Ad – press event – all views are my own
There are few 90s movies as iconic and quotable as Pretty Woman. And with Julia Roberts starring alongside Richard Gere for the much-loved American rom com, Pretty Woman The Musical had some BIG (huge) shoes to fill.
Set in the late 80s, Edward, a rich entrepreneur, gives sex worker Vivian Ward $20 to give him directions to his hotel, and happens to strike up a deal for her to accompany him to a few social events throughout the course of a week, for the sum of $3,000. But trouble ensues when he falls in love with her and they try to bridge the gap between their worlds.
For the opening night in Stoke, understudy Rebekah Bryant stepped into the thigh high patent boots of Vivian Ward, bringing with her a sense of fierce independence and free-spirited attitude. Bryant hits some fantastic notes in her vocal numbers, including Anywhere But Here and I Can’t Go Back. When musicals feature an original score, the tracks can sometimes be somewhat forgettable, but Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance have ensured this isn’t the case for Pretty Woman, with songs like Something About Her, On A Night Like Tonight, and You’re Beautiful proving a tracklist can be both fresh and memorable.
Oliver Savile plays a much more palatable and charming Edward than the one in the film, which makes for an even more romantic and swoon-worthy watch. His rich vocals shine in tracks like Freedom and Long Way Home, while his on-stage chemistry with Vivian sizzles in some of the saucier scenes.
Injecting humour and heart into the production is Ore Oduba, who plays a carousel of characters ranging from Happy Man, to Mr Thompson, to a Stanley Tucci-esque retail assistant and energetic orchestra conductor. I absolutely loved him in The Rocky Horror Show, and the star once again brought with him an infectious energy, eliciting beaming smiles and laughter from the audience throughout. His relationship with the ditsy but loveable bellhop Guilio – played by Noah Harrison – reminded me of that of Mr Moseley and Esteban in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, while the scene where he teaches Vivian to dance allows him to show off his Strictly Come Dancing moves, to which the show also cheekily nods to.
And delivering a real powerhouse vocal performance is none other than original SIX: the Musical queen Natalie Paris as Kit de Luca, Vivan’s best friend with a rebellious, rock n roll edge. Her rendition of Rodeo Drive and Never Give Up On A Dream were some of the show’s most standout moments.
Fans of the film will be thrilled to know that the production retains many of the script’s witty one liners, from ‘I’d have stayed for two thousand’ to ‘big mistake’ and ‘take care of you’. And as for the costumes, they’ve certainly dug into the Julia Robert’s archive, from the cut out mini dresses to red ball gowns and gloves.
And while there’s certainly some outdated and somewhat problematic elements to the initial plot, the stage adaptation of this well-known classic stays true to its original storyline, perhaps because the book has been penned by the original movie’s director Garry Marshall. That said, it certainly makes an effort to engage modern audiences on complex themes around sex work, social class and female empowerment.
With a powerhouse creative team, Pretty Woman The Musical captures the spirit of the original film while promising a more positive take on the story, and allows you to get to know these iconic characters in a whole new way. With huge personalities and nostalgic charm, this is a real feel-good show that will sweep you off your feet.
Running until Saturday, July 20, you can book your tickets to see Pretty Woman The Musical here.
