‘SHE LOVES ME’: Laura Benanti & Zachary Levi. Photo: Joan Marcus

SHE LOVES ME
Book by Joe Masteroff
Music by Jerry Bock
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Choreography by Warren Carlyle
Directed by Scott Ellis
Through June 12, 2016
Studio 54
254 West 54th Street
(212-719-1300), www.RoundaboutTheatre.org

By David NouNou

An exquisite, delicious bon-bon of a musical.

In October of 1963 when She Loves Me opened, it hardly made a ripple and barely lasted nine months. That was still the era of the super spectacular musicals. Two dynamic divas were waiting in the wings. Carol Channing opened in January 1964 in Hello, Dolly! and Barbra Streisand torpedoed in March as Funny Girl. What chance did poor David have against two Goliaths?

Thanks to the impeccable taste of the Roundabout Theatre and Scott Ellis, who manage to resurrect these lost gems (last year the glorious revival of On the Twentieth Century), they have brought to life She Loves Me for the second time. The first was in 1993, and the current incarnation is even more delectable.

Set in the summer of 1934 Budapest in and around Maraczek’s Parfumerie, David Rockwell’s gorgeous sets transport the viewer to another world where life was gentler and shopping was an actual experience; where people waited on you and said, “Thank you, please come again.” On this particular day in this lovely store, there is a store manager, Georg Nowack (Zachary Levi) and a young lady, Amalia Balash (Laura Benanti) who is applying for a position as a salesgirl. Needless to say, there is an instant dislike and hostility in their relationship. As chance would have it and unbeknownst to either one, both have pen pals named “Dear Friend.” If this plot sounds familiar, it is. It was first done as a movie in 1940 by the name of The Shop Around the Corner and remade in 1998 as You’ve Got Mail, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

In this store there are a delightful array of characters: the mantrap, Ilona Ritter (Jane Krakowski), her on again/off again philandering boyfriend, Steven Kodaly (Gavin Creel); the store owner, Mr. Maraczek (Byron Jennings), fellow clerk, Ladislav Sipos (Michael McGrath); and the delivery boy, Arpad Laszlo (Nicholas Barasch). I mention all these characters because they are integral to the story. Back then, they actually wrote songs for all the supporting players and the entire cast have so many moments in which they can shine.

Scott Ellis has polished this gem into a brilliant diamond and set it with an incredible cast. Laura Benanti as Amalia is enchanting. Her soprano voice is reminiscent of Barbara Cook’s (who originated the role of Amalia) and Ms. Benanti’s rendition of “Ice Cream” brings back memories of the great Ms. Cook. Zachary Levi proves he is a masterful musical leading man. He doesn’t rely on just his good looks; he actually is a singing actor.

It’s so great to have Jane Krakowski back on Broadway. She has been in TV land way too long. She is in great voice, with legs to die for and you’ll see why, and gives a much-needed sexiness to Ilona that no other actress has given her. In contrast to Ilona, Kodaly has to be smarmy and debonair, but Gavin Creel plays him slick and lackluster. I’ll insert a factoid here: the only Tony Award Hello, Dolly! lost in 1964 was for best musical supporting actor to Jack Cassidy as Kodaly. No one could do sleazy, smarmy and debonair like the late Mr. Cassidy could and still be loveable. Michael McGrath and Byron Jennings are two Broadway veterans that add humor and class to any show they are in. Nicholas Barasch as Arpad is just bursting with glee.

Other than the title song “She Loves Me” and “Ice Cream,” none of the other songs in this show ever caught on. There are a lot of charming songs for the individual characters, thus they get diluted. However, it is still a delightful score. You would never have known back in 1963 when you were leaving the Eugene O’Neill Theatre after a performance of She Loves Me that the very next year, 1964, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick would introduce the world to not only one of the greatest scores, but to one of the greatest musicals of all time, Fiddler on the Roof. Both shows deal with the foibles, loves and humanity of its people; She Loves Me on a small scale and Fiddler on a universal scale.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published March 23, 2016
Reviewed at press performance on March 22, 2016

‘SHE LOVES ME’: Gavil Creel & Jane Krakowski. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘SHE LOVES ME’: Gavin Creel & Jane Krakowski. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘SHE LOVES ME’: Gavin Creel & Jane Krakowski. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘SHE LOVES ME’: Laura Benanti & Jane Krakowski. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘SHE LOVES ME’: Zachary Levi & Michael McGrath. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘SHE LOVES ME’: Laura Benanti. Photo: Joan Marcus

The post ‘She Loves Me’: A resplendent revival appeared first on StageZine.

DATE BAIT: The cast of ‘First Date.’ Photo: Joan Marcus

FIRST DATE
Book by Austin Winsberg
Music & lyrics by Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner
Directed by Bill Berry
Longacre Theatre
220 West 48th Street
(212-239-6200), www.firstdatethemusical.com

By David NouNou

First Date says it all and in the most appealing and relatable of ways. Not only is it the title of this musical but also the event that is taking place at the Longacre Theatre. For who hasn’t been on that terrifying first blind date? Fraught with the unknown and possibly the inevitable mismatch and disappointment, however, let’s be honest here: Who of us (female or male) was ever fortunate enough to have a blind date like Zachary Levi? Making his Broadway debut portraying Aaron the nerdy businessman in a suit, it is hard to fathom that Mr. Levi ever had to go on a blind date. Not familiar with his work in the TV series “Chuck”, Mr. Levi turns out to be one of the most likeable, charismatic, charming, abounding with personality and enough stage presence to fill a stadium let alone an average theatre, and he can radiantly belt out a song. Who knew?

Professional blind dater Casey (Krysta Rodriguez) is another story. She has done it all and has built a hard edge to her veneer. She is a party girl and likes the bad boys; suits are not her forte and what she is used to. She is the one that has to give Aaron pointers on the rituals of the first date. She is the unsympathetic character, which makes it harder for her to be likeable. Ms. Rodriguez is a Broadway pro and has the spunk to have us root for her. Here are two people that are both nice in their respective ways, but romantically as mismatched as any two people ever were.

You now know the premise of the show. Sitcom fare by nature, but Bill Berry’s fast paced finely tuned imaginative direction gives the show its pizzazz. The score by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner is perky, but the book by Austin Winsberg is predictable and the jokes are unoriginal but still cute. The performance I attended had the audience thoroughly engaged and regaled. These were not claquers who fill seats and laugh or clap at even the worst moments just to propel applause from the rest of the paying public. These were real people who were enjoying seeing themselves in similar situations as the ones shown on the stage.

Adding to the merriment but mostly as fillers are the requisite gay “BFF;” the best guy friend; the sexy ex-girlfriend; the bad boys; the sister; the grandmother; all of course being the voices of reason, among other voices in Aaron and Casey’s heads. Let’s not forget, for what blind date can one go on that doesn’t have the usual all-dancing, all-singing waiter/matchmaker (Blake Hammond)?

Are we talking about great material here? Not particularly. However, it is pleasant entertainment and it aims to please. And fantasizing about Zachary Levi being your next blind date doesn’t hurt, either.  One can only hope.

UNLIKELY LOVERS: Krysta Rodriguez & Zachary Levi in ‘First Date.’ Photo: Joan Marcus

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published August 15, 2013
Reviewed at press performance on August 14, 2013

The post Zachary Levi makes this a dreamy ‘First Date’ appeared first on StageZine.