Review: The Devil Wears Prada musical, London
- Lisa
- Jan 26
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 1
The West End musical version of the hit film The Devil Wears Prada is now playing at the Dominion Theatre in London with Vanessa Williams taking on the iconic role of fashion tyrant Miranda Priestly, made famous by Meryl Streep.
Directed by Jerry Mitchell | Music by Elton John | Lyrics by Shaina Taub & Mark Sonnenblick
The Devil Wears Prada: A New Musical, London review ★★★☆☆
Review: Dominion Theatre, London | 22 January 2025
Some things never go out of fashion. And at the moment taking well-loved hollywood films and giving them the Broadway and West End musical treatment is certainly on trend. Mrs Doubtfire, Back to the Future and even The Curious Case of Benjamin Button can currently be found in London's West End among other film-to-stage transfers.
But I'm firmly of the belief that not everything needs to be a musical. And while I'm an avid theatre fan and always prefer live action over film, The Devil Wears Prada musical unfortunately is a prime example of this.
The Elton John penned soundtrack is disappointing
The new The Devil Wears Prada stage musical while pleasing, slick and entertaining in parts, isn't exactly revolutionary. It adds little to the story so brilliantly presented in the film, and the cast - though excellent - can't compete with the iconic performances from Streep, Hathaway, Blunt and Tucci. The only new element the stage show offers is Elton John's original music; but unfortunately (and surprisingly, given John's undeniable talent for a tune) that is the most disappointing thing about this new show.
'Dress Your Way Up' is an energetic, catchy showstopper and by far the standout hit; And 'Seen' also performed by the wonderful Matt Henry as Nigel, is a beautifully poignant number that packs a genuine emotional punch. But other than these 2 tracks, the rest of the soundtrack is forgettable, dare I say bland. The title track "The Devil Wears Prada" lacks impact, and some of the other musical choices are odd - the songs don't always fit the scenes being played out in front of us.
What is The Devil Wears Prada a new musical about?
The Devils Wears Prada musical follows the same storyline as the film, with most of the key scenes and iconic lines making the transfer to the stage.
Aspiring journalist Andy (Georgie Buckland) takes a job at New York fashion magazine Runway. As junior personal assistant to the ruthless Editor in Chief Miranda Priestley (Vanessa Williams) Andy finds herself thrown in to the high stakes, glamourous world of haute couture and even hotter tempers.
The production values for the musical are top notch, with Bruno Poet's striking lighting reaching out into the cavernous Dominion Theatre auditorium. Gregg Barnes' costumes are likewise gorgeous, and all the model-esque dancers and singers in the massive ensemble are polished to perfection. Miranda's outfits were all stunning and Nigel's billowing cape is a fashion moment! But as this is a fashion-led story, some of the other roles could've been dressed in edigier, more adventurous attire. Some of Andy and the office girls fashion choices did look a little dated.
The entire cast work hard and the leads of Williams, Buckland, Henry and Di Bartolomeo play their roles with gusto. But the show did fall a little flat. Maybe because there are too many ballads in the score, or perhaps because the jokes don't always land despite the best efforts of the cast. Even with the impressive visuals, The Devil Wears Prada the musical can't compete with the intensity, vitality and biting humour found in the film.
This new musical is nostalgically entertaining if you can get a decent priced ticket, but there are far better shows on in the West End. ★★★☆☆
A sensory note: The camera flashes during the gala scene and afterwards are very bright and unrelenting - the worst I've ever experienced in a theatre. There is a strobe light warning displayed in the theatre, but the repeated flashes went on for much longer than I expected.
📅 The Devil Wears Prada is at The Dominion Theatre, London - booking until 3 January 2026
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