Is Lisa Loeb really able to do everything?
And also all the time
Even though there is no reason for Lisa Loeb to be modest, she graduated from the Conservatory of Amsterdam, won De Slimste Mens, and wrote a successful book, she is indeed scared. A lot and often. Even during the finale of De Slimste, for example. Something with misaligned substances that she ‘just had to deal with’. And that is Lisa Loeb. You can keep whining about it, but whining doesn't change anything. So let's just raise those sleeves, put on a heel, and dive in. Latest achievement: the script adaptation of Pretty Woman.
‘It's not that I suffer from impostor syndrome and thought: why did you choose me for this, but it did surprise me because I've never adapted a script before. On the other hand, I understood Stage Entertainment's choice quite well. I've been writing for years, can make jokes with words, so yes, maybe I would have chosen myself too. I never thought I would present a dating show, and I did that too. Sometimes other people decide what will happen to you.’
In her bright pink suit, Lisa bursts out of the more subdued interior of Hotel De L’Europe. I stood on my toes to give her a hug, she pulled up her trousers a bit to let me meet her shoes (‘Bought in New York’) and we talked about her favorite hotel: the Park Plaza in New York. Coincidentally, also a bit my favorite because of Eloise from the eponymous books about a six-year-old spoiled and neglected girl who lives on the top floor of the hotel with her nanny. Old-fashioned jumping from one topic to another, just like women can do.
Of course, Lisa has seen the movie a million times, but what attracts her in the 2023 musical version is that there is more focus on the strength of women.
‘The entire creative team behind the musical consists of women, and where in the film Richard Gere tackles his pushy lawyer, I let Vivian even give him an old-fashioned knee to the groin.’
Then I'm especially curious about how Lisa translated the iconic line: ‘Who do you think you are? Cinde fucking rella?’.
‘Just Asse fucking poester. I think the audience will understand that.’
I am reassured that the iconic Rodeo Drive scene is also in the musical. You know, the big-huge-mistake revenge moment. How did Lisa handle that?
‘Oh yes, how did I do that again? Yes. Like this! ‘You work on commission, right? Big mistake. Big. Huge.’ Fortunately, you can play with the English language because Dutch people speak English so well.’
But back to the script. How did that go?
‘The script is really literally the movie. Everybody knows the love story. But the songs, written by Bryan Adams, are all new. So you want to translate it in a way that fits within the melody while also holding onto the message. So you are almost working with two halves of the brain. With the script, you don't have to stay within a melody, but you do want to translate the humor into Dutch. We are a bit coarser than Americans, but it also has to fit a broad audience, so it can't be too crude. 5 percent inspiration, 95 percent perspiration. I'm just struggling behind my computer.
Because I am a performer, creator, and singer myself, that helps. I'm happily making a bit of theater at home behind my laptop.’
Meanwhile, we brainstorm about who the ideal Edward would be, as that role has not yet been filled. I suggest Xander de Buisonjé or Jaap Reesema. Too old is not allowed because that is no longer appropriate in this time, I think. ‘Love knows no age,’ is Lisa's closing statement, and I agree with that.
Just like with the final choice for Jan Kooijman and Charly Luske, by the way.
I enjoyed it. It's a-just-as-you-want-it-with-a-laugh-a-tear-and-a-lot-of-feelgood kind of musical.
Do you also want to see this delightful musical? Order your tickets here…
