Last night, I spent a glorious couple of hours taking in every second of The Pretty Woman Uk tour at The Palace Theatre Manchester. I was nervous about this one. When it’s a favourite movie, there is a risk factor. Will it meet expectations? What if I don’t love it?
Pretty Woman is a movie phenomenon loved worldwide; this 1990 icon tells the alternative fairy tale loved by so many. I was 18 when I first watched Pretty Woman at the Cinema, and like so many, it was love at first sight; it’s a movie that has never dated. One you can watch again and again. But does the production do the movie justice?
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What Is Pretty Woman About
Pretty Woman, is a romantic comedy film released in 1990, directed by Garry Marshall and starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. The film follows the story of a wealthy businessman, Edward Lewis, who hires a call girl named Vivian Ward to accompany him to social events. As they spend time together, they develop an unexpected romantic connection.
The film was a huge commercial success, grossing over $460 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing romantic comedies ever.
Pretty Woman The Musical is a stage adaptation of the 1990 film. It features music and lyrics by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, with a book by Garry Marshall and J.F. Lawton, the original film’s director and screenwriter, respectively. The musical premiered on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre on August 16, 2018, after a pre-Broadway tryout at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago.
My Review Of Pretty Woman
The musical follows a storyline similar to the film, with some adjustments and additions to enhance and suit the stage. The story still revolves around the unlikely romance between Edward Lewis, played perfectly by Ben Darcy and Vivian Ward, played to perfection by Paige Fenlon, set against the backdrop of Los Angeles.
However, I loved how certain characters were enhanced to bring a wonderful sprinkle of humour to the production. Ore Oduba plays the perfect combination of Happy Man and Mr Thompson. Supported joyously by Noah Harrison as Guilio, they were the perfect double act. Natalie Paris truly channelled her inner Kit, making this edgy character so lovable.
The set moved seamlessly as the story moved; this all supported getting the feel of the story just right. The Opera set was a stroke of genius; opting to create La Traviata worked wonderfully.
There is no stand-out moment; the whole production was funny and touching, and the score delivered with such talent was spectacular. At times, it was almost explosive; at others, soft and poignant. This brought a story from the 90s to modern times, making the show feel fresh, new, and exciting. An ultimate feel-good fest.
Where Can You See Pretty Woman?
Pretty Woman is Playing at the Palace Theatre Manchester until Sat 16 Mar 2024, with tickets from £13.00 plus booking fee.
It’s then playing at
- Milton Keynes Theatre, Tue 19 Mar – Sat 30 Mar 2024
- Edinburgh Playhouse, Tue 2 Apr – Sat 13 Apr 2024
- Sunderland Empire, Tue 28 May – Sat 8 Jun 2024
- Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Mon 15 Jul – Sat 20 Jul 2024
- The Alexandra, Birmingham, Tue 20 Aug – Sat 24 Aug 2024
Please note I was gifted these tickets in return for a review, and you can argue with a couple of hours of pure joy, heading to the Palace Theatre, see where to Park.
