harvard. With a mix of concern and reluctant pride, they finally gave their blessing for her bold leap to Harvard, though they could hardly hide their shock at her motivations. Elle’s father hilariously echoed the audience’s sentiments, growling that he’d love to “smash Warner’s face in.” The crowd erupted in laughter again when Finian with an eye roll threw in a sharp jab at Warner’s father, muttering about “that woman down Lexington Boulevard… Hypocrites!”

Next scene was at the cradle of civilisation itself, Harvard. The scene saw the Dean of Admissions (Aine Flynn), Dean of Postgraduate Studies (Luke Mc Keon) and Dean of Law (Mathew Naughton) discussing the pros and cons of admitting someone like Elle Woods. The Dean of Admissions was adamant that Harvard was not the place for Elle as she had not submitted a “Personal Essay”, whereas the two male Deans were more than willing to overlook the ‘irregularity’ of her individual application and made several speculative suggestions as to what could have happened to her “Personal Essay”.  

In Elle’s own words “Essays are boring” and thus she appeared in person to deliver her reasons why she should be admitted. What followed was a dramatic impassioned speech about love. The Harvard Dean of Admissions, who had initially been sceptical, could not help but be won over and sealed the deal when she said “Welcome to Harvard”. This scene proved that Elle did not let rejection stop her, and instead, she found a creative way to achieve her goals. It also challenged stereotypes and showed that Elle’s traditionally “feminine” interests and personality traits were assets rather than limitations. This scene also set up a central conflict in the musical: Elle’s struggle to be taken seriously while staying true to who she is.

The next scene focused on Emmett Forrest, (Aaron O’Toole) who later becomes Elle’s study partner and love interest, (and not wanting to spoil it, but eventual Fiancé). Emmett, in contrast to Warner, sees potential in Elle beyond her outward appearance, pink dresses and blonde hair. We also meet the comical figure of Kevin Leigh a handsome devilish rogue who is a bit of a Casanova and won’t take “No” for an answer. Emmett is the studious one whereas Kevin is there to meet “some fine chicks”. He immediately hits on Meagan who is a bit “flustered” around fellas at the best of times but is totally confused around this power tool who promised her the “time of your (her) life”.

Next up we met the sleazy Professor Harry Callahan (Ryan Geever) who is a central antagonist in the musical. His character embodies themes of power, corruption, and the challenges women face in male-dominated fields. From the start his true colours are evident when he makes inappropriate comments towards the female students in his class. His eventual downfall was a victory not just for Elle but for all the female characters in the College. Callahan demands and obtains absolute dominance in the classroom. In his song I’ll make a man out of you! He spits out with vitriol “Why did they send me dunces when I asked for brains?” An extremely unlikeable character which Ryan nailed.

Meanwhile Meagan asks Kevin “Which part of ‘Back off’ do you not understand?” to which he wittingly replied, “None of it…so I’ll pick you up at eight!” Again, Horses for courses and James Puncheon delivered his lines with the exact amount of cockiness, zest and witty charm that was needed to add to the humour of the show. Well done James! Another star in the making. As for Meagan, she played a blinder. Wow what a voice, but more of that later in the “Grease Scene”.

The next scene finds us downtown in Paulette’s (Aisling Maloney) hair salon. Paulette tells of her dreams, disappointments, and desire for a better life. She explained that she once had high hopes of love but ended up with a disappointing ex-boyfriend Dewey (Daniel O’Dowd) who went off with Kayla (Sinead Morris) a lady of ill-repute with a questionable history! He treated her badly and on top of that he never worked! To cheer up Elle, Paulette described her dream of escaping to Ireland, a place she associates with romance, charm, happiness and leprechauns. However, her luck was about to change, and that change came in the form of Kyle B. O’Boyle (Sean Mc Cann). Paulette had always dreamed of finding romance and Kyle becomes the real-life version of the strong, protective man she had fantasised about in her song Ireland. His flirtatious yet unassuming nature encouraged her to believe in a happy ending. 

Meanwhile the stage was opened to Kevin and Meagan who sang You’re the One That I Want. Widely considered one of the most iconic and exuberant of all songs. They gave a stunning performance of the famous song from the 1978 movie Grease. This was another high-energy, fun number and a massive crowd-pleaser. Gone was the shy, flustered Meagan in her tartan skirt, now she was a red-lipped bombshell who knows exactly what she wanted. And Kevin? He was completely floored. His usual bad-boy confidence melted as he scrambled to match her new energy, bouncing between trying to impress her and trying not to combust on the spot. She warned him that he “better shape up ‘cos I (she) need a man”.

