Pretty Woman The Musical

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I was six years old when Pretty Woman hit theatres! Margaret Thatcher was handing the Conservative Party over the John Major, Germany won the World Cup in Italy, UK & French workers met halfway 40 meters underneath the channel sea bed during their construction of the channel tunnel and Home Alone & Ghost were smashing it at the box office! 1990 was a year full of stiff competition for movies, and Pretty Woman was up there with the best.

I'm going to be honest though and say that I've never watched the movie all the way through! It's one of my wife's favourite films but it's also always been one of my mum's favourites, so I've naturally seen bits here and bits there over the years. It means that this is one of the very few reviews where I can judge the production solely on merit with no temptation of comparing it to the movie.

Pretty Woman: The Musical, based on the beloved box office hit is playing at The Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent as part of its UK tour. This adaptation, with music and lyrics by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance and a book by Garry Marshall and once struggling author J.F. Lawton, brings the classic Cinderella story to life with a more modern twist, capturing the charm and romance of the original movie whilst infusing it with a vibrant musical score.

David Rockwell's set design effectively takes the audience from the gritty streets of Hollywood to the luxurious suites of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The transition between scenes is seamless, maintaining the story's momentum. The staging is dynamic, with the emotional tones of each scene set by clever lighting. The hotel lobby and its penthouse suite are really well designed, adding an element of glamour that is absolutely essential to this story for it to feel believable.

The actors portraying the protagonists of our story were really well suited to their roles. Rebekah Bryant was fantastic as Vivian and given that she is an understudy to Love Island's Amber Davies, it's hard to imagine anyone else in the role now. Vivian's transformation from a streetwise and fiercely independent woman to a person discovering self-worth and love is portrayed brilliantly by Rebekah, effectively displaying vulnerability, strength and some confusion around her new circumstances. As the story goes, it's clear that Vivian and Edward (played by Oliver Savile) have a chemistry which is crucial for the show's romantic storyline. Edward's evolution from a tough businessman to a loving man whose guard comes down is convincingly executed, although a little more comedically than we've seen before. The supporting ensemble provided a lot of comedic yet equally heartwarming moments, but for me, the real star of the show was Strictly's Ore Oduba, who played possibly the best "every man" role that I've ever seen in a production. He was fantastic in the 50th anniversary tour of The Rocky Horror Show and he didn't disappoint. He was very funny, serious when the need arose and ultimately loveable.

Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance's musical lineup blends rock, pop, and ballads, resulting in a catchy and emotionally resonant soundtrack. Standout numbers include "Welcome to Hollywood," "Anywhere But Here," and "I Can't Go Back." The choreography is lively and well-suited to the various musical styles, from energetic street scenes to elegant ballroom dances, and the operatic score was incredible!

I found that the emotional moments are given the space to resonate fully with the audience, while the comedic scenes are timed really well to provide light-hearted relief when needed. The steady pace allowed us to get to know the characters without dragging too much.

The much-loved story, coupled with the fresh musical elements, seemed to strike a chord with both fans of the original film and newcomers like myself. Whether you're a fan of the movie or you just want a fantastic night at the theatre, Pretty Woman: The Musical is definitely one to watch.

Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pretty Woman: The Musical is playing at the Regent Theatre NOW, up until and including Sunday 20th July. Tickets are on sale and are available by calling the Regent Theatre Box Office on 0844 871 7649.

You can also visit www.atgtickets.com/stoke for tickets and info.