If you’ve ever found yourself quoting Pretty Woman while staring longingly at a department store window, you’re in luck: the Hollywood classic that defined a generation has officially arrived at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre. Directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, this stage adaptation takes the iconic 1990 film, written by J.F. Lawton and directed by the late Garry Marshall, and injects it with a high-octane rock score courtesy of Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance. It’s big, it’s bold, and as the show’s own tagline suggests, it’s absolutely huge.
The story remains the one we all know by heart: Vivian Ward, a free-spirited Hollywood sex worker with a heart of gold, meets Edward Lewis, a wealthy, emotionally stunted businessman who hires her for a week-long stint as his social escort. What starts as a strictly professional arrangement quickly spirals into an unlikely romance that challenges their respective worlds. It’s a classic “rags-to-riches” narrative, but here, it’s propelled by catchy, stadium-ready anthems and a vibrant energy that makes the two-and-a-half-hour runtime fly by.
Melbourne’s production boasts a stellar local cast, with ARIA Award-winning powerhouse Samantha Jade stepping into the shoes of Vivian, a role made iconic by Julia Roberts, opposite Ben Hall as the stoic Edward Lewis. They’re joined by the irrepressible comedian Michelle Brasier as Vivian’s sharp-tongued friend Kit de Luca who had the audience cheering on after every song, and Tim Omaji, who steals scenes in the dual roles of Mr. Thompson and the enigmatic “Happy Man”. We’d seen Brasier in comedy roles before, notably Aunty Donna, but had no idea of the vocal talents and amazing stage presence.
Whether you’re there to see Vivian take her iconic revenge on the snobby shop assistants of Rodeo Drive or you just want a night of pure, unadulterated escapism, the production nails the balance between nostalgic charm and musical theatre spectacle. It’s the kind of show that makes you happily suspend your disbelief while you to get caught up in the glitter and the glamour of it all.
For the Melbourne premiere, the producers went above and beyond with the actual limousine featured in the original 1990 film parked right outside the Regent Theatre. It was purchased by an Adelaide collector who initially had no idea he’d bought a piece of cinematic history, proving that, just like the plot of the musical itself, sometimes the best things in life are the ones you never saw coming.
– The Plus Ones