Again, we must give our Choreographer Emma Coleman 10/10 for her work. The choreography was like a masterclass display. She showed us through playful chaos, the sizzling chemistry between Meagan and Kevin.

They did not just sing to each other; they chased, teased, and twirled around like two Duracel bunnies on Red Bull! When Meagan sang about her heart being set on him, it was clear she was now the one in control, and Kevin was more than willing to be swept up in the whirlwind by this “fine chic”. His attempts at keeping up with her—snapping, twisting, and even dropping to his knees at one point—only made it all the funnier.

And then there was the actual singing. Meagan’s voice was smooth yet powerful, perfectly balancing flirtation and command. She was playful one moment, sultry the next, making it clear that she was no longer the flustered College student. Meanwhile, Kevin delivered every line with a mix of swagger and charm, like he could not believe his luck but also could not quite keep his cool. Their harmonies crackled with excitement, reinforced by Ms. Stack’s choir who raised the roof with that final, breathless “You’re the one that I want—ooh, ooh, ooh, honey!”

By the time they hit that final pose—Meagan is confidently wrapped in Kevin’s arms, he has her clenched tightly with a protective arm around her waist and she has both arms wrapped around his neck and both grinning like they’ve just won the lottery. What a performance!

The next scene saw the “Delta Nu” girls show Paulette how to do the Bend and Snap manoeuvre, a secret weapon invented by the College cheerleaders to “break the will of the opposing team. A weapon that has “real life applications with a 98% success rate”.

Meagan was trying to encourage Paulette to embrace her femininity and assert herself in her romantic life. Paulette has been heartbroken after her ex-boyfriend, Dewey, left her, and she was struggling to regain her confidence. The “Bend and Snap” is a simple but effective physical manoeuvre: a woman bends down to pick something up (like a dropped object) and, as she straightens up, she snaps back with an exaggerated motion, drawing attention to her curves. Meagan explains that it’s a guaranteed way to ‘catch the eye of any man’, demonstrating the move in a fun and high-powered performance. The stage was full of dancers who demonstrated how exactly the move was to be executed, leaving Paulette in a state of shock. However, when the stage cleared Paulette bit the bullet and did the manoeuvre which clearly worked because a flurry of fellas ran onto the stage in a state of bewilderment, shocked at her risqué dance. Later, she; encouraged by Meagan tried the “Bend and Snap” theory in front of Kyle and it did indeed have a 98% success rate, even a 100%!  He was amazed and was reeled in.

Next up, we were taken to “Manolo’s manly fashion” shop where he (Manolo –Oisin Llewellyn) gives a defiant performance of I am what I am. He celebrates self-expression and resilience in the face of societal expectations. Its message of defiance, pride and self-worth remains relevant, reminding people that embracing their identity is an act of courage. This song is powerful and shows Manolo not caring about what people say about him as he’s proud of who he is and accepts it. One thing is for sure, Manolo is certainly not ashamed of who he is.

Up next was So Much Better sang by Elle, realising she can do so much better than her ex-Warner and set off on her solo academic career. When she sees her name up on the list ‘Look at my name in black and white’ she is overjoyed. She had received top grades in Harvard and had outdone any outdated prejudiced stereotypes. She had proven that she was more than just a dumb blonde and was in fact ‘so much better than before’. It also shows the celebration of all the people who got their results back.

Rewrite the stars, a duet which was executed to perfection by Elle and Emmet where you can see them connecting. Elle tells Emmet that she wants to leave Harvard and go home. She admits that Professor Callahan tried to sexually harass her. Emmet says that we can fight him together, but Elle said she doesn’t want to fight anymore. This song is a very powerful song and shows Elle and Emmet trying to rewrite the stars and try to realign the cosmos.  Thankfully then Vivienne said that Elle is good at what she was doing and told her not to leave.

The next song was Illegally blonde. The upbeat music filled the room along with dancers on the stage surrounding Elle and the the Delta Nu girls. Then Kyle showed up with a package for Paulette and she asks “What does B. stand for? Brendan?” Kyle and Paulette suddenly burst into an Irish dance, setting the stage alight! On cue, Leanne Beirne and Abby Marren joined in, their footwork flawless. Before we knew it, the entire stage erupted into a sea of Irish dancing, the beat infectious as clapping echoed through the hall.

