Stage Musical Adaptation of PRETTY WOMAN Struts Into OC’s Segerstrom Center

Clean from its 3-7 days quit at the Dolby Theater, Hollywood’s formal property for the Academy Awards, the to start with countrywide tour of the phase musical adaptation of the L.A.-set passionate comedy Pretty Lady—that popular movie about a Hollywood hooker who finds unpredicted romance from a wealthy consumer—has built the quick travel down the freeway to OC’s Segerstrom Centre for the Arts in Costa Mesa for a two-7 days engagement ending July 17, 2022.

Centered on the 1990 box workplace hit introduced by Disney-owned Touchstone Pics that was directed by the late Garry Marshall—and, of class, built a bonafide star out of Julia Roberts—the 2018 Broadway adaptation attributes a pretty devoted guide penned by the film’s original screenwriters J.F. Lawton and Garry Marshall, and manufacturer new music composed by 80’s rock star Bryan Adams and songwriting husband or wife Jim Vallance. Along with path and choreography by KINKY BOOTS’ Jerry Mitchell, on paper this exhibit should have been a profitable smash all all-around.

Alas, as it stands now—even with that exuberant curtain get in touch with finalé that ultimately treats the audience to a rousing sing-along of Roy Orbison’s typical “Oh, Very Girl,” the pretty track that motivated the title—the stage present, as I knowledgeable through its Opening Night performance this past Tuesday night time, is an all round mixed bag, blending nostalgic mild-rock throwbacks to late 80’s/early 90’s clichés with a valiantly entertaining and clearly enthusiastic, super proficient ensemble solid supplying it their collective A-stage ideal with the material they have been specified.

Judging by how faithful this variation velcro’s alone to its late 80’s supply substance, those fond of the hit movie and want to see it translated with an practically immediate by way of-line to that first will very likely appreciate most if not all of this output—taking into consideration writers Lawton and Marshall have in essence constructed an nearly verbatim translation of the film for its phase iteration, albeit with just a number of minimal cosmetic tweaks below and there to accommodate a theatrical and musicalized presentation.

As just one could count on, some of those minor tweaks are greater than some others, naturally (Spoiler Inform: that unforgettable ending in the movie comes about… um, in different ways in this article).

See, the thing about adapting a pretty unique property—specially one that’s fairly beloved by a broader (now getting old) viewers—is that unavoidable comparisons to the first are just much too challenging to disregard, even if they could feel unfair. Probably the most major aspect in Quite Lady that will probably attract the most comparisons can be located in the human being tasked with the title character herself.

Let’s be straightforward below… the movie’s enjoyment component is elevated mainly simply because of Roberts’ sensational display screen overall performance, branded with that signature “megawatt” smile, a sassy, self-confident persona that can spar with/seduce gentlemen in her midst, when also displaying a palpable vulnerability that makes us empathize with her character. Roberts has great-tuned this skillset to the point that it is develop into a synonymous trait existing in several of her other movie roles like we have see in Metal Magnolias, My Very best Friend’s Wedding, Notting Hill, and Erin Brockovich.

For this touring output, the actor tasked with the title job of Vivian Ward—the vivacious Hollywood Boulevard prostitute armed with road smarts, massive dreams, and (to some degree) private autonomy—is the talented Olivia Valli, who, for the most part, does an admirable job for producing the role her very own. Vocal-smart, Valli appears wonderful, specifically for the duration of songs that call for her to belt notes to the stratosphere or rock out. She’s also acquired the sassy, sexy aspect of Vivian down pat, producing the notion of her convincing her most current shopper to fork about $3,000 to be her “escort” for the week a believable prospect.

But, unfortunately, the facet impact of generating the position one’s very own usually means there is certainly very likely a tonal departure from what Roberts cemented memorably in her multi-layered performance. And for a display hell-bent in recreating the tale and tone to match the intent and vibe of the initial motion picture, this turns into a bit of a issue. Possibly it may possibly be the way the stage show was prepared and/or directed, but this Vivian is extra brassy than sensitive, far more irrational than intuitive, a lot more lustful than vulnerable. It can be also achievable that this version of Vivian just will not fit our far more present day sensibilities any more.

