New Victoria Theatre, Woking – until 2 December 2023
Reviewed by Lorna Hancock
5*****
Pretty Woman the Musical features original music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, with book by Garry Marshall and the films screenwriter J.F.Lawton. It is wonderfully directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell.
When a musical is made of such an all time classic movie such as Pretty Woman, it’s hard to know what to expect, and you can’t help but compare it to it’s iconic screen version. The whole production team would have had a very tough job of making sure, it not only lives up to the original but also adding the pizzazz to ensure it becomes the spectacle we expect from a live staged musical. Being a big fan of the film, I wasn’t sure how they would manage this and if I would enjoy it as much, however they most certainly didn’t disappoint and I loved every second of watching this talented cast shine.
As soon as the music started, we were instantly transported to the bright lights of Hollywood Boulevard in the 80s. The costumes, set and the ensembles energy throughout their song, ‘Welcome to Hollywood’ immediately drew us in. The set design was fantastic, relatively simple, but it transitioned us flawlessly from the vivid Boulevard to the elegance of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
For anyone that doesn’t know the story, it’s an unexpected fairytale between rich businessman Edward Lewis (Oliver Savile) and ‘Hooker’ Vivian Ward (Amber Davies) and how it changes her life forever. Both played their parts brilliantly, Oliver lived up to Richard Gere’s dreamy Edward with his beautifully melodic ballads, and Amber pulled off all of Julia Roberts’ sass and her witty one-liners with as much grace and glamour as the actress herself. The dynamic between the two was heartwarming to watch from the moment they met. Amber’s voice shone throughout the show, but I especially loved her stunning rendition of ‘I can’t go back’, through listening to her powerful vocals I think everyone would have empathised with her characters’ emotions.
One of my favourite scenes was ‘The Night at the Opera’, the staging was genius. It also showcased the amount of talent the ensemble shared. I couldn’t skip past this moment without mentioning the incredible voice of Lila Falce-Bass, everyone’s jaw dropped as she filled the theatre with her charming operatic tones.
I would also like to add a special mention for Curtis Patrick, he really was outstanding in his portrayal of Happy man / Mr Thompson. A chameleon, popping up in every scene making everyone laugh with his brilliant expressions and fascinating body movements. His characterisation was remarkable. This was in many scenes, complimented fabulously by Noah Harrison’s comic depiction of Giulio.
The show finished with a standing ovation, as the full ensemble performed Roy Orbison and Bill Dees’ ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’. After the orchestra teasing us with the intro earlier in the show, the audience seemed delighted and didn’t need much persuasion to join in with the party, singing and dancing along.
A thoroughly enjoyable and uplifting performance of an unconventional but charming fairytale.