'Pretty Woman' stage tour keeps story alive and well with help of winsome Vivian lead

Folks who feel nostalgia for the romantic "Pretty Woman" will find a lot to like in the live musical version of the film now on tour at Playhouse Square, which brings all the iconic lines, moments and costumes from the original story to life.

People won't be able to help but reminisce about film legend Julia Roberts, whose fame launched into the stratosphere with her memorable turn as Hollywood prostitute Vivian, and her co-star Richard Gere, who played "knight in shining armor" Edward.

Although the stage musical adheres quite closely to the original film, the tour's leading lady, Olivia Valli, makes the role of Vivian her own with a gamine physical awkwardness, bubbliness and playfulness that make us love her. She's an endearing actress with a powerful voice who's the granddaughter of famed singer Frankie Valli.

For Wednesday night's performance, Broadway star Adam Pascal, who co-stars as billionaire businessman Edward, was unfortunately out with a cold. Understudy Chris Manuel, who has movie star looks and a brilliantly flashing smile, stepped in and created a believable chemistry between his Edward and Vivian.

In this story, Edward starts out as an uptight person who meets Vivian by happenstance. In out-of-character fashion, he impulsively asks her to spend first the evening and then the week with him so he'll have a date to a number of business social functions.

Edward is supposed to be a stick in the mud. But for Manuel's first couple songs, I found myself wanting him to turn on the power a bit more. When he finally opened up vocally later, we saw just how much Manuel can do in this musical, whose pop and rock music is written by none other than singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, along with Jim Vallance.

They've created a tuneful score of songs from power ballads to Latin music to country-tinged rock. And the tour's six-person band rocks out.

Valli is comical from the first moments she awkwardly tries to seduce Edward on the boulevard to her funny kicks, crazy dancing and delighted little squeaks. We understand why the lonely Edward, who later reveals he had a stormy relationship with his late father, is charmed by her.

When all is said and done, this musical is a lot of fun. Part of that fun comes with the bold and brassy Kit De Luca, Vivian's roommate played by Jessica Crouch, and the charismatic Happy Man character, played by the delightful Kyle Taylor Parker. He assumes the roles of several characters, most importantly the hotel manager who befriends Vivian and helps teach her the finer points of etiquette.

This production adds some kooky humor with an extended segment of ballroom dancing between Parker's hotel manager and diminutive bellhop Guilio, portrayed Wednesday night by the wonderful Nico DeJesus. DeJesus, understudying the role for the performance, is a great dancer and true comical talent who has few lines but plenty of memorably funny moments in his character's interactions with Vivian.

This is an adult musical that includes depictions of sex, with Valli's Vivian dressed in various lingerie in those scenes. Costume designer Gregg Barnes' ensembles are stunning, including Vivian's iconic strapless red gown and a blue pocket dot dress that's a nod to the brown polka dot one Roberts wore in the film.

It's no surprise that this tale is full of 1980s excesses, including big hair, plenty of bling and that 1980s materialism.

So how does a story that came out in 1990 about a prostitute who finds a new way of life after spending the week with a billionaire fare today?

When Valli sings with regret about her history of bad relationships in "Anywhere But Here" and we learn about her abusive mother, the premise of Vivian becoming a hooker seems more understandable and less tawdry.

One lyric in "I Can't Go Back," though, makes me want to wince: "It's true I sold my body but I never sold my soul."

Even so, when Vivian finally says "I want the fairytale," we don't groan because actress Valli has done such a good job establishing how Vivian got to such a low point in her life that she ended up on the street. Ultimately, Vivian makes her own decisions on her own terms and discovers her self-worth and strength.

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

Details

Musical: "Pretty Woman"

Where: Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Playhouse Square, Cleveland

When: Continuing through March 27, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays

Onstage: Starring Olivia Valli, Adam Pascal, Jessica Crouch, Kyle Taylor Parker, Matthew Stocke

Offstage: Garry Marshall and J.F. Lawton, book; Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, music and lyrics; Jerry Mitchell, director/choreographer; Will Van Dyke, music supervision/arrangements/orchestrations; David Rockwell, scenic design; Gregg Barnes, costume design; Kenneth Posner and Philip Rosenberg, lighting design; John Shivers, sound design; Josh Marquette, hair design; Fiona Mifsud, makeup design; Daniel Klintwork, music director; Michael Keller and Michael Aarons, music coordinators; DB Bonds, associate director; Rusty Mowery, associate choreographer; J. Allen Suddeth, fight director; Jack McLeod, production stage manager; Thomas Recktenwald, production supervisor; Full Stage Productions, technical supervisor

Cost: $25-$125

Information: playhousesquare.org

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 'Pretty Woman' a blast from past that leaves you rooting for heroine