Then came the big moment—the girls knelt, framing the stage as four lads strode confidently to the front and center. Meanwhile, the Deans stormed in, ready to put an end to Professor Callahan’s reign of sleaze. With a sharp nod from the Dean of Admissions, security—James McGrath and Jack Cummins—appeared on either side of the disgraced professor. In a scene straight out of a comedy, they lifted his arms as he flailed, kicking like Scrappy Doo or a petulant child trying to escape. Our director truly nailed the casting—these security guards meant business, making sure Callahan was unceremoniously dragged off the premises, justice served with style!

As the stage dimmed, the four leads stepped into the spotlight, their voices rising in perfect harmony as they began “You Will Be Found”. Only the front of the stage was illuminated, creating an intimate, powerful moment. Then, as the song swelled, the entire stage lit up, revealing all the graduates standing proudly in caps and gowns.

With emotion pouring into every note, they sang with all their hearts, delivering a performance filled with passion and conviction. This song served as a powerful reminder that no one is ever truly alone—there is always someone willing to help. “It also symbolises the strength to rise again, even when the darkness crashes in.”

As the graduates beamed with pride, Vivienne took the podium, her voice ringing out as she made a thrilling announcement—Elle Woods was the Valedictorian of Harvard’s Class of 2007! Cheers erupted, but the surprises weren’t over yet. Next, the ever-spirited hairdresser stepped forward, giving a lively rundown of where everyone was headed after graduation, each future including her own, brighter than the last.

Then, in true Elle Woods fashion, she took center stage, her voice soaring as she began to sing—a hearty thank-you to everyone who had been part of her journey. But just as the emotions peaked, she did the unthinkable—she dropped to one knee and proposed to Emmett! Gasps filled the room before the entire cast burst into song, belting out OhMiGod in pure excitement.

And then, the grand finale. The choir, the backstage crew, the dancers—every single cast member—took their places, ready for one last dazzling performance. As the music fillled the hall, they bowed in unison, launching into OhMiGod one final time, filling the stage with energy, colour and a well-deserved celebration of an unforgettable journey.

The overall success of “illegally Blonde” was not just its electrifying performances but the fact that it was a 100% in-house production. From conception to execution, every aspect of the musical was pioneered by the tremendously talented individuals in St. Nathy’s College under the guidance of the celebrated Director Mr. Peter Mc Loughlin. Adding to the harmonious pillar of the show was Ms. Stack’s choir. Their voices were the power behind the scenes which lifted the songs and gave them so much force.

The success of “Illegally Blonde” must be attributed to all the team, those behind the scenes as well as those front-of-house.  It was not only an in-house performance, but it was also an all-house performance, a collective achievement that involved the tireless efforts of the Director, Mr. Peter McLoughlin, the Music Director Ms. Stack, the Choreographer, Ms. Emma Coleman, the costume designers, Ms. Owens the Art Teacher for her continuous support and supplies, the Woodwork dept, and “Set Construction Adviser” Mr. Mc Weeney,  Roisin Surlis, Aisling Roddy and all the Hair & Make up team, the School secretaries, Mary and Stephanie, the backstage crew, plus lights and sound, Mary and Claire who manned the Canteen and made sure we all had plenty  refreshments during the break, our caretakers Shane Hunt and Andrew Hopkins, parking steward Seamus Regan, raffle organiser Mr. O’Suilleabhain (& his team), Mr. Brady our cameraman and all the Teachers who helped out over the three evenings giving up their free time to supervise make up rooms, dressing rooms and the most difficult slot of all “Back Stage!!!!!” as well as all the other staff and students who ably assisted in the weeks and months leading up to our musical, not forgetting School management who were very accommodating and encouraging to all involved. A special thanks also to all our generous sponsors and to Ms. Gildea for her hours spent on publisher doing the booklets and indeed printing endless photos for PRO. To Ms. Garvey who arranged all the S&S cover, to TY Coordinator Ms. Scally for all her unwavering support, to Fr. Henry for his omniscient support for the whole project. Also a special “Thank You” to Brian Lowry from Brian Lowry Apparel in Strokestown https://brianlowryapparel.com/ who made the fabulous T-Shirts that adorned our choir and stagecrew. “Illegally Blonde” is a shining example of what can be accomplished when a whole School and Community came together and made it happen.

Article by Sinead Morris, Luke Mc Keon and Ms. Farrell