Entering Abu Dhabi Folklore Theatre, hidden away behind Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi, I have to avoid being accidentally whipped by skipping ropes being twirled about by seven dancers. They are among 80 people involved with the locally produced adaptation of the hit broadway show Legally Blonde, and the dancers are having an impromptu practice session (Act Two's opening number, Whipped into Shape) in the lobby.
The choice of musical, based on the hit movie comedy starring Reese Witherspoon, was one that Abu Dhabi Choral Group’s board members unanimously approved. It focuses on Los Angeles sorority girl Elle Woods (played by the group’s chairwoman, Lebanese-American Alana Barraj), who appears to have it all, but then her life is turned upside down when her boyfriend dumps her.
Determined to get him back, Elle uses her charm to get into Harvard Law School and prove she’s not just a pretty face.
“The show is so brilliant because it makes fun of itself,” says 28-year-old Barraj. “You’re not only laughing at the characters, you’re laughing with them.”
Elle tries to prove that girls can have hard-nosed careers and rock a perfect pedicure, and Barraj says she isn’t that different to Elle. “I consider her to be a representation of the best version of ourselves: she’s smart, confident, and sometimes loses her way. But she picks herself right back up again. When I’m having a particularly difficult moment, I try to channel her.”
• Legally Blonde is at Abu Dhabi Folklore Theatre (behind Al Wahda Mall) on Thursday, April 30, at 7.30pm and on May 1 at 2pm and 7.30pm; and at Abu Dhabi Theatre (near Marina Mall) on May 7 at 7.30pm; May 8 at 2pm and 7.30pm; May 9 at 7.30pm; and May 11 at 7.30pm. Book tickets on abu-dhabi.platinumlist.net or email abudhabichoralgrouptickets@gmail.com for more information
artslife@thenational.ae
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Indoor Cricket World Cup Dubai 2017
Venue Insportz, Dubai; Admission Free
Fixtures - Open Men 2pm: India v New Zealand, Malaysia v UAE, Singapore v South Africa, Sri Lanka v England; 8pm: Australia v Singapore, India v Sri Lanka, England v Malaysia, New Zealand v South Africa
Fixtures - Open Women Noon: New Zealand v England, UAE v Australia; 6pm: England v South Africa, New Zealand v Australia
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 592bhp
Torque: 620Nm
Price: Dh980,000
On sale: now
One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
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