Legally Blonde
- tabithacatlin
- 8 minutes ago
- 8 min read
UK and Ireland Tour
Interview with Adam Cooper (Professor Callahan)
OH MY GOD YOU GUYS! If you haven't seen anything about the 'Legally Blonde' tour, where have you been?! Under a rock? The videos and pictures of this show are filling social media, spreading joy, and people are even learning/making TikTok videos of the choreography by Leah Hill. If you haven't got your tickets yet, you really should get to booking. This production is directed by Nikolai Foster, costume designed by Tom Rogers and set designed by Colin Richmond. It looks like an explosion of style and fun. Just like you, I needed to know more about this show!
I was lucky enough to have a chat with the brilliant Adam Cooper, who plays the role of Professor Callahan. A very serious and difficult role. Our conversation was about what audiences are to expect from the show and what went into creating the role of Professor Callahan. It's a role that presents a change in the pace of the show, making the message clearer and presenting an uncomfortable situation for the main character, Elle. His character displays themes of misogyny, taking advantage of vulnerability, and it's raw, relevant to now and real. It's a hurdle in the show that reminds audiences to always be vigilant and fight for what is right!
Want to know more about the show? Here's what Adam Cooper shared with us:
Q: What is Legally Blonde all about?
A: It's based on the film 'Legally Blonde', which was based on a book. The film starred Reese Witherspoon as Elle and was a huge hit. It's about a woman whose most important thing in her life is this love for this guy, Warner. She thinks he's her future, and through following him to Harvard, she discovers herself. She also discovers that she tried to change herself too much, and the real her is absolutely the winning formula. It's about her journey of discovery about who she is and what she wants in life. It's a really lovely journey. She meets a lot of interesting characters on the way. Paulette, who works in a hair salon, becomes a great friend and champions Elle. Emmett, who ends up being the most important person to her, in the end. The other characters have a nice arc to their story as well. It's fun, it's high energy, and it's great. What I love about the show is that it's one of those shows that transfers so well from screen to stage. I don't think all shows do. It's well written, lyrically. The book is very good, and the music is fantastic. It's a joy to be a part of.
Q: Tell us about your role as Professor Callahan and what you love about it? A: Well, Callahan is the kind of baddie of the show. He's the one the audience likes to boo at the end of the show. He is a tough American lawyer who's also a professor at Harvard School, where Elle ends up after she's followed Warner there. He is looking for interns for a case that he's doing, and he picks Elle because she's proved herself to him. Elle's first impressions were not good, but eventually, he sees that she's smart. Then, we follow the case, and then it all turns a bit sour. I think that kind of misogynistic male is so prevalent, and it feels very relevant right now to play that kind of role. Because, a few years ago, we had the whole Me Too movement, and now we've got the Epstein files, for example. It just seemed very relevant to have that type of character, just to remind people that those predators are still about. I think Nikolai Foster, our director, has handled that scene between Elle and Callahan very well. In fact, I've sort of picked up that a few people feel the same. The scene is uncomfortable, and it should be. That kind of drama is important for the show. It's a very fun show with lots of humour, high-energy dancing and laughs. It's good that the scene brings it back to reality for that short moment. It's also fun to always play the baddie. I've always been typecast as the 'baddie' throughout my career. For some reason, I don't know why. I seem to be drawn to them. So, yeah, it's fun!
Q: How does this production of Legally Blonde differ from previous productions?
A: I saw the original production, which was set in the same kind of period as the film. This one's been slightly updated, so there are more modern references. For instance, Professor Callahan talks about not understanding Instagram in one of his songs, which is a new thing. There are other modern references, such as stopping Timothée Chalamet from buying an awful sweater. It's still got the same energy and the fun that the film has, while feeling more set in today. The costumes, as well, have been updated to a modern fashion. The whole of Harvard has a designer feel about it. I think the costumes are great. Tom Roger, the costume designer, has done such a great job. He's approached it from a modern point of view. The costumes are very colourful and stylish, obviously being Legally Blonde, and the cast feel and look great in them.
Q: How did you prepare for your role in the show?
