– By Cate Marquis –
It’s great to be back at the Fabulous Fox! Covid closed theaters everywhere last year, but now live theater is finally back, albeit with pandemic precautions, which are posted on the Fox website. The Fox Theater comes back strong with a lively musical adaption of the fan-favorite movie “Pretty Woman.”
“Pretty Woman: The Musical” follows the movie’s story closely but adds some characters that add some extra comic fun and a more contemporary feel. Buttoned-down businessman Edward Lewis (Adam Pascal) is in Los Angeles for an important business negotiation. Edward is thinking the delicate negotiations might go more smoothly if he has a woman companion at his side but unfortunately, he’s just broken up with his girlfriend. Distracted, he gets lost on the way to his LA hotel, and winds up on the Hollywood stroll, where he asks a streetwalker, Vivian (Olivia Valli), for directions. She gives directions but when she also offers to just drive him there, he quickly agrees, as he also is having trouble driving with the finiky sports car he’s borrowed. At the hotel, he hits on the idea of having the playful, funny hooker pose as his girlfriend for the week, and the two agree on a price, with Edward also agreeing to pay for a suitable wardrobe for the week. Vivian is actually new to this kind of work, drawn into it by financial hardship and encouraged by her friend and roommate Kit (Jessica Crouch). She and Kit are on the verge of being evicted, so she is thrilled with the job. The “Pretty Woman” story mixes familiar hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold tales with Cinderella and “My Fair Lady.”
Not every movie should be made into a musical but “Pretty Woman” makes a pretty good one, especially with the addition of a couple of new supporting characters. Actually, those supporting characters are not entirely new, but expansions of a couple of minor, even passing, characters from the movie, a street vendor called Happy Man and the hotel manager Mr. Thompson, both played by Kyle Taylor Parker.
“Pretty Woman: The Musical” was a Broadway hit, until the run was shut down by the pandemic. A major part of the appeal of the film was the casting of a young Julia Roberts and the suave Richard Gere. Olivia Valli and Adam Pascal, who played the role on Broadway, make a nice replacement in this touring production of the Broadway hit. Broadway fans may recognize Pascal, who played Roger in “Rent” on Broadway, and who brings a rock music vibe to his songs. Olivia Valli has both nice comic timing and a fine singing voice, which might be expected given her musical pedigree, as the granddaughter of Frankie Valli of the Four Seasons. The Fox’s playbill (yes, we get actual physical playbills for this production) notes that Valli played her own grandmother in the musical; “Jersey Boys,” based on the story of the Four Seasons.
The songs are by Grammy-winning rocker Bryan Adams and they are much catchier than many contemporary musicals. The production has nice staging, a couple of excellent production numbers and a little bit of opera, in what is probably its best scene. And that famous Roy Orbison hit that gave the movie its name makes an appearance too, in little snatches at various points, although it does fully appear until the end, which seems fitting.
The staging is impressive, particularly for the dual-level opera scene in the second half. It is among the show’s best and one of its showstoppers, with the golden-throated Amma Osei delivering selections from La Traviata for the romantic and dramatic high point of the production. Another wonderful, more light-hearted production number opens the second act, with Happy Man (Kyle Taylor Parker), who acts as a sort-of master of ceremonies, leads a stage extravaganza, that features tongue-in-cheek humor, athletic dancing and kick-up-your-heels fun with a gay slant.
There are standout supporting characters. Jessica Crouch who plays Vivian’s roommate and friend Kit belts out her songs with a high-energy bluesy boldness. Kyle Taylor Parker, who plays the dual roles of the hotel manager Mr Thompson, who changes from a disapproving figure to an ally for Vivian, and Happy Man, the street vendor who opens the show, sparkles with personality on stage. As Happy Man, he often adds a Master of Ceremonies vibe to his entertaining, comic role, bringing an anything’s possible note to the production. In both roles, his dance scenes with bellboy Alfredo (played by the energetic Christian Douglas), are a treat, in athletic, soaring performances likely also to bring a delighted gaffaw.
All in all, it is a fine production to welcome audiences back. “Pretty Woman: The Musical” is on stage live at the Fabulous Fox through Nov. 28.
© Cate Marquis
