The Devil Wears Prada first came to life in 2003 as a novel by Lauren Weisberger about a young woman who is hired as an assistant to a high-powered magazine editor. She struggles over several months to fit into the world of fashion and the ever-escalating demands of her boss. It was turned into a film in 2006 which starred Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep and now it’s taking to the stage in this brand-new musical with music by Sir Elton John, lyrics from Shaina Taub and Mark Sonnenblick and a book by Kate Wetherhead.
The show has stuck to the film 99%, but I’m not sure that is a good thing in some ways. The plot feels dated and some of the jokes do not land in a 2024 world (especially ones around dis-ordered eating and queer personalities). It is a mostly strong show, especially when it comes to the music, and the script has all the pop culture moments fans will be looking for. It would have been good to see the piece more modernised and brought up to date, I feel this would have added a fresh feel to the story.
There is some fantastic direction and choreography from Jerry Mitchell, who has a clear style he carries with him in all his productions. The group numbers are strong and punchy and the solo’s are fantastically powerful. This, combined with the wonderful music and lyrics, makes for some very powerful moments, in particular ‘How to Survive at Runway’ and ‘Paris, City of Dreams’ make a huge impact. The music varies in tone and style but they are entertaining and perfectly capture the vibe of the show.
I had high expectations for this show, and the costumes in particular, it is all about the fashion after all! Gregg Barnes did not disappoint in this area! The costumes are well thought out and range from simple tailored suits to huge haute couture masterpieces, each one beautifully constructed and would fit in seamlessly on any catwalk in the world!
The cast here is exceptionally strong; Georgie Buckland is fantastic as Andrea, her voice is breath-taking and her ability to morph from the shy woman at the start to the independent woman towards the end makes the story so much more interesting. Amy Di Bartolomeo takes on the role of Emily, the uppity British assistant who has no time for the new girl. Amy’s voice is outstanding here, with power and a beautiful clarity she shines in this role. Matt Henry is delightfully heart-warming as Nigel. His rendition of ‘Seen’ brings tears to my eyes as I feel the passion exploding out from him. Vanessa Williams is the perfect casting for the role of Miranda; the hard-faced magazine editor. Vanessa’s performance is not one to be missed, giving us brilliant vocals as well as fantastic characterisation.
This is definitely a show that will bring delight to any fans of the original book or film, its got all the best bits plus fantastic songs and performances. So gird your loins and book your tickets now! That is all!
This show was reviewed on the 30th November 2024 at the Dominion Theatre, London where it runs until the 18th October 2025. Tickets available here: Devil Wears Prada Musical | Dominion Theatre London | Official UK Site
**** stars
Rosie Browne
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Photo credit: Matt Crockett
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