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Pretty Woman the Musical – Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield

Reviewer: Jacob Bush

Based on the Touchstone Pictures motion picture written by J. F. Lawton

Book: Garry Marshall and J. F. Lawton

Music and Lyrics: Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance

Following hit West End and Broadway runs,Pretty Woman the Musicalnow concludes its extensive UK tour at Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre. Based on the iconic movie starring Julia Roberts, it tells a story somewhere in betweenMy Fair LadyandCinderella – a young woman falls in love after what should have been a one night stand and ends up learning how she can reach her full potential in life.

Jerry Mitchell is at the helm of this production as both director and choreographer. Unsurprisingly the show is packed full of energetic dance routines around an intimate romance blossoming between the two leads. David Rackwell’s set design captures the wide variety of locations very well, from shopping mall to penthouse to backstreet, and does not feel particularly scaled down from the West End iteration. Tom Rogers’ costumes capture the 1980s’ aesthetic brilliantly with plenty of colour and outlandish styles.

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Leading the cast at this performance, in Amber Davies’ absence, was Rebekah Bryant as Vivian Ward. Bryant warms into the role as the show progresses, with her particularly shining in the slightly more serious moments towards the end. She is quite over the top in the earlier moments making it more challenging to really feel like you know who Vivian is and able to root for her. Bryant does a good job at delivering the role’s incredibly challenging musical numbers.

Opposite Bryant was West End star Oliver Savile as wealthy man Edward Lewis. Savile is wonderful in this role, with deliciously rich vocals throughout (even if much of his sung material is very samey). Savile and Bryant develop a nice chemistry, tackling the intimate scenes with confidence.

Ore Oduba takes on the dual roles of Happy Man and Mr Thompson. He is particularly enjoyable as Mr Thompson, delivering the sarcastic humour perfectly. He has a nice singing voice but unfortunately his words often were lost. Natalie Paris,Six the Musicalalumna, plays Kit de Luca. She lacks some of the comic timing that some of her predecessors have had in the role but delivers some powerhouse vocals. Both Paris and Oduba could have done with being a little louder however.

Pretty Woman the Musicalis a feel good show that audiences are clearly enjoying. Despite it perhaps lacking some of the energy that the show had in London, it’s still a fun night out at the theatre.

Runs until Saturday 28th September 2024.

The Reviews Hub Score

Feel good

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The Reviews Hub - Yorkshire & North East

The Yorkshire & North East team is under the editorship of Jacob Bush. The Reviews Hub was set up in 2007. Our mission is to provide the most in-depth, nationwide arts coverage online.

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