The Devil Wears Prada Musical, Dominion Theatre Review
The Devil Wears Prada production image. Photo by Matt Crockett.
Written by Annie for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Following the hugely admired book, and greatly adored film, The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical is perhaps one of the most highly anticipated musicals to grace the West End this year.
Having first announced its cast back in March with THAT iconic Runway mock- cover shoot promo, and then a short run in Plymouth over the summer, the show is now officially open in the West End.
In what was possibly the most surreal night of my life, The Dominion Theatre was decked out to the nines to welcome guests and stars from across the globe. A brass band played Christmas carols, as guests waited for their chance to be photographed behind a Runway cover photobooth. Guests ranged from Musical Theatre royalty; such as Lesley Joseph & Arlene Phillips, right through to Fashion Icons including Donatella Versace and THE Anna Wintour.
The musical, with music by Elton John - waited to open officially so that the opening night could fall on World Aids Day, and be married with the Elton John Aids Foundation to raise funds for their incredibly important work. It's fair to say no expense was spared for the night, and a sum of £750k (and rising) was raised.
Despite the grandeur and amazement of the evening, it all boils down to the show itself. The adaptation is true to the film, which will certainly not disappoint fans, however, some sections have been slightly adapted which makes the story’s continuity sleeker for the stage and I thought worked very well on the whole.
The music, by Elton John and lyrics by Shaina Taub & Mark Sonnenblick, is as energetic and powerful as you might expect. John’s music is never short of catchy, enjoyable and entertaining, and this score is no exception. The lyrics are brilliantly witty and match the show’s vibe of showcasing strong, powerhouse women. The songs perhaps aren’t quite as memorable as I hoped them to be, and the score for Miranda Priestly (played by Vanessa Williams) is more spoken than sung through, which was a disappointment.
Scene design by Tim Hatley is excellently considered - it encapsulates the lifestyle of New York and its fashion world. Constantly spinning from the Runway offices to Andy’s humble apartment, before flying us over to Paris - the staging draws you into the story no matter how many miles apart it feels from the enormity of The Dominion. It’s a tough space to try to fill but Hatley manages to make the show feel larger than life in the space, and not feel swallowed by the theatre.
Costumes by Gregg Barnes are a homage to the movie; at first, it feels a little dated, as the show continues to be set in the early 2000s, but the more I watched the more I felt perhaps the story works so well because of its dating. It if was brought into the present day, it perhaps wouldn’t feel quite as iconic - as so many of the most loved parts have the clothing at their very core.
The cast is, for lack of a better word, outstanding. Georgie Buckland leads the company as Andy with total star power. To say this is her West End debut is astounding - she is a true star in the making - her voice is out of this world and her presence is understood from her very first entrance. Amy Di Bartolomeo is a natural in the role of Emily, her comedic timing is excellent and her voice assures her talent.
Matt Henry continues his streak of perfection as Nigel, playing the stoic right hand man to Miranda. His breakaway song is a lovely addition, but perhaps not quite as balancing for the score to the over the top numbers offered earlier in the show.
There is no doubt that Vanessa Williams is an icon, and quite honestly her casting in this show is what dreams are made of. She embodies the role with great admiration and power, she is a joy to watch. She plays with such strength, variety and hilarity, that it ties the show together. However, as mentioned earlier, her score was a little disappointing - not for her lack of talent, but I felt her songs could’ve gone so much further as she no doubt has the capacity to do.
The Devil Wears Prada Musical is an uplifting and nostalgic homage to an already adored story. It is quite as groundbreaking as I hoped? Perhaps not, but - did it offer a well-rounded theatrical experience which is assured to leave audiences leaving with big grins? Absolutely. It’s an iconic story that is loved by many and has been adapted very well for the stage, which will enable fans to continue to love the story in a new format.
At Dominion Theatre.
★★★★