It definitely didn’t aid possibly that the show’s edition of Vivian’s uber-rich consumer/enjoy fascination Edward Lewis—right here performed by Hire alum Adam Pascal—feels significantly far more aloof and non-plussed
compared to the movie’s much more affable, amusingly-smitten Edward performed so charmingly by Richard Gere. Although Pascal’s unmistakable signature vocals do fit beautifully with this musical’s rock-tinged score, the character he’s tasked to just take on during the show’s “reserve” components felt just a little bit also passive and, at moments, even a bit detached.

Continue to, when the two actors’ portraits of their respective roles usually are not fairly what the present was in all probability expecting, both equally Valli and Pascal do have real skills for musical theater, and their mutual strengths are evidently evident in the way they tackle the show’s electricity-heavy musical figures (the tracks by themselves are fine and do conform to the era’s rock sound, but most are kinda just… meh).

Though I failed to adore Very Girl – THE MUSICAL, I definitely did not loathe it possibly, primarily with the quantity of laughter and smiles that arrived out of me and the viewers all through numerous details in the clearly show. Positive highlights include David Rockwell‘s cheesy-chic late 80’s Hollywood established models, lit beautifully by lights designers Kenneth Posner and Philip S. Rosenberg Gregg Barnes‘ 80’s-encouraged classic costumes (with quite a few devoted frock recreations of iconic movie moments) and, of course, Mitchell’s dynamic, higher-vitality choreography that is tremendous fun to view.

I also appreciated how nicely this clearly show sounded. I can’t recall the final time a going to nationwide tour’s audio equilibrium was so effectively-executed at Segerstrom Corridor: the solid microphones were established at an optimum, clearly-heard quantity whilst the really hard-rockin’ orchestra—done by musical director Daniel Klintworth—did not overpower all those voices, irrespective of the score’s inclination for piercing 80’s rock anthem moments.

And, finally, this touring production’s finest asset is arguably its engaging ensemble cast crammed with a number of, cheer-inducing scene stealers (I am on the lookout at you Jessica Crouch, Kyle Taylor Parker, Trent Soyster, and Amma Osei) that, frankly, do close up becoming the show’s conserving grace.

Crouch appears amazeballs as Vivian’s BFF/roommate/fellow hooker Package De Luca who supplies several of the show’s stellar vocal gymnastics. I unquestionably beloved Parker—who, in a welcome improvement from the movie—performs various meta roles that involve “Pleased Person” (who acts as the show’s road-amount narrator) as properly as the Beverly Wilshire Hotel’s sympathetic hotel manager (performed in the movie by Hector Elizondo) who aids Vivian in seeking and performing the section of a tycoon’s posh girlfriend. Parker sprinkles the job with lots of playful entertaining and sarcasm that the audience actually liked. Cute scene-stealer Soyster is a cute existence as lodge bellhop Giulio. And the jaw-dropping singing Osei contributes to the clearly show—including a transform as the lead Soprano diva in a creation of the opera La Traviata—was totally mesmerizing.

To be straightforward, after going through a glut of stage adaptations of 80’s/90’s houses of late, I found myself seeking to root for this musical adaptation more, fairly than just shell out time nitpicking at its flaws like I have with most of those other “new” shows. Though it unquestionably wasn’t hard to place these flaws as they blasted out with each passing minute (that diamond necklace instant in the film was recreated in this article, and becomes a bit yikes), I have to say that I enjoyed numerous additional pieces of Quite Lady: THE MUSICAL than I anticipated going into it.

Sure, it would have been good if the show was considerably less a rehash of dated predicaments and a lot more a clean revamp that acknowledges progress (with a wink). But in our present modern entire world where our issues are so considerably additional dire and severe and, frankly, lifestyle-threatening, a few hours of nostalgic escapism exactly where a street-savvy, sassy hooker can locate accurate
adore with her John will not appear like this kind of a waste of time.

Images by Matthew Murphy (Murphy Designed), courtesy of Segerstrom Centre for the Arts.

Performances of Rather Woman – THE MUSICAL continue at Segerstrom Middle for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA by July 17, 2022. Tickets can be bought on the web at www.SCFTA.org, by cell phone at 714-556-2787 or in man or woman at the SCFTA box place of work (open daily at 10 am). Segerstrom Heart for the Arts is found at 600 City Center Push in Costa Mesa. For tickets or additional facts, stop by SCFTA.org.