THE HANGOVER REPORT – Roundabout’s sterling revival of SHE LOVE’S ME is musical theater heaven

111873Folks, it doesn’t get much better than this. Yesterday, I had the great good fortune of catching Roundabout’s sterling revival of the effervescent, warm-hearted She Loves Me at Studio 54. Mention this 1963 show in a musical theater crowd, and you’ll have bodies swooning at your feet (including mine). More than 50 years after its original Broadway bow, Harnick and Bock’s score for this You’ve Got Mail prototype remains one of the glories the American musical theater. How lucky for us fans then that this absolute charmer of musical is being lavished with one of the greatest, most perfectly cast revivals in recent memory. The now-legendary 1993 revival established Roundabout as a powerhouse producer of first class revivals of musicals and not just straight plays. How appropriate then that for its 50th anniversary season that Roundabout is returning to She Loves Me after putting this essential theater company on a musical theater trajectory (I doubt that the popular revival of Cabaret would have happened without She Loves Me having happened first).

Scott Ellis, who also directed the mentioned previous revival, is once again at the helm. His intoxicating work is aided by inspired work from Warren Carlyle (who provided the inspired and witty choreography) and David Rockwell (who’s responsible for the lavish bonbon of a set). Larry Hochman’s orchestrations, under the great Paul Gemingnani’s musical direction, are sophisticated, skillful, and sweeping – I didn’t mind one bit that the number of players in the orchestra has been somewhat downsized from previous productions. Hearing that score live, as expertly played and sung here, had me on the verge of tears throughout.

The supremely likeable Laura Benanti and Zachary Levi are both giving benchmark performances in their respective careers as George and Amalia. The second act one-two punch of “Vanilla Ice Cream” and the title song is the stuff of musical theater heaven, especially as performed by Ms. Benanti and Mr. Levi. Their chemistry is palpable, to boot. Jane Krakowski is perfectly cast in the role of Ilona, and she doesn’t disappoint, giving a lusciously guileless performance (