By Sandi Masori
SAN DIEGO — Most people recognize the title Pretty Woman from the 1990 film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Or they may know the song by Roy Orbison. But there’s a new Pretty Woman in town, and it’s a musical! Based on the movie, this Broadway adaptation at the San Diego Civic Theatre is a delightful smile-inducing treat.
I was really curious how they could take the movie which was not a musical and turn it into a musical. The answer is very well. Though none of the songs were memorable per se, they were all enjoyable and showed off the actors’ voices.
The sets for the Broadway touring shows always fascinate me- how they manage to do so much with so little. For this production, simple drop down frames and fun colorful lighting took the audience from the streets of Hollywood into the lobby and penthouse of the Beverly Wilshire hotel (side note, that’s where my parents Don and Nancy Harrison got married in 1968). I especially liked the colorful lighting concepts — moving from blues and purples to hot pinks and reds.
For those who haven’t seen the movie, it’s a modern Cinderella tale of a hooker and corporate tycoon who meet and fall in love. In the musical, the main characters of Edward and Vivian were played by Olivia Valli and Adam Pascal. Pascal, who played Edward, also played the role on Broadway — and it showed, he seemed very polished and comfortable in the character, but it also felt a little like he was trying to duplicate the Richard Gere version. It was only in the songs that I felt we saw more of him and his character. My companion noted that Pascal had incredible stage presence even when he was standing statue still. Valli who played Vivian, on the other hand, made the role her own, and was nothing like the Julia Roberts rendition of it. And it was better for it.
There were a few of the company actors who really stood out. Trent Soyster stole every scene that he was in as Julio, and Kyle Taylor Parker, billed only as “happy man” actually played five different characters throughout the show, and did very well with all of them. Actress Anju Cloud from the company nailed her opera solos. What a powerful voice.
I know you’re all wondering about the Jewish angle, and I’ll be honest, I was afraid that I was going to have to report that I couldn’t find one, and then, as if they knew we (the Jews) would be in the audience waiting for a nod, there was a joke. One character is asking another where Vivian is, to which the reply was “she’s on a week long sabbatical.” Then the first character said “I didn’t know she was Jewish.” It got the appropriate chuckle from the audience, but once again made me wonder why that line was put in there. Is it because we are such great patrons of theatre that we deserve to have a mention, nod or joke tossed out to us? Is it that the writer is Jewish and is bageling us? Well I don’t have the answer, but I was glad to have my Jewish angle without resorting to playing “guess if any of the actors are Jewish.”
The show ends with a sing along to the song “Pretty Woman” and you will leave with a smile on your face and the song in your ear. All in all I’d say it’s another Broadway in San Diego hit.
Tickets are available at: https://sandiegotheatres.org/event/2022/07/pretty-woman
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Sandi Masori is the theatre and restaurant reviewer for San Diego Jewish World. When she’s not doing that, or helping people self-publish their books, she likes to hang out with her kids and travel.