As a super-fan of classic chick-flick film Clueless, I went to find out if the new all singing all dancing West-end stage adaptation delivers that unforgettable 90s charm
Most of us born in the 90s and early 2000s are familiar with the iconic bright yellow plaid suit ensemble that main character Cher wears in the opening scenes of the 1995 coming of age classic, Clueless. That goes for those of us who aren’t even one of those diehard fans of the film who have most of the lines memorised. Well, I’ll admit, I am one of those fans. So when I heard that it had been turned into a musical at the Trafalgar Theatre, I had to go and find out whether it lives up to it’s now renowned name.
Clueless, a cult classic chick flick, is just as much of a hit now as it was when it was first released in cinemas in the 30 years ago. Set in the affluent city of Beverley Hills, Los Angeles, it tells the story of Cher Horowitz, the spoilt yet good-intentioned daughter of a highly successful lawyer and her group of privileged school friends. The story follows the gang as they navigate the ups and downs of teenage love and lust – all whilst attending their upscale high school where most of the story is set.
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Inspired by Jane Austen’s literary classic Emma, it’s the latest in a string of cult classic late 90s and early 2000s movies to be turned into all singing all dancing stage productions, like the Devil Wears Prada (2006) and Mean Girls (2004). The film was written and directed by Amy Heckerling, who also worked on transforming the script into one fit for the West-end stage.
The movie is emblematic of 90s fashion and is known for its utterly iconic wardrobe – every single one of Cher’s outfits is worthy of it’s own Vogue feature – as well as its totally naïve yet endearing cast of all-American characters. It was a movie that many of us grew up watching and it has evolved into a cultural reference point for many.
I went into the show with extremely high expectations. I watch this film three or four times a year without fail so I was nervous as to whether the stage production would be able to capture the true charm of the original. I can safely say that it didn’t only meet my expectations, but far exceeded them.
The music is by Scottish singer-songwriter and musician KT Tunstall who had a series of popular songs in the 2010s. Remember that classic ‘Suddenly I See’ – that’s her. Along with witty lyrics by American lyricist Glen Slater and costume design by Paloma Young, the stage show perfectly recreates the nostalgic 90s piece. With an unchanged storyline, every detail down to the costumes, staging and even the mannerisms of the actors was a perfect ode to the original. It was energetic, vibrant and full of laugh-out-loud moments, including with word-for-word recreations of the gang’s iconic lines and catch phrases, including the famous ‘As if’ moments.
Emma Flynn is a powerhouse, completely lovable and captivating as Cher. She is a shining lead in the show. Her dedication and likeness to the original character had me questioning at times whether she was actually miming lines from Alicia Silverstone’s portrayal of the character. The incredibly gifted Keelan McAuley as her annoying step-brother but eventual ‘saviour’ and love interest, Josh, was hilarious and undeniably swoon-worthy – just as much so as Paul Rudd’s original. In fact, the entire cast were utterly perfect and astoundingly talented, each embodying their much-loved characters to an absolute tee.
The easy to follow storyline sees the lovable Cher, an it-girl with a desire to help others (even if it sometimes is in a misguided way) slowly fall in love with her step brother Josh. The satisfaction of watching her journey through her issues with friends and crushes yet finally work everything out in the end makes the film a heart-warming and breezy watch. Add cleverly lyricised and catchy music, masterfully choreographed whole-ensemble numbers, and a stellar young cast and the show takes on a whole new bubbly and infectiously joyous personality. That’s without even mentioning the near perfect recreations of the iconic outfits worn by the original characters.
In case I haven’t already made it clear, I enjoyed every second of it and left the theatre with a smile plastered across my face. My sister, who had never seen the film before (as if!), had no expectations going in and described feeling “giddy” at the interval. It turns out you don’t have to be completely obsessed or even familiar with the film to enjoy the stage production as much as we did.
Overall, to me Clueless the Musical a flawless tribute to the cult-classic 90s movie. I highly recommend that anyone in need of a feel-good evening of fun nabs their tickets to the new show as soon as possible. I will declare now that I definitely support the transformation of more iconic 20th century films into West-end shows. 13 Going on 30 next maybe? Or 10 Things I Hate About You…
Clueless the Musical is currently playing at the Trafalgar Theatre, London. Find out more here.
