Evaluation: It might have a skinny plot however there’s deep expertise in Fairly Girl The Musical

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The Broadway Throughout Canada touring manufacturing of Fairly Girl The Musical, which runs on the Jubilee till Sunday, is simple on the eyes, ears and thoughts.

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It’s pure, undemanding fluff however it’s vibrant, upbeat enjoyable whereas it unfolds.

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Gary Marshall and J.F. Lawton, who tailored the guide for the musical from their screenplay for the hit 1990 Julia Roberts/Richard Gere film, had been cautious to not change an excessive amount of of the storyline or lose the dialogue’s excessive factors. Die-hard followers of the movie will acknowledge all these plot beats and can usually be capable of say traces together with or earlier than the actors.

The songs, courtesy of Canadian rocker Bryan Adams and his writing accomplice Jim Vallance, have a real ’80s really feel. They serve the storytelling however don’t come out to dwell on their very own. Solely two songs, Don’t Overlook to Dance and On A Evening Like Tonight, come near having a giant, brash manufacturing quantity really feel.

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Vivian Ward (Jessie Davidson) is a younger lady from Georgia whose newest boyfriend deserted her in Los Angeles so she moved in with streetwalker Child De Luca (Jessica Crouch) and finally ends up working Hollywood Boulevard. That’s the place she meets billionaire Edward Lewis (Adam Pascal) who doesn’t know tips on how to drive his lawyer’s Lotus which he has on mortgage. Happily, Vivian does and she or he additionally is aware of tips on how to get to the Beverly Wilshire Lodge the place Edward has booked the penthouse suite for per week. Fairly Girl is, in spite of everything, a fairy story so the knight in shining armour rescues the distressed damsel from the streets for six days of luxurious residing. Solely a grinch would take into account that prince and pauper is not going to fall in love and dwell fortunately and richly ever after.

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Davidson has a giant, lush voice that may command the Jubilee when Vivian sings Anyplace however Right here and particularly I Can’t Go Again. She’s a bit too wide-eyed, small-town lady when she first arrives on the Wilshire and when she visits Rodeo Drive however when she tones down all that can-this-really-be-happening schtick it’s straightforward to see why Edward is charmed by her. When she stands as much as Edward’s lawyer (Matthew Stocke), the musical’s solely villain, Davidson reveals Vivian’s true mettle.

Pascal nonetheless has that fierce rocker voice that has served him so properly since his days within the authentic firm of Lease virtually 30 years in the past. It’s nonetheless enjoyable watching the uptight Edward reclaim his zest for all times by the wild baby he meets on Hollywood Boulevard. Pascal’s rendering of Freedom and significantly its reprise within the second act are among the many manufacturing’s musical highlights.

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As robust as Davidson and Pascal could also be, this Fairly Girl belongs to Crouch every time the brash Package De Luca takes centre stage and to Travis Ward-Osborne because the chameleon Pleased Man/resort supervisor who pops up as supervisor of Rodeo Drive shops and even within the orchestra pit because the band’s conductor. He has top-of-the-line dance numbers within the present when he guarantees to show Vivian to bounce and once more every time he joins the denizens of Hollywood Boulevard. Ward-Osborne is a real triple-threat performer.

Trent Soyster can also be a scene stealer because the bellboy Giulio. Boy, can this man transfer. Fluid hardly begins to explain his dancing and he has a deft, farcical comedian timing.

A real spotlight of the present is the night time that Edward takes Vivian to the opera for La Traviata, not solely as a result of it offers Jade Amber and Jonathan Younger an opportunity to actually open their pipes in enjoying the opera stars and permits the ensemble to put on some magnificent costumes designed by Greg Barnes, however it permits Davidson the chance to say volumes in the best way Vivian is captivated by the opera.

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Fairly Girl The Musical was directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, a former dancer who is aware of tips on how to work his forged in huge manufacturing numbers in addition to intimate dialogue scenes. David Rockwell’s units are eye-popping as they have to be and are dressed so properly by Kenneth Posner and Philip S. Rosenberg’s lighting and Barnes’ costumes, which embody Julia Roberts’ well-known purple robe for the opera.

It’s important to wait till the curtain name earlier than you get to listen to a not-too-convincing rendition of Roy Orbison’s iconic tune which gave the movie and this musical its title however it does enable the viewers the chance to sing alongside loudly and enthusiastically.