The Devil Wears Prada, The Musical: Sequins, Sass and a Stronger Second Half
Ignore the critics expecting Broadway-level genius. This is colourful, camp, occasionally chaotic fun – and sometimes that’s all you need for a good night out.
3 min read
Review at a glance: ★★☆☆☆
Walking into The Devil Wears Prada Musical, you more or less know what to expect. The music will be OTT, the outfits high-budget, and the cast unapologetically flamboyant.
I went in having read a handful of lukewarm reviews, and honestly, I think some of my journalistic friends missed the point. Were they expecting Hamilton? This was never going to be that. Trying to recreate one of the most-loved films of the 21st century on stage is a challenge in itself, and in fairness, the cast did well with what they had.
It felt like a show of two halves, and the second was far stronger. Once the characters settled into their roles, the energy lifted, the humour landed better, and the personality of the production finally came through. The introduction of Vanessa Williams as Miranda Priestly was the first real spark in the room, drawing the kind of applause you only hear for a Hollywood A-lister.
Nigel, played by Matt Henry, and Emily, played by Talia Halford, brought some genuinely funny moments, but beyond that, the first half felt flat. The song choices blurred into one another, and a lack of variation made parts feel repetitive. I caught myself glancing at my watch to see when I could stretch my legs.
My partner and I ended up debating whether Nate, Andy’s boyfriend played by Keelan McAuley, was meant to be as camp as he was, or if it was just a creative choice because, well, it’s musical theatre. For me, the lack of believable chemistry in that relationship went deeper than the Grand Canyon.
For those of you who have seen the movie, which I’m assuming is most of you, the second half starts when they arrive in Paris for Fashion Week, and the difference in production value is enormous.
A gorgeously orchestrated performance with actors dressed in red, white and blue really stuck with me. A scaled-down 3D model of the Eiffel Tower and long flowing red curtains genuinely made the audience feel like they had been transported to Paris.
This was followed by, without a doubt, the strongest performance of the night, delivered by Matt Henry. His song about the importance of Runway in his life was phenomenal. His vocal range was impressive, and it honestly left me wondering where this level of energy had been in the first half.
Overall, The Devil Wears Prada Musical is exactly what you make of it. If you go in expecting it to be the next West End masterpiece, you’ll probably be disappointed. But if you want a fun night out, a bit of nostalgia, and maybe a glass or two of prosecco, it delivers.
