Rating: ★★★★

Venue: Savoy Theatre, London 

Cast: Elly Jay, Danny Mac, Hannah Ducharme, Bob Harms, John Addison, Mark Holden and Alex Charles 

Before I start this review, I must make a confession. Hold your breath, guys. I have never seen Pretty Woman. I'm not a huge lover of rom-coms, but I am a huge lover of musicals - and I'm open to trying any show once! So with little knowledge of the story, and never having heard a song from the soundtrack, I was excited to try something completely new.

I'd imagine the story needs little introduction to those reading this review. I think I may be one of the only people on the planet not to have seen the movie! But Pretty Woman follows the story of Vivian. Vivian is a sex worker who wants more for her life, and wants to be "anywhere but here". With a chance encounter from wealthy businessman, Edward, Vivian is thrust into the fast lane of money, glitz and glamour.

I'll be honest, I was more than pleasantly surprised with Pretty Woman. The songs are incredibly catchy, the cast's energy is just infectious and the atmosphere is electric. It's without doubt one of the cheesiest, most cliché shows I've seen, but in the words of Iris Simpkins, "I like corny. I'm looking for corny in my life". It's extremely feel-good, and there's little chance you'll be leaving without a smile on your face.

I was looking forward to seeing Aimie Atkinson, as I've been a fan for a few years. However, our leading lady for gala night was Elly Jay. She was simply incredible. Her chemistry with Danny Mac was magnetic, and the pair portrayed a more than believable relationship. Besides thinking Danny Mac was perhaps too young for the role; they were both faultless. Elly's voice is laced with rock, whilst Danny's is smooth as silk; the perfect match.

However, the stars of the show for me were Kit de Luca and Happy Man, played by Hannah Ducharme and Bob Harms. They were both phenomenal, and even though they aren't the leads, they completely carried the show with their perfectly timed humour and wit. And Hannah's voice is an absolute dream to the ears.

Although I only heard the songs for the first time last night, I've found the songs "Anywhere But Here" and "Rodeo Drive" running through my head all day - so they definitely have left a lasting impression. The songs are memorable, fun, and most surprisingly, really enhanced the story. I'd heard people say that this movie didn't need to be made into a musical, but I beg to differ! I can't imagine the film being anywhere near as good as the theatre masterclass I witnessed last night.

If you're looking for a feel-good night out, that will have you on your feet by the end of the evening - Pretty Woman is the musical to choose. The cast is fantastic, and paired with a set that will transport you to 80's Beverly Hills, and an amazing soundtrack to boot. I would highly recommend booking a trip to Pretty Woman, even if you're not a lover of the film. 

You can buy tickets to Pretty Woman the Musical at the Savoy Theatre here.