Pretty Woman: The Musical – Brisbane’s Big, Huge Night Out
When I first saw Pretty Woman: The Musical at London’s Savoy Theatre, I remember leaving with the kind of buzz only a feel-good show can deliver. The audience floated out humming Bryan Adams’ melodies, still grinning from two and a half hours of pure charm. So, when the Australian production announced its opening at Brisbane’s Lyric Theatre, I was curious, could it capture that same effervescent West End magic? After last night’s dazzling premiere, the answer is an emphatic yes.
Based on the beloved 1990 film, Pretty Woman: The Musical stars Samantha Jade as Vivian Ward, the role immortalised by Julia Roberts. Since its record-breaking Broadway debut at the Nederlander Theatre in 2018, the show has taken the world by storm, playing to packed houses on London’s West End, across the United States, and in productions throughout Europe including Spain, Italy, Poland, and Germany. With a blazing rock score by GRAMMY Award winners Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Hairspray), and a book by the film’s original creative duo Garry Marshall and J.F. Lawton, this musical reimagines a cinematic classic for the stage with irresistible charm and heart.
From Rodeo Drive to the River City
There was a certain electric anticipation as guests streamed into QPAC for the red carpet event. The foyer glimmered with excitement, not least because Pretty Woman is one of those rare properties that transcends generations. Its cinematic legacy, Julia Roberts’ luminous Vivian Ward and Richard Gere’s stoic Edward Lewis, is practically embedded in pop culture DNA. The phrase “Big mistake, huge!” has entered our everyday lexicon, and tonight, it was joyfully revived.
As the orchestra struck up the opening chords of Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance’s infectious rock score, memories of London came flooding back. That unmistakable blend of ’80s nostalgia and Broadway polish set the tone for an unapologetically feel-good evening. It’s a show that wears its heart, and its sequins, on its sleeve.
Samantha Jade: Australia’s New Vivian
In London, Aimie Atkinson gave Vivian Ward a cheeky sparkle. In Brisbane, Samantha Jade gives her soul. Known to most Australians as a pop star and television favourite, Jade proves herself a genuine musical theatre leading lady. Her voice, bright, emotive, effortlessly controlled, finds new dimensions in numbers like “Anywhere But Here” and “This Is My Life.” What makes her performance special is her honesty. Her Vivian is less a Cinderella in thigh-high boots and more a woman discovering her worth. It’s hard not to root for her every step of the way.
Ben Hall’s Edward: Charm with Steel
Opposite her, Ben Hall steps into Richard Gere’s designer shoes with disarming warmth. The Neighbours alumnus brings a quiet sophistication to Edward, balancing restraint with tenderness. His duet with Jade on “You and I” is one of the evening’s loveliest moments, a reminder that this story, beneath the gloss, is about two people learning to meet each other halfway. Hall, who recently appeared in Elvis: A Musical Revolution, commands the stage with effortless charisma.
Scene Stealers: Michelle Brasier and Tim Omaji
Michelle Brasier, as Kit De Luca, is the show’s comic and emotional anchor. Her timing is razor-sharp, her vocals soulful, and her chemistry with Jade infectious. Her scenes shimmer with authenticity, grounding the fairytale in grit and friendship. Tim Omaji (formerly Timomatic) brings boundless charisma to his dual role as Happy Man/Mr Thompson. From the moment he struts on stage, he radiates energy, part narrator, part fairy godfather, and always magnetic. His Broadway-ready stagecraft and slick movement elevate every ensemble number.
A Love Letter to the Film, And Something More
For those wondering how closely the musical follows the beloved 1990 film, the answer is closely enough to make fans sigh with nostalgia, yet bold enough to stand on its own. Garry Marshall and J.F. Lawton’s book retains the film’s witty banter and emotional beats, while director Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Hairspray) adds theatrical flair and rhythm. The iconic shopping montage on Rodeo Drive is reborn as a joyous, sharply choreographed set piece that drew spontaneous applause.
Of course, the show’s heart lies in its transformation arc, Vivian’s awakening to self-respect, Edward’s surrender to vulnerability. Where the film played to fantasy, the musical plays to feeling. It invites you to believe, once more, in connection, redemption, and happy endings.
Design, Direction and That Big Sound
Visually, the production dazzles. The set shifts seamlessly from Hollywood Boulevard neon to the opulent Regent Beverly Wilshire, aided by slick projections and romantic lighting that bathes the stage in gold and crimson. Jerry Mitchell’s choreography pulses with the same confidence that made Kinky Boots such a hit, stylised yet human, cheeky yet sincere.
Musically, Adams and Vallance’s score captures the spirit of the era without becoming pastiche. There are shades of Summer of ’69 swagger in “Freedom,” soaring ballads that echo Heaven, and tender refrains that could sit comfortably on any classic rock album. The band, under musical direction by Will Van Dyke, delivers that anthemic wall of sound with precision and passion.
The opening night audience, peppered with local celebrities like Amy Shark, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, and Ariarne Titmus, erupted in ovation at the curtain call. There’s something infectious about this musical, it doesn’t pretend to be groundbreaking theatre, but it delivers pure joy with polish and sincerity. In a world that feels perpetually complicated, Pretty Woman offers two hours of uncomplicated happiness.
Seeing Pretty Woman again, this time on home soil, felt like catching up with an old friend who’s grown up a little but hasn’t lost her sparkle. Samantha Jade’s debut is a triumph, Ben Hall’s Edward is both suave and sensitive, and together they anchor a production that delivers exactly what its tagline promises, Big. Huge.
For those who fell in love with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere’s modern fairytale, or for anyone who simply loves a night of top-tier escapism, this musical is Rodeo Drive magic with a Queensland heart.
Photo Credit: Daniel Boud
Pretty Woman: The Musical
Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane
From 5 October 2025
Book: Garry Marshall & J.F. Lawton
Music & Lyrics: Bryan Adams & Jim Vallance
Direction & Choreography: Jerry Mitchell
Starring Samantha Jade, Ben Hall, Michelle Brasier, Tim Omaji
Produced by Suzanne Jones for Jones Theatrical Group, ATG Productions & Gavin Kalin Productions
For tickets to this spectacular production click HERE
