Get ready to fall in love with a pretty romantic musical when Pretty Woman visits Milton Keynes Theatre this week, writes Georgina Butler.
Once upon a time, in the late 1980s, kind-hearted escort Vivian Ward was hired by wealthy businessman Edward Lewis to accompany him to several high-profile events. Their two very different worlds collided spectacularly, yet these unlikely soul mates overcame all odds to turn a relationship that began as a business transaction into a romance that changed both of their lives forever.
It’s one of Hollywood’s best-loved romantic comedies. Now, theatregoers are being invited to experience classic moments from the movie in a pretty magical new way. We are promised a dazzlingly joyous theatrical take on a timeless love story.
Pretty Woman is directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde, Hairspray) and features a blazing, up-tempo, pop-rock score from Grammy winners Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (Summer of ’69, Heaven). The musical’s book was written by J.F. Lawton and Garry Marshall – screenwriter and director, respectively, of the original 1990 film.
The show wowed audiences on Broadway from July 2018 until August 2019. It made its West End premiere at the Piccadilly Theatre on 13 February 2020, but was suspended due to the Coronavirus pandemic. It then ran at the Savoy Theatre in London’s West End from 8 July 2021 until 18 June 2023.
The touring cast stars Amber Davies (Back To The Future, 9 to 5, Bring It On) as Vivian, Ore Oduba (The Rocky Horror Show, Grease, Strictly Come Dancing) as Happy Man/Mr Thompson, Oliver Savile (Wicked, Les Misérables, Cats) as Edward and Natalie Paris (Six, Billy Elliot, Les Misérables) as Kit de Luca.
Running time: Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, including an interval.
Age guidance: 12+ (contains swearing and moderate sexual references)
*Production photography by Marc Brenner.
Pretty Woman is at Milton Keynes Theatre from Tuesday 19 to Saturday 30 March.
Georgina Butler is an editor, a dance writer and a ballet teacher. Follow her on Twitter @GeorginaLButler and Instagram @glbdancewriter
