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She Loves Me
By Liz Keill
Bradford William Anderso & Nancy Anderson
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Director/Choreographer James Brennan has brought an intimacy to the imposing Paper Mill Playhouse stage. With turntables and curving walls, the set by Michael Anania glides smoothly from the outside of a perfume shop in Budapest to the interior of a cafe, and so on. We see glimpses of a European skyline, a smattering of snowflakes, a few drifting leaves.
But scenery is just part of what makes this show click. You have to hand it to the actors. Michele Ragusa has a divine soprano as Amalia Balash, the new clerk in the shop. She also has spunk and sauciness to make her appealing. George Dvorsky's Georg Nowack is a perfect match -- somewhat stiff and unsure of himself in the beginning, exuberant and oh-so-in-love by Act II. When he bursts into "She Loves Me" and from loathing to liking to loving, we're hooked all over again.
Nancy Anderson is wonderful as Ilona Ritter, the brash redhead who keeps falling for the smooth lines of Steven Kodaly, played with relish by David Hess. Watch those two glide across the stage as Kodaly works his seductive moves on Ilona.
All the supporting actors do a great job. Take in Bradford William Anderson as a delivery boy beggi ng Mr. Begging to "Try Me" as a salesman in the shop. Bill Bateman as Ladislav Sipos stacking boxes and making music out of it all. George S. Irving, whose showcase number is "Days Gone By" is another fine singer/actor. With his robust delivery and precise timing, you'd never guess that Mr. Irving is 81 years old. He first appeared on the Paper Mill stage in 1942 and this marks his 10th production here. But his Broadway credits are even more amazing, having appeared with, to name just a few Carol Channing in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Gertrude Lawrence in Lady in the Dark and Vivien Leigh in Tovarich.
But wait. There's more to applaud. Take the priceless scene in the Cafe Imperiale with Paul Schoeffler as a headwaiter with properly disdainful air, busboy Ryan Dietz handling everything with flair, until he turns to Schoeffler with a tray of glasses and lose everything in a bumbling mess. There's also the hilarious choreography as various couples take to the romantic cafe's dance floor.
Another quality that works so well in this show is that it actually deals with people in a work environment. You can see the petty jealousies, the at-times irrational boss, the demanding customers. The frantic Christmas shopping scene in Act II is especially on target.
While She Loves Me was never a big hit like f Rogers and Hammerstein's musicals, it certainly has pleasures all its own. But that isn't surprising, considering that Bock and Harnick collaborated on Fiddler on the Roof, Fiorello! and The Apple Tree.
For a lovely, intimate show, it's hard to top this production which continues at the Paper Mill Playhouse n through December 5th.
| She Loves Me Book by Joe Masteroff Music by Jerry Bock Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick Based on a play Parfumerie by Miklos Laszlo Director/Choreographer: James Brennan Castin order of appearance): Bill Bateman (Ladislav Sipos); Bradford William Anderson (Arpad Laszio); Nancy Anderson (Ilona Ritter); David Hess(Steven Kodaly); George Dvorsky (Mr. Maraczek ; George S. Irving (Georg Nowack); Leslie Becker, Katherine Harber, Alisa Klein, Jean Marie, Mary Jo Mcconnell (Customers); Michelle Ragusa (Amalia Balash); Ed Romanoff (Keller ); Paul Schoeffler (Headwaiter); Mark Giannini (Strolling Violinist ); Ryan Dietz(Busboy); Branch Woodman, Alisa Klein(Tango Couple); Richard Todd Adams, Leslie Becker Add’l. Ensemble) Set Design: Michael Anania Set Design: Costume Design: Gail Baldoni Lighting Design: F. Mitchell Dana Sound Design: Duncan Robert Edwards Music Director: Tom Helm Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, NJ 973-376-4343, www.papermill.org/ From 10/31/04 to 12/05/04 Wed - Sat at 8pm; Thu, Sun at 2pm; Sat at 2:30pm; Sun at 7:30pm-- except Dec 5 at 7:30pm -- no perf Nov 25 Tickets: $31 - $68 Reviewed by Liz Keill based on performance |
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Musical Numbers
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Act One
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Act Two
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Retold by Tina Packer of Shakespeare & Co.
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