Review: Pretty Woman at the Royal & Derngate – a visually stunning adaptation

The theatre’s spacious foyer buzzed with life, as patrons were welcomed back into the foyer café bar after passing through Lola’s bar and the main entrance, setting the stage for a lavish evening.

The musical adaptation directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, kicked off the autumn season with a visual feast, offering a sumptuous set and professional performances that captured the essence of the iconic 1990 film.

David Rackwell’s set design, rich with changing hues, moved effortlessly from the grandeur of the opera house to the clothing boutique where Roberts was famously kicked out to the hotel rooms, all the while evoking key moments from the film.

A standout scene was the opera night, with the two leads bathed in stunning light as they sat in their theatre box, bringing elegance and sophistication to the stage.

The production stays mostly faithful to the original film, albeit with a few modern tweaks. However, as with any adaptation of a beloved classic, there’s always the challenge of comparison.

Pretty Woman, the musical, while delivering a fine piece of musical theatre, struggles at times to break free from the shadow of the film, especially with leads wearing identical costumes to those famously worn by Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.

Amber Davies, portraying Vivian Ward, donned the iconic blue mini-skirt, blond wig and thigh-high black boots, which, while faithful to the film, invited inevitable comparisons to Roberts’ unforgettable performance.

While Davies and her co-star Oliver Savile (as Edward Lewis) delivered vocally strong performances, their characters weren’t allowed to develop as richly as the film stars.

However, the recreated costumes of all the cast did deliver in terms of colour and vibrancy helping to deliver a visual feast.

The score, written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, was competent and the songs were well performed by the cast who delivered some excellent vocal performances. Natalie Paris deserves a mention for her excellent vocals in her role as Vivan’s friend and experienced sex worker Kit, as do both Amber Davies and Oliver Savile.

‘Anywhere But Here’ and ‘Freedom’ allow Vivian and Edward to respectively express their feelings.

Special mention must be made of Ore Oduba, who added a wonderful comedic flair to the production. Taking on multiple roles, including a vagabond, hotel manager, and orchestra conductor, Oduba displayed his versatility and charisma. A former winner of Strictly Come Dancing, his humor and dance routines brought a comic touch to the show, with his latin and ballroom moves proving that his dance days are far from over.

For fans of the original film, Pretty Woman The Musical may be a mixed bag if you are looking for an inventive new twist, yet in terms of delivering a fine piece of musical theatre, this musical hits the right notes. It delivers an engaging energetic fun show that shines in moments against a visually stunning set. The cast performing “Pretty Woman,” prompted a standing ovation with audience members joyfully singing along.