Trafalgar Theatre, London – until 27 September 2025
Reviewed by Emily Smith
5*****
In a busy world of film to musical adaptations, Clueless arrives in London’s West End, hot on the heels of Mean Girls and The Devil Wears Prada, and ahead of 13 Going On 30 which opens later this year. Based on the book and original film (1995) by Amy Heckerling, which are themselves based on Jane Austen’s novel Emma, Clueless tells the story of high-school student Cher Horowitz (Emma Flynn) who lives a privileged life in Beverley Hills. Cher, along with best friend Dionne (Chyna-Rose Frederick), aims to prove herself as a good person through a series of selfless tasks to challenge her selfish image. This involves setting up two of their teachers and helping newcomer, Tai (Romona Lewis-Malley), to fit in and find love. Of course, things don’t always go to plan and Cher has to learn some hard lessons along the way.
Being a big fan of the original film, I was somewhat sceptical about how it would translate to the stage, however, I needn’t have worried as this show is an absolute hit in my opinion! The original dialogue from the film has largely been retained, but songs have been expertly interwoven into the narrative. The songs are longer and there are less of them than in some musicals, but they do well at advancing the narrative while also being great fun. They may not all be the most memorable songs you’ve ever heard, but within the show they work really well when combined with the story and the comedy.
The music for this show was written by well-known singer-songwriter and musician KT Tunstall, whose influence is clear throughout, with lyrics by Glenn Slater. Favourites include the upbeat numbers Boom, Pow and She’s All That along with I’m Keeping An Eye On You. I also enjoyed the clever use of rap for Dionne and Murray’s (Rabi Kondé) arguments.
Emma Flynn is truly brilliant in the role of Cher – she has a fantastic voice that adapts to the variety in the soundtrack, and her acting is true to Alicia Silverstone’s portrayal of Cher in the film. Keelan McAuley’s (Josh) performance was brilliant with one of his numbers, Reasonable Doubts, getting the loudest applause of the evening thanks to the hilariously brilliant 90s boyband-style song and choreography which he expertly executed with great charisma. Both Dionne and Romona’s performances were also strong with great vocals. The show also has a really strong ensemble with great energy – with many taking on multiple roles.
I must also commend Lizzi Gee’s choreography which expertly traverses a variety of styles throughout the show. From the group swing number in the club, to the rigidity of Human Barbies, Lizzi’s choreography perfectly fits. Costumes by Paloma Young are also very true to the 1990s era, bringing with them a nostalgia for the film, such as for Cher’s iconic yellow three-piece suit.
The set design (Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams) felt a little two dimensional, with big backdrops and props wheeled onto the set, which did work well for the space but definitely could have been elevated. I must admit I also missed the computerised wardrobe that helped Cher select her outfits in the film – that was truly game changing at the time!
Lighting (Ben Cracknell) and sound (Rob Bettle & Sam Clarkson for Sound Quiet Time) design were also both cleverly done and added to the atmosphere throughout. The use of converting props was also very clever. After seeing both a sofa and a cool box converted into cars, I wondered how many more ways this show could replicate cars on stage (the answer was at least two more!).
I will add that though Cher’s step-brother Josh is also her love interest, this show does a better job of explaining the distanced relationship between the step-siblings, allowing for the romantic storyline to play out, than some other 90s shows with similar plot lines.
Above all else, I must say this show is funny! The audience were laughing throughout and that is absolute credit both to the writers but also to the cast for their excellent delivery. In particular, I think we all enjoyed the swing club scene with Christian (Isaac J Lewis).
The entire cast fully embody the original characters of the 1995 film that we all know and love, and I admire their commitment to bringing them to life so fully! Under Rachel Kavanaugh’s direction, this show captures the essence of the film, while adding musical numbers that will have you smiling and laughing throughout the show.