Beau the bulldog played Rufus in The Talent Machine Company’s production of Legally Blonde, but TRAC wants a smaller dog for its play. Photo: Facebook.
The Riverina Anglican College (TRAC) has put out an unusual casting call for canines.
The school is staging the play Legally Blonde, a musical adaption of the hit 2001 film starring Reese Withersoon (as Elle Woods), and needs a dog to play the character Rufus.
In the original movie, Rufus is a bulldog that Elle’s friend Paulette takes back from her ex-boyfriend.
The TRAC production is looking to “flip things around” by casting a smaller dog that’s not too hairy and won’t drool too much, head of music and drama Clare Brassil said.
The school’s arts captain Sarita Roy, who will be playing Elle Woods, is allergic to dogs.
“If we got a bigger dog, we’re more likely to get something that’s going to give her allergies. Our Elle has a fantastic voice, but when she’s around too much dander, her throat swells up,” Ms Brassil said.
Elle’s dog Bruiser in the movie will be played by a student in the TRAC musical.
Ms Brassil has invited Wagga pet owners to bring their small dog to the college’s gym this Sunday (25 May) between 2 and 3 pm to audition for the part of Rufus. She warned they need to be well-trained and comfortable around people.
“We’ve had some people say they think their dog would be good, but once the dog comes out and sees the audience, they would just run up the stairs at the Playhouse, and we wouldn’t be able to get them back,” Ms Brassil said.
A key plot point is that Paulette’s ex-boyfriend stole her dog and Elle helps her get her dog back, solidifying Elle’s position in her heart.
“Elle and Paulette have to pick Rufus up and run across the stage saying, ‘Rufus, my angel!’ so [we want a dog] who can put up with being cuddled and held.”
Elle Woods (played by Sarita Roy) and Bruiser (played by Mia Owers) in the TRAC production. Photo: Supplied.
The movie was released more than two decades ago but continues to be popular due to its themes around female empowerment and friendship. Elle has gone down in cinematic history as a fashion and feminist icon.
A fourth-year sorority president at UCLA, Elle seems to have the perfect life until her boyfriend Warner ends their relationship, insisting that he can only succeed in politics with someone “serious” by his side.
She vows to do everything in her power to win him back, including going to Harvard Law School.
Ms Brassil said Legally Blonde was chosen for its strong and endearing female lead.
“So Elle is assumed, because she’s really into glamor and preppy looks and fashion, that she’s also stupid. She’s not stupid. She cares about how she looks,” she said.
“Elle changes the lives of everyone around her just by being herself, because she sees the good in everyone, and she’s really loving and caring. So we think it’s just got a really, really strong female character, and we thought that was, you know, really interesting for us to examine.”
The musical will be family friendly, but will see some deviations from the movie.
Professor Callahan, a key character in Elle’s development as a lawyer, will be played by a female student instead.
“In the original production, Elle is kind of sexually harassed by the head male lawyer [Callahan], and that makes her want to leave law. In our production, the female lawyer tends to bribe Elle,” Ms Brassil said.
“We know the assumption that Elle, being a rich girl from Malibu, will easily be won over by a flashy handbag, but Elle has a lot more substance than that. So she shows her law fortitude through a different kind of scenario.”
Dog auditions will be held at TRAC’s gym this Sunday (25 May) between 2 and 3 pm, and the musical will run from 25 to 29 June at the Playhouse. Keep up-to-date with the play on Facebook.
