Clueless The Musical Review

The West End Company of Clueless The Musical

Just what the West End needs… ANOTHER musical adaptation of a classic film. With Mean Girls (The Musical), Back to the Future (The Musical) and The Devil Wears Prada (The Musical) all just around the corner it feels like the West End is already at full capacity. That being said I was willing to give this one its chance.

Based on the 1995 cult classic, Clueless The Musical is written by the movie’s original writer-director, Amy Heckerling and features new music by the multi-platinum singer-songwriter KT Tunstall. The original film that starred Alicia Silverstone was a modern re-telling of Jane Austen’s Emma and the musical follows much of the same storyline. The show centres on Cher Horowitz, a wealthy high schooler, as she befriends new girl Tai and sets out to make her popular.

As a huge fan of the film myself I really did want to like this stage adaptation but I couldn’t help but think… why? Why do we need this show in the West End? It’s not breaking any boundaries; it’s nothing we haven’t seen before and is it even all that much fun?

Opening with a fairly timid number… ‘Perfect’ is performed by Emily Florence as Cher (Cover). While the song does a solid job of setting the scene and introducing the audience to the main character, it unfortunately lacks any real ‘oomph’. That same underwhelming energy continues throughout the show, with a string of songs that feel samey, forgettable, and for use of a better word just plain boring. One standout number, however, is I’m Keeping My Eye on You in Act 2. It brings the energy we needed throughout the entire musical thanks to its entertaining choreography and catchy music. The reveal of the band at the back of the stage during the dance hall scene was also a fun added touch. The musical did originally premiere Off-Broadway as a jukebox musical and part of me does wonder if sticking to that format might’ve worked better.

The musical itself stays impressively true to its source material, complete with all the iconic lines fans know and love - ‘You’re a virgin who can’t drive’ is a personal favourite of mine. Thankfully the script does omit the slightly outdated references for the modern audience. It also has to be said that Mikiko Suzuki MacAdam’s clever and effective set design is a redeeming feature of the production. We see almost every piece of set transform into a car – a repetitive gimmick that shouldn’t work but actually kind of does.

Despite the challenge posed by the lackluster script and 2D characters, the cast does do a commendable job of bringing the material life. Emily Florence's Cher is both likeable and nuanced and Keelan McAuley’s portrayal of Josh (originally played by Paul Rudd in the film) is both charming and captivating. A highlight of the entire show is his performance of Reasonable Doubts in Act 2. The boyband - esque number injects a much-needed surge of energy into the show.

Overall Clueless The Musical feels like a nostalgic nod to the original film, but never quite hits the mark. It’s a fun trip down memory lane, but I’m not sure whether it’s a journey worth taking.

Clueless The Musical is currently playing at the Trafalgar Theatre and is booking until March 2026.

Stay up to date with all things London Theatre and read other reviews like our Clueless Review with The Revue.