First Look at PRETTY WOMAN

[jacobsnchz14]

http://ew.com/theater/2018/02/21/pretty-woman-the-musical-first-look/?utm_campaign=entertainmentweekly&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social

[DramaTeach]

I mean, that is a nice picture, but who can tell how good a musical will be from a picture?

[CurtainPullDowner]

I still don't see how they can escape the "good whore" thing in this day and age.

Good Luck to them.

[BrodyFosse123]

I still don't see how they can escape the "good whore" thing in this day and age.

Good Luck to them.

Good point.  SWEET CHARITY did so successfully but that was over 50 years ago when things were different in the world.  

[nasty_khakis]

I actually think things now are more sex-positive and stigmas against sex work have gone down. Not saying 2018 is the time for a "hooker with a heart of gold who's just doin' this because!" story.

[VintageSnarker]

She looks good in that red dress? What DramaTeach said.

Sweet Charity doesn't shy away from what she does and how depressing her life is, though. That's kind of the point.

Also, as much as the wish fulfillment makes the story about Vivian, there's a bit of a manic pixie thing happening where she teaches him some nonsense about the importance of love or not engaging in corporate takeovers or something?

[Kad]

First look at Pretty Woman: it looks like Pretty Woman!

[justasmalltownboy13]

CurtainPullDowner said: "I still don't see how they can escape the "good whore" thing in this day and age.

Good Luck to them."

Can't we just go and enjoy the show without having to worry if it is politically correct or not? Isn't that what theatre is? Being able to escape the real world for a couple hours and enjoy someone else's story. Sure it was set in the 90's, but I'd much rather see it stay true to the source material rather than fighting to be relevant in the ****show that is the last 3 years

[LizzieCurry]

You know how sometimes things change and even if they were of their time, they still feel weird or unsettling now? That's not irrelevant and not everyone can so easily compartmentalize.

Even the term "politically correct" is so groan-worthy these days.

[justasmalltownboy13]

Sure, but whats the harm in wanting to see something that was relevant in another time? Even if the content is "weird and unsettling"?

[Kad]

justasmalltownboy13 said: "Sure, but whats the harm in wanting to see something that was relevant in another time? Even if the content is "weird and unsettling"?"

Because that thing still exists. If you want to watch Pretty Woman, you can pop in a DVD or stream it.

When you're adapting something, you've got to answer: A) Why this medium? and B) Why now?  It's no longer a film that exists in 1990... it's now a musical being written in 2018. And that has to be dealt with.   

[Bettyboy72]

justasmalltownboy13 said: "Sure, but whats the harm in wanting to see something that was relevant in another time? Even if the content is "weird and unsettling"?"

Did you even read what you typed? You make no sense. People don’t like to feel weird and unsettled. Also Sweet Charity was a darker story so it works because it’s not a fairy tale. Pretty Woman is a romcom where a prostitute is “saved” by a rich white man. Oh wait she teaches him how to loosen up, so don’t worry about the power differential, the fact that he bought her and his friends try to rape her. Just enjoy the music and your souvenir cup. Bring your daughters!

[justasmalltownboy13]

Girl, I'm gay and don't have daughters, but will surely go see this because I liked the movie

[Bettyboy72]

justasmalltownboy13 said: "Girl, I'm gay and don't have daughters, but will surely go see this because I liked the movie"

Then from what I gather you’re a cisgender male and that makes a huge difference in how you perceive this. 

 

[QueenAlice]

They should make her a young dominatrix that Steve Kazee hires. I'd like to see the scene where she ties him up and paddles him (and his friends).

[Mister Matt]

People don’t like to feel weird and unsettled.

I don't know about that.  David Mamet and Quentin Tarantino actually have fans.  

[justasmalltownboy13]

Bettyboy72 said: "justasmalltownboy13 said: "Girl, I'm gay and don't have daughters, but will surely go see this because I liked the movie"

Then from what I gather you’re a cisgender male and that makes a huge difference in how you perceive this.

"

Not really. I mean, sure, I was born a guy and I am a guy, but I don't think that makes much of a difference. I'll enjoy the show either way

[bk]

Are they setting the musical in 2018 or in the 1990s.  I'm very bored of ooh this could make someone uncomfortable - tough, don't go.  I'd rather see a show set in the 1990s (because, guess what, I understand context) than have to endure the cliches like "rich white man" and "cisgender" of 2018.  If people cannot process what a different era was in art, then that's their problem and I find it wholly ridiculous.  I don't have a problem seeing Showboat or Annie Get Your Gun or any show that takes place in a different era because I understand the era in which said show was not only written but more importantly when it actually takes place in history.  I have no interest in Pretty Woman at all, but all this 2018 stuff bores me to tears.

[Tag]

Hate things like this that are billed as a "first look" when Bryan Adams shared a pic of the two of them 3 weeks ago.

[VintageSnarker]

justasmalltownboy13 said: "CurtainPullDowner said: "I still don't see how they can escape the "good whore" thing in this day and age.

Good Luck to them."

Can't we just go and enjoy the show withouthaving to worry if it is politically correct or not? Isn't that what theatre is? Being able to escape the real world for a couple hours and enjoy someone else's story. Sure it was set in the 90's, but I'd much rather see it stay true to the source material rather than fighting to be relevant in the ****show that is the last 3 years"

I think there's a false assumption here that this was acceptable for the 90's like feminism just happened in 2017. What the movie had was the magical combination of Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Garry Marshall, Hector Elizondo, etc. but mostly Julia Roberts. It was a movie that should not have worked, not a great, infallible work of genius that makes perfect sense to adapt to the stage with different elements. It's a discombobulating mess that started from a much darker script and it's going to take some clever finagling to make it work, if that's even possible.

[Ben_Platt_Out]

Will Go West's King of Wishful Thinking be the 11 o'clock number?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Charity Hope Valentine was not a whore. She was a taxi Dancer, who fell for the wrong men.

There's a big difference and a reason Fosse changed that very subject.

[EllieRose2]

"Pretty Woman is a romcom where a prostitute is “saved” by a rich white man. Oh wait she teaches him how to loosen up, so don’t worry about the power differential, the fact that he bought her and his friends try to rape her"

The original script had her calling her a whore and dropping her off on the curb.  Because that is what actually happens in these relationships. 

Had you read a thing about this new musical, they changed it a bit, completely changed the attack scene with his friend, and made her more of a feminist.  Now, the whole feminist sounds strange considering her profession, but it's not just like the movie.  Educate yourself if you care to see this.  

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/PRETTY-WOMAN-to-Undergo-Feminist-Transformation-for-Musical-Adaptation-20180116

[CarlosAlberto]

EllieRose2 said: ""Pretty Woman is a romcom where a prostitute is “saved” by a rich white man. Oh wait she teaches him how to loosen up, so don’t worry about the power differential, the fact that he bought her and his friends try to rape her"

The original script had her calling her a whore and dropping her off on the curb. Because that is what actually happens in these relationships.

Had you read a thing about this new musical, they changed it a bit, completely changed the attack scene with his friend, and made her more of a feminist. Now, the whole feminist sounds strange considering her profession, but it's not just like the movie. Educate yourself if you care to see this.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/PRETTY-WOMAN-to-Undergo-Feminist-Transformation-for-Musical-Adaptation-20180116"

This is so true. Diane Lane auditioned for this role and she’s stated that at the end the character was kicked out the limo!!!

[EllieRose2]

Yes!  The only reason I know that is because my Father was a friend of the original screenwriter and he told me right before I saw it when I was 13.  He said "this version is not realistic, sweetheart".  Haha.