Clueless: A New Musical
Clueless: A New Musical
A hen parties hit, themed or otherwise
Based on the ’90s film inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma, this musical adaptation offers a perfectly enjoyable experience, particularly for fans familiar with the original. Faithfully capturing the action and humour of Amy Heckerling’s screenplay, the show includes iconic scenes such as the freeway mishap—though its necessity in a musical format is debatable.
Music by KT Tunstall and Lyrics by Glenn Slater effectively evoke a nostalgic, ’90s-era cheer. Notably, Josh’s (Keelan McAuley) grunge-style number cleverly complements his character, providing an engaging deviation from the main musical theme.
The cast, featuring many fresh talents from drama school and making their West End debuts, delivers commendably. Emma Flynn shines as Cher, bringing the same vibrant energy that defined the character in the film. Romona Lewis-Malley captures Tai’s essence with perfect accent and mannerisms, while Blake Jordan’s portrayal of Travis, full of effortless young dude’s energy, stands out—even though his character surprisingly misses out on the final character roundup.
However, not all transitions from screen to stage are seamless. The dynamic between Dionne and Cher, for instance, falls somewhat flat. Additionally, while the production is enjoyable, its straightforward recreation of the film with added music sometimes feels disjointed. I found myself wishing for a more exaggerated parody of Valley girl culture rather than a mere replication.
Director Rachel Kavanaugh and the stellar cast bring lively moments to the stage, with inventive depictions of cars being a highlight. However, some creative choices, such as the flamboyant introduction of Christian in pink high waisted trousers as he walks leading from the abdomen, might have been more fitting in a parody rather than this particular production. The frequent scene changes, though well-choreographed, often felt unnecessary and drew attention to the lack of stage automation which could have smoothed these transitions.
Costume design, pivotal in a fashion-centric story like Clueless, was unfortunately underwhelming. Deviations from iconic looks, such as transforming Cher’s famous Calvin Klein dress into a less impactful ensemble, and inconsistent style choices—like Cher’s remark on a ‘mucus green’ dress while her friend wearing a similar shade is still stood on stage —were disappointing.
Clueless: A New Musical certainly provides entertainment and will likely be a hen parties hit themed or otherwise, its execution misses a few marks that might have elevated it to meet West End expectations for a show of this calibre, I could not pinpoint many changes since its premiere at the Chuchill Theatre.
**