Delightful She Loves Me at Huntington Theatre & At the Williamstown Theatre Festival
Wonderful Musical Ends Nicholas Martin's Tenure
By: Mark Favermann - May 24, 2008
At the Huntington Theatre Company
Revival of 1963 Romantic Comedy
By Joe Masteroff, Sheldon Harnick, & Jerry Bock
Directed by Nicholas Martin
5/16/2008 – 6/15/2008
Boston University Theatre - Mainstage
Book by Joe Masteroff
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Music by Jerry Bock
Based on a play by Miklos Laszlo
Approximate Running Time: 2 hours and 35 minutes; including one intermission
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Choreography Dennis Jones
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Musical Direction Charlie Alterman
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Scenic Designer James Noone
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Costume Designer Robert Morgan
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Co-lighting Designer Kenneth Posner
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Co-lighting Designer Philip Rosenberg
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Co-Sound Designer Drew Levy
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Co-Sound Designer Tony Smolenski IV
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Production Manager Matthew Silver
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Stage Manager Ellen Ryan Kelly
The Huntington Theatre Company is completing its 2007-2008 season with "She Loves Me." Some have considered it the perfect musical. It is warm and often funny, and its musical score may be the most highly integrated into a story in musical theatre. That's probably why few if any of the songs are totally memorable or stand-alone classics. It has been critically acclaimed since its 1963 premiere. This is also the final directing engagement for the Huntington's Artistic Director, Nicholas Martin at the Huntington who is going on to be the Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director. What a fine note for Artistic Director Nicholas Martin to leave on.
The story is about two apparently mismatched lovebirds, Georg and Amalia, who are anonymous penpals. Unbeknownst to either, they are working together every day. This romantic comedy develops as the two are unaware that they are fighting with each other during the day and writing to each other at night. Mixed into the tale are a group of eccentric colleagues at their perfume and sundries store who somehow seem to aid the unlikely sweethearts.
She Loves Me is based on the story and then play, "Parfumerie" by Miklos Laszlo, that inspired the classic Jimmy Stewart film "The Shop Around the Corner." A few years ago, another incarnation was the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan remake "You've Got Mail." None of the previous films or play had music.
The creators of the show are probably best known as the songwriting team of "Fiddler on the Roof." Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock's impressive credits also include the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning Fiorello!, The Apple Tree, Tenderloin, The Rothchilds, and Cyrano - The Musical. Joe Masteroff also wrote the book for the Kander and Ebb musicals Cabaret and 70, Girls, 70. Interestingly, "She Loves Me" is the first major musical production by the Huntington in six years.
Set in Budapest in 1934, the universality of the story is so apparent that except for the characters' Hungarian names, the narrative could have been anywhere. The Perfumerie setting is very elegantly created by the talented scenic designer James Noone. The costumes are brilliantly applied by Robert Morgan. The music is simply spectacularly conducted and arranged by Charlie Alterman, the musical director and orchestra conductor. The choreography by Dennis Jones is superb. Technically, the show is brilliant.
"This is the best cast we've ever had for a show," says director Nicholas Martin. He could be right. Martin assembled some of his favorite actors for this production. The show moves to the Williamstown Theatre Festival June 27. It will be one of the better shows presented there in the last few seasons. This will be a great start for Martin. A review by Charles Giuliano will be written upon the show's change of venue.
Tony and Drama Desk Award nominee Brooks Ashmanskas (from the Huntington's productions of "Present Laughter" and "Amphitryon") and Kate Baldwin (last seen in the Huntington's "Falsettos") star as the unlikely lovers-- everyman George Howack and the beautiful but overlooked Amalia Balash. Troy Britton Johnson, who was featured in the Tony Award-winning musical "The Drowsy Chaperone," plays unctuous Steven Kodaly. While Tony Award-winner Dick Latessa ("Hairspray"), seen last season in the Huntington's "The Cherry Orchard" plays smug but later humbled shop owner Mr. Maraczek.
Jessica Stone IRNE Award-winning star of the Huntington's "Betty's Summer Vacation," and recently seen in the Roundabout Theatre Company's "Crimes of the Heart" revival, and Broadway's "Butley" and "The Odd Couple," plays the comically sluttish but sympathetic Ilona Ritter. She is joined by an energetic Jeremy Beck (seen previously in the Huntington's "Love's Labour's Lost" and "The Cherry Orchard") as Arpad and Mark Nelson (OBIE Award winner for "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" by Steve Martin, and founding member of New York's Drama Department) as the humble but complex Sipos. Mark Vietor (from the Huntington's production of "Present Laughter" and Red Bull Theatre's acclaimed fall 2007 production of "Edward the Second") plays the sleazy Headwaiter.
The production's highly talented ensemble also includes great dancing and singing from Ashley Arcement, Jason Babinsky, Nancy E. Carroll, Aldrin Gonzales, Rosie Hunter, Matthew Kiernan, Josh Mertz; Kat Nejat, Denise Payne, and Sarah Turner.
The two leads are quite compelling. Brooks Ashmanskas is a highly talented physical comedian. His Georg is an inspired bit of casting. He is an everyman and a really nice man who is a bit pudgy, a bit balding and a bit older. Let's hear it for the less than perfect guys! His voice is a light voice, a character voice, that fits the role like a glove. It's great to see an ordinary man get the beautiful love that he deserves. Amalia Balash by Kate Baldwin is a wonderful portrayal by a beautiful and talented performer. She exemplifies the pretty and smart woman. She also has an extraordinary voice.
She Loves Me is an old fashioned musical-one steeped in misdirection and character confusion. It may not be a great musical, but it is certainly a damn good one. We know from the start that the two protagonists will eventually meet and live happily ever after, but we enjoy their difficult journey. If only real life could be so much fun.