Focus Birmingham

Back in December the New Alexandra Theatre laid on its first audio-described show
for quite some time – the zany musical ‘Spamalot’. A good number of visually
impaired patrons had booked tickets along with their companions but, unfortunately
that very day the snow fell extremely heavily and, as a result, only one intrepid VIP
and the describers themselves, made it to the theatre. Undeterred, and under new
management, staff at the theatre have been keen to develop a more regular offering
of audio-described performances, starting with ‘Legally Blonde,’ which came to
Birmingham on tour, and its audio described performance was on the afternoon of
Saturday 15 October 2011. The theatre’s enthusiastic, proactive marketing officer,
Emma Rowan, had advised me and fellow visually impaired patrons to arrive at
the theatre’s access door in time for the 1.30 pm touch tour, where we were met by
describers Matt and Jacey who then took us on stage to inspect, close up, some of
the set and props. In the event this touch tour was a little shorter than originally
envisaged as the cast needed to rehearse later than expected but, nevertheless, it was
very useful and whilst we waited to go onstage it was great fun listening to the actors’
warm-up and getting us all into the mood. I had been getting a little concerned that
I wouldn’t have time to go through to the box office to collect tickets after the touch
tour, but Matt, very kindly, offered to go round with me to get them - another much
appreciated aspect of that afternoon’s audio description experience.

This award winning musical and the 2001 movie of the same name (starring Reece
Witherspoon) is based on the novel ‘Legally Blonde’ by Amanda Brown. Telling
the story of Elle Woods, who enrols at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-
boyfriend, Warner, this very entertaining show - with music and lyrics by Lawrence
O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin – takes this bright new heroine (along with her pet
Chihuahua, Bruiser), from the social whirl of a Californian university campus, to
the Harvard Halls of Justice. College sweetheart and sorority girl, Elle, discovers
how her legal knowledge can assist others, and successfully defends exercise queen,
Brooke Wyndham, in a murder trial. This all- singing, all-dancing musical comedy
certainly gave us all a lift that Saturday afternoon, and we left the theatre having
enjoyed a truly sparkling performance, which for me at least, was much enhanced by
the well-timed, informative ‘live’ commentary of Jacey, following Matt’s very helpful
and comprehensive pre-show notes describing the many locations and characters. I
believe that this was Matt and Jacey’s first audio-described commission at the Alex,
and following what I thought was their terrific debut, it is good to know that they have
been booked to describe the perennially popular musical ‘Grease’ on the afternoon
of Saturday 17 December 2011 and details of ticket prices, how to book headsets and
places on the touch tour can be obtained by phoning 0121 643 5536.