The revival of She Loves Me is an old-fashioned, charming, romantic comedy with a
winning cast; a vintage, classic score; and an eye-popping set. Based on the play, The Shop Around the Corner, its plot revolves around two clerks working
at Maraczek's Parfumerie. When
Georg Nowack (Zachary Levi) and Amalia Balash (Laura Benanti) first meet, it’s
like oil and vinegar. Unbeknownst
to them , they are secretly smitten with each other through their correspondence,
having met through the newspaper’s Lonely Hearts advertisement. Their co-workers—Steven Kodaly (Gavin
Creel), the smooth womanizer; Ilona Ritter (Jane Krakowski), the aging beauty
hopelessly looking for love; Ladislav Sipos (Michael McGrath), the
eager-to-please company man; the high-spirited and determined delivery boy, Arpad
Laszlo (Nicholas Barasch); and the gruff store proprietor, Mr. Maraczek (Byron
Jennings)—are all oblivious to the friskiness and subterfuge between the two
associates. Eventually, through
inadvertent roadblocks, misdirection and stubbornness the romantic pen pals
connect and fall in love. Real
love. In the flesh.
Bookwriter Joe Masteroff has
written a witty, breezy and entertaining libretto. The dialogue is engaging, lively, and carefree. He has developed real, substantive
characters and scenes that effortlessly flow from one to the other.
The score by Sheldon Harnick and
Jerry Bock ranks as one of their finest and this is the team behind Fiddler on the Roof and Fiorello! All the songs are self-contained gems, beautifully crafted
and sung. If you crave music and
lyrics that are memorable and even hummable, She Loves Me will be a tasty treat to treasure.
The marvelous cast is led by a bevy
of talented Tony Award winners.
Laura Benanti (Tony for Gypsy)
is fiery, goofy, love lorn, headstrong, and radiant. Her singing voice is so pure and beautiful. Zachary Levi is totally convincing as
the bewildered, lovesick and fumbling clerk who, once putting pen to paper,
becomes an eloquent and erudite gentleman. Jane Krakowski (Tony winner for Nine) is marvelously comedic as the yearning, passionate charmer
searching for true contentment.
Michael McGrath (Tony winner for Nice
Work If You Can Get It) is a lovable nebbish as the long time company
man. Gavin Creel is a devilish cad
as the narcissistic, smooth operating clerk, Mr. Kodaly. Nicholas Barasch is youthfully
exuberant and Byron Jennings is sufficiently patriarchal as Mr. Maraczek.
Director Scott Ellis has taken the
first rate cast and skillfully integrated them into a dynamic whole. In fact, all elements of the production
blend so wonderfully together, keeping an almost perpetual smile on audience
members. He smartly keeps the
focus on the two central protagonists, but provides enough of a spotlight for
the supporting performers to shine.
This includes a very amusing sequence in the Café Imperiale by the wait
staff, portrayed by Peter Bartlett and Michael Fatica.
David Rockwell’s set design is impressive
and visually breathtaking. A jewel
box Parfumerie opens up to a bright, splashy interior with multi-colored
bottles and vessels. It is a feast
for the eyes that only heightens the overall pleasure of the show.
She Loves
Me, a welcoming spring tonic.
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