MOM THEATRE BLOGGER: SHE LOVES ME: Show Review by Robin Gorman Newman
Photo by Joan Marcus
There’s a sweet smell in the air at Studio 54, and it’s way worth a trip to NYC to take in a memorable whiff. And it’s not just a fragrant aroma…it’s laughs and lots of them in SHE LOVES ME, the heartfelt and charming Broadway musical comedy classic revival starring an A-List cast of talents.
Set in an upscale parfumerie in Budapest, two single, attractive employees, Georg (Zachary Levi) and Amalia (Tony Award winner Laura Benanti), don’t see eye to eye (or nose to nose), but they have been romantic pen pals for some time without their identities being revealed. When Amalia makes a date with her beloved letter writer, and Georg discovers that he’s the one she’s waiting for, he can’t bring himself to reveal the truth…at least not right away. But, as you would imagine in this type of a feel good show, all ends well, and love wins out in the end. Along the way, there are a lot of mishaps, twists, and many laugh out loud moments, particularly when a terrific Gavin Creel (as Kodaly the womanizer) and Jane Krakowski, (wonderfully delicious as Ilona, a sales clerk) go at it, sparring romantically.
Benanti, in fine voice and figure, makes for a lovely Amalia, and Levi, with his boyish charm, is perfectly cast, and when he sings SHE LOVES ME, we genuinely feel his glee and admire his zesty cartwheel. Together, when they perform the playful tune Where’s My Shoe, their physical comedy is in top form. Each is a natural, and they compliment each other superbly.
The winning cast also features Byron Jennings (Maraczek) and Michael McGrath (Sipos), Peter Bartlett (Hysterical as Head Waiter), Nicholas Barasch (Arpad) and ensemble members Cameron Adams, Alison Cimmet, Justin Bowen, Preston Truman Boyd, Benjamin Eakeley, Sara Edwards, Michael Fatica, Gina Ferrall, Jenifer Foote, Andrew Kober, Laura Shoop, Jim Walton.
SHE LOVES ME is directed by the outstanding Scott Ellis, choreographed in a whimsical style by Warren Carlyle with musical direction by Paul Gemignani and features a book by Joe Masteroff, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and music by Jerry Bock.
Ellis directed Roundabout’s ten-time Tony nominated revival of SHE LOVES ME in 1993, which marked the first Broadway musical in the company’s history and launched the Musical Theatre Program at Roundabout.
The creative team includes David Rockwell (Sets….fantastical, rich detail of the parfumerie), Jeff Mahshie (Costumes….beautiful), Don Holder (Lights), Jon Weston (Sound), Larry Hochman (Orchestrations), David Krane (Dance Arrangements & Incidental Music).
The score features favorites such as “Vanilla Ice Cream”, “A Romantic Atmosphere”, “Dear Friend” and “She Loves Me.” The musical is based on a play by Miklos Laszlo, whose story was the basis for the 1940 James Stewart film “The Shop Around the Corner” and the 1998 Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan film “You’ve Got Mail”.
SHE LOVES ME is a limited engagement through June 12, 2016. Tickets are available by calling 212.719.1300, online at www.roundabouttheatre.org, and in person at Roundabout’s Studio 54 Box office (254 West 54th Street).
Tags: arts criticc, broadway musical revival, mom theatre blogger, nyc mom culture writer, roundabout theatre, scott ellis director, she loves me
