Clueless Until She Isn't
“I failed. Something I couldn’t argue my way out of! “
Cher
Clueless the 1995 film was loosely based on Jane Austen’s novel Emma. A musical was based on it in 2018 written by Amy Heckerling with jukebox hits from the 1980s and 1990s. Deemed worthy of more original songs, KT Tunstall was approached to compose a new score. This version started in Bromley in 2024 with Glenn Slater writing the lyrics.
I found it difficult relating to the first act with Emma Flynn as Cher Horowitz, a spoilt rich girl who lives in Beverly Hills and who tries to organise everything and everyone, from her huge compartmentalised wardrobe to her hypochondriac father, and her college mates’ love life.
Even more challenging is Cher’s best friend Dionne (Chyna-Rose Frederick) whose boyfriend Murray (Rabi Kondé) summons her with one word, “Woman!” At least Dionne reprimands him. We are told that Cher’s mother died when she was a baby from a freak accident while she was having liposuction. Imagine that having been in the Jane Austen novel.
The first song is “Perfect” as Cher organises her world and her household and I am starting to really appreciate Glenn Slater’s witty and biting lyrics which convince when Keelan McAuley as Josh, the son of her father’s first wife with another man, sings “Human Barbies”. This song is about Cher’s tendency to organise others.
After Cher’s succeeds in matchmaking two of her college professors, Mr Hall (Ryan O’Donnell) and Miss Geist (Imelda Warren-Green), Cher decides to help new girl Tai (Romona Lewis-Malley) settle into the school by giving her a fashion make-over and setting her up with Elton (Max Mirza) thought to be the best looking guy in the school but Elton is more interested in Cher.
The Second Act got heaps better with Lizzi Gee’s choreography for Josh’s dance with Mr Horowitz’s legal interns and the song “Reasonable Doubts”. At one point, Josh, as if he is the multi-armed Hindu goddess Shiva or Kali, has other dancers behind him, each hand holding legal papers and making them rotate. It is stand out choreography.
The next scene is equally great in terms of dance when Cher falls for super cool Christian. (Isaac J Lewis) but Cher like Emma is on a road to disappointment when Emma discovers that Frank Churchill is secretly engaged. Can you work out what the barrier will be to Cher’s happily ever after romance fantasy? But first Cher and Christian will thrill in their jive scene to “She’s All That and a Bag of Chips” remembering that this American expression translates across the pond as “All that and a bag of Fries!”
The revelation from Christian forces Cher into self-awareness and she admits to being “Clueless” about everything and is set for a happy ending. I found the music rather similar but liked the lyrics. Emma Flynn is very convincing as the organiser and maybe that is why she appears a lot older than nineteen. I was impressed by Keelan McAuley’s Josh, his singing voice and dance sequence. It will be interesting to see if Clueless finds its audience as those who were teenagers in 1995 are now thirty years older. I’m left wanting more lyrics from Glenn Slater.
Musical Numbers
Act One
Perfect
New Girl
Human Barbies
Whatever
Act Two
Reasonable Doubts She’s all That and a Bag of Chips Human Barbies (Reprise) Clueless Perfect (Reprise) |
Production Notes
Clueless the Musical
Book by Amy Heckerling
Lyrics by Glenn Slater
Music by KT Tunstall
Directed by Rachel Kavanaugh
Cast
Starring:
Imelda Warren-Green
Ryan O’Donnell
Chyna-Rose Frederick
Max Mirza
Blake Jordan
Emma Flynn
Keelan McAuley
Romona Lewis-Malley
Rabi Kondé
Isaac J Lewis
Creatives
Director: Rachel Kavanaugh
Fight Director: Maisie Carter
Information
Running Time: Two hours 20 minutes with an interval
Booking until 28th March 2026
Theatre:
Trafalgar Theatre
14 Whitehall
Westminster
London SW1A 2DY
Tube/Rail : Charing Cross
Telephone: 0333 009 6690
Website: https://www.cluelessonstage.com
Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge at the
Trafalgar Theatre on 14th March 2025
