Book: Garry Marshall and J.F. Lawton
Music and Lyrics: Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance
Director: Jerry Mitchell
Many people will be familiar with Pretty Woman as a Hollywood movie released in 1990 – now here we have 
the stage version on tour and, judging by the size and enthusiasm of the audience in Northampton’s Derngate theatre, nearly 35 years on it’s still as popular as ever. Originally conceived as a much darker piece about sex work and class, the movie as released had been turned into a romantic comedy which broke box office records at the time. With a book by original screenplay writer J. F. Lawton and the movie’s director Garry Marshall, you can be sure that the stage version will retain the essence of the film.
The plot revolves around the relationship between asset-stripper businessman Edward Lewis and Vivian Ward, a sex worker whom he hires as an escort for a week while he’s in Los Angeles. Thrust into a new environment and out of her depth, Vivian struggles to fit in with the inevitable comic faux-pas along the way in what is superficially a fairly lightweight plot, but one which also contains a deeper message about respect and the balance of power in relationships. Vivan’s life revolves around survival and scraping together enough to pay the rent – she dreams of being rescued by a dashing knight on a white horse. Edward’s life revolves around making money. Can either of them come through this week together unchanged?
Amber Davies makes an appealing Vivian, with a hard shell that she pretends to wear to hide her inner vulnerability. This is a woman who’s clearly unsuited for a life of sex work, but can only dream about finding something better. Some of her vocals may not be to everyone’s taste, but she invests herself fully into her performance there’s no doubting her sincerity and her ability to carry off both the dramatic and comedic aspects of the role. Opposite Davies is Oliver Savile as a sophisticated Edward Lewis, a man so focused on his work that he has no time for anything else, especially not relationships. Savile is on good voice for his number and carries his role off well.
Natalie Paris delivers some excellent vocals in her role as Vivan’s friend and experienced sex worker Kit, and Ben Darcy gives us a classic money-driven unscrupulous bad guy as lawyer Philip Stuckey. Threatening to steal the show is TV and stage favourite Ore Oduba, as Happy Man on the Street and hotel manager Mr Thompson (plus several other little cameo roles where he pops up to the delight of the audience). Oduba owns the stage whenever he appears, and his performance is always a delight to watch.
The score by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance sits nicely in the period where the show is set with some good ballads mixed in with the more uptempo late 1980s rock. Jerry Mitchell’s choreography is delivered slickly by the large – for a touring production – ensemble on stage. David Rockwell’s design and the excellent lighting by Kenneth Posner & Philip S. Rosenberg mean the show flows seamlessly throughout, with well-rehearsed scene changes giving us a slick and polished production.
Despite its underlying message, there’s no suggestion of anything deep and meaningful going on here – just a good, fun evening. Even the darker moments are, if anything, underplayed. Comparisons with Pygmalion, and perhaps even more with My Fair Lady are inevitable and there is no doubt that there are a lot of overlaps in the concept here. Pretty Woman is not, however, some sort of copy of either of the earlier works but a piece that stands on its own merits and is well worth catching if you’re a fan of romantic comedy.
Runs until 14 September 2024 and on tour
The Reviews Hub Score
Easygoing entertainment
