Abu Dhabi Choral Group ready for Legally Blonde show

The cast of Legally Blonde during rehearsals at the Abu Dhabi Folklore Theatre in the capital. Pawan Singh / The National

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 [e-mail] for more information