The Devil Wears Prada

A new musical with music by Elton John, lyrics by Shaina Taub and starring Vanessa Williams - what's not to like? Well, very little to be honest, it is a vibrant, entertaining and clever stage adaptation of the film and will appeal hugely to those who loved the original. At this point, I should probably confess that I have yet to see the film ... so that shows that it is not a necessary precursor!

A very strong central cast give excellent performances. Matt Henry is a particularly engaging Nigel and the chemistry between Ceorgie Buckland's new-girl Andy and Amy di Bartolomeo's brilliant Emily helps power the show along. Needless to say, the costumes are amazing and certain scenes are true spectacles.

Downsides? There are a few. Primarily I would say that the Dominion is a barn of a theatre which makes it harder for the show to engage fully. The choreography, which is representative of fashion show runway styles, is crips and smart but repeats rather. Songs are not hummable after the show, but they support the story well.  

Basically, I loved it and wish it a long life!