HAMPION — Kent State University at Trumbull Theatre’s production of “Legally Blonde — The Musical” is fantastic … when you can hear the performers.

The band completely overwhelmed most of the musical numbers and drowned out dialogue whenever there was underscoring in the first act Thursday, the first of eight performances over two weekends.

It’s less the fault of the playing of the band than it is the positioning of the band at the back of the theater above the tech booth. The quartet has to play loud enough for the performers to hear the music to stay on beat and on key, but the audience is much closer to the band than the performers are.

From my seat in the next-to-last row in the center section, it felt as if the drummer was swinging sticks like John Bonham and music director Matt White was hitting the keys like Jerry Lee Lewis (the program states there was a guitar and bass, but they were buried in the mix).

The sound for the headset microphones was cranked up in the second act, which alleviated much, but not all, of the problem, and I suspect further adjustments will be made.

This is a production where audiences will want to hear every note and line of dialogue. Director Liz Conrad has assembled a talented cast and makes great use of the performance space for a lively, energetic and fun production.

The musical, featuring songs by Laurence O’Keefe and Neill Benjamin and a book by Heather Hach, is based on the 2001 Reese Witherspoon movie of the same name about Elle Woods, a sorority coed who enrolls in Harvard Law School to win back her college boyfriend, who dumps her because he doesn’t think she’s wife material for someone with political aspirations. Elle is underestimated at every turn but proves to be as smart as her Ivy League classmates and a more astute judge of character.

The movie was more entertaining than most critics expected from hearing the premise, and I think the musical is underestimated as well. It’s one of the better film-to-stage adaptations this century and is a crowd-pleaser like the movie. All of its charms are on full display in Kent at Trumbull’s production.

Karlina Wander fulfills all of the audience’s expectations as Elle. She has the look — aided by an assortment of hot pink outfits from costume designer Kim Gapinski — and the voice and the attitude the character demands.

Just as Elle gets plenty of support from her Delta Nu sisters, Wander has a literal Greek chorus supporting her. While individual voices often were inaudible, the female ensemble as a whole made “Omigod You Guys” a rousing opener and enlivened “Positive” and other numbers throughout the show and skillfully executed Makenna Liller Dahman’s choreography.

The choreography also dazzled on second act opener “Whipped into Shape” as Ashley Milligan Smith — playing fitness guru Brooke Wyndham, who is accused of murdering her husband — and a team of dancers deliver synchronized jump rope action. Smith’s vocal performance while executing the aerobic moves was awe-inspiring.

Jojo Garcia makes a scene-stealing turn as hairdresser Paulette and not only because there wasn’t a moment where the audience couldn’t hear what she was saying. “Ireland” is one of the weaker songs in the score, but she made it a standout in the first act, and Garcia, Wander and the rest of the ensemble featured on “Bend and Snap” nailed that show favorite.

The men take a backseat to the women in “Legally Blonde,” but that’s by the show’s design, not by the talent. Harmon Andrews earns the audiences disdain as the demanding and arrogant law professor, while Robert Brandon Runnion makes for an appealing Emmett Forrest, a third-year law student who guides Elle through the challenges of Harvard and helps her forget about Warner (Samuel Darrin), the ex-boyfriend now having second thoughts about dumping her.

Conrad makes clever choices throughout to make the show work in Kent at Trumbull’s theater. Elle’s chihuahua is played by a wooden dog on wheels. Wheels also are attached to most of the set pieces, which are whisked on and off the stage by the actors, who keep the pacing brisk. Kenzie James’ set design readily adapts from sorority house to beauty shop to courtroom.

Cord Ramsey’s lighting keeps the audience’s attention focused as action often is wrapping up on one portion of the stage while actors already are pushing pieces on for the next scene.

It’s a well-executed production on multiple levels. Hopefully the sound issues will be fixed so it can be appreciated fully.

If you go …

WHAT: “Legally Blonde — The Musical.”

WHEN: 2 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 17 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Nov. 16.

WHERE: Kent State University at Trumbull, 4314 Mahoning Ave. NW, Champion.

HOW MUCH: Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for students and senior citizens and $15 for children ages 12 and younger. They are available online at kent.edu/trumbull/theatre and by calling 330-675-8887.