REVIEW: PRETTY WOMAN @ THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH

🎭 Pretty Woman: The Musical  

📍 The Lyric, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Royal Parade, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2TR             

🗓 Monday 15th April 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

FEEL-GOOD FAIRYTALE

Fizzing with song & dance this stylish show has all the happy feel of a prosecco filled night out. Upbeat music, smart clothes, gales of laughter and the occasional emotional sob. The sets are gorgeous silhouettes, a backdrop to a two-worlds-collide fairytale that will be familiar even if you haven’t seen the original 90s movie on which it is based. 

The garish neon of the Hollywood Boulevard in the 80s and the subdued, tasteful chandeliers of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel seem worlds apart. Both, however, are host to numerous financial transactions and it is one such unlikely transaction that brings “professional” Vivien Ward and millionaire businessman Edward Lewis together. 

The growing chemistry between Amber Davies as Vivien and Oliver Savile as Edward is believable and both have superb voices. Vivien is touching in her vulnerability despite the bravado. Her naive excitement as she explores Edward’s plush penthouse suite and luxury lifestyle is a delight to watch. Edward is just arrogant enough for us to enjoy his bemusement over the attraction he feels for Vivien and the way she opens his eyes to other people's feelings. 

Natalie Paris as fellow hooker Kit, Vivien’s friend and mentor shines like a beacon, her stunning voice controlled for softer moments and then belting out songs to whoops of pleasure from the audience. 

Most of all we laugh out loud as the solemn hotel manager, Mr Thompson (Ore Oduba) takes Vivien under his cultured wing, aided and abetted by infatuated bellhop Giulio (Noah Harrison). Ore Oduba pops up in many varied roles, sometimes literally, and is brilliant in all of them. His timing is exquisite and his outrageous flirting with the audience is the source of much hilarity. I could have happily watched the Ore and Noah Harrison combo all night. 

It really is a treat to watch and listen to a cast of great voices and talented dancers. All bring several characters to life achieved by some very fast changes of costume. The fashion parade is a fabulous extravaganza. Possibly my favourite moment is the cleverly reimagined opera scene is with the glorious voice of Lila Face-Bass as Violetta soaring over the auditorium – magical. 

The whole show pays its respects to the original movie but with enough differences to let it stand alone. Those who know and love the movie recognise the references to the original script enough to join in at a key moment! I particularly enjoyed the costumes Vivien wore, though I preferred the original spotty dress and boater sported by loyal members of the audience. Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance’s score is upbeat or romantic as required but I did not find it memorable. I felt Edward’s numbers do not do justice to Oliver Savile’s great voice. It is a foot tapper, however and very enjoyable. All in all, a great, fun filled night out that it would be a “big mistake, huge” to miss! 

Pretty Woman runs at Theatre Royal Plymouth until Saturday 20th April before heading off for the rest of the tour. Tickets are selling fast and there is already limited availability for many performances. Head to www.theatreroyal.com soon to avoid disappointment.   

Rosie Sharman-Ward

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one reviewer.

My ticket for this performance of Pretty Woman: The Musical was gifted by the Theatre Royal Plymouth who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.

CAST LIST:

Amber Davies as Vivien Ward; Oliver Savile as Edward Lewis; Ore Oduba as Happy Man / Mr Thompson; Natalie Paris as Kit De Luca; Ben Darcy as Philip Stuckley; Chomba Taulo as David Morse; Noah Harrison as Giulio; Lila Falce-Bass as Violetta / Big Lady; Josh Damer Jennings as Alfredo; Andrew Davison as Naked Cowboy

Ensemble - Rachel Kendall Brown; Andrew Davison; Sydnie Hocknell; Elly Jay; Georgia Kleopa; Michael Kholwadia; Eleanor Morrison-Halliday; L J Neilson; Annell Odartey; Elliot David Parker; Curtis Patrick; Toby Shellard

RUNNING TIME (approx):

2 hours 25 minutes, including interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Mild language 

Production pictures credit: Marc Brenner

The Theatre Royal Plymouth is the principle home of the performing arts in the South West and is the largest and most attended regional producing theatre in the country. Their mission is to develop and deepen people's engagement with pioneering creativity in Plymouth and the South West, delivering experiences that spark delight, expression and fulfilment. The venue offers three performance spaces of various sizes, the largest being The Lyric which accommodates the big touring productions. The Drum and The Lab are smaller, intimate spaces and often offer pioneering productions.

www.theatreroyal.com