A: I started watching some of the series 'Suits' again. If you haven't seen it, the series is an American drama set in a lawyer's firm. There were a few characters in there who I was inspired by. One was Harvey, who's a stylish and cool guy. There's another character in the series called Lewis, who is a real hard ass, typical American lawyer. So I was looking at those kinds of lawyers, how they interact with people and how they are in a courtroom. I wanted to make Professor Callahan as realistic as possible. I purposefully didn't watch the movie because I love the fantastic actor Victor Garber, who plays Callahan in the movie, and I didn't want to be swayed by the way he played the character. When I auditioned for it, Nikolai and I had a very long conversation about the type of character Callahan is, and I wanted to bring out that misogynistic, take-no-nonsense type of lawyer that he is. That was the route that I went down when creating Callahan, because he brings a different tone to the show. The first scene that he does, where he sings 'Blood In The Water', is a different style from any other number in the show. I felt it needed to stand alone with its own style. The way Nikolai staged the scene is with the students sitting in lines of desks when I enter, because before, they are all sitting around; Some on steps, chairs, and the atmosphere is more relaxed. When Callahan enters, he brings the kind of hardness and scholarly aspect to the stage. Which is a nice challenge for me. Until that first moment I enter, the show is fast-paced, loud and energetic. When I enter, suddenly everybody's sitting down, it's just me singing and they are listening. It's brilliant writing.
Q: What do you find challenging about playing Professor Callahan?
A: The scene with just Elle is uncomfortable to play, but that's the way the scene needs to feel. Even if I approach it from his point of view, it's still an uncomfortable scene to play. The most challenging thing about the role is a lot of his songs. The first two songs that he sings are a patter style; there are a lot of words, information, and it's quick. I relish the challenge, and it's good, especially when you're playing a role for a long period of time. You don't get too comfortable, you keep discovering new things, and you keep pushing yourself.
Q: What's your favourite number in the show?
A: 'Blood in the water', because it's the introduction to my character, and as I said before, it's very different to any other number in the show. I think it's a little bit of a crooning number, which kind of suits my voice. I love the power that he has on that stage at that moment. Everybody is looking at him, and he's just doing his thing. It feels like a nice moment. The way that Nikolai staged it as well, it feels like Callahan is a cult leader: How they drum people up and get them enthusiastic about an idea. By the end of the song, the whole group of students are with me completely; it's big, and they are bloodthirsty lawyers in waiting. It's an energy to have on stage as well, and it builds to a lovely climax.
Q: What's it like having dogs in the show, and what are the challenges?
A: I don't have any involvement with them on stage, but I have plenty off stage. Animals have their own personality, and there's only so much you can do with them. I think they're lovely dogs and brilliant. I think the only challenge we've had with them is Sprout, who plays Bruiser; he likes to bark. In the scene in 'Chip On Your Shoulder', he's on stage in Elle's dorm, and he likes to bark at inappropriate times. Last night, he got a round of applause because his timing was so good. That's the only challenge I can think of, because the team are taking care of him as well as all the other things that they're doing. They're great, and Des, our dog handler, is amazing.
Q: What's your favourite costume in the show?
A: My 1st costume: It's a tweed style suit, and I wear a black polo neck underneath. It's something that I would wear; it fits beautifully, and I just feel really good wearing it. That's Callahan's introduction to the audience; it sets him out as formal. Tom Rogers, the costume designer, was so good because we tried on so many different things, and it was very much about what I felt good in, alongside the idea that he had in mind for the part. We both had the same idea and liked the same things for Callahan. I've got 4 costumes in the show, and each one of them I feel good in!
Q: If you could swap roles with any of the characters in the show, who would it be?
A: One of the dogs. I'm joking. When I was younger, I would have loved to have played Emmett, because his transformation from a scruffy corduroy into this stylish man once Elle's got a hand on him. His journey is nice, and the songs he sings are great as well: 'Chip On Your Shoulder' and 'Take It Like A Man'. It probably would have been Emmett. Just being able to be a dog would be great! Being looked after, getting treats and no worries whatsoever.
Q: Describe the show in one sentence?
A: If you want to see a show which will make you laugh, see amazing choreography and hear great music, this is the show for you; It's absolutely brilliant, and it really feels like a proper five-star production, with a five-star team, and I'm very proud to be a part of it.
If you are interested and want to see where you can catch this show on tour, CLICK HERE to book your tickets!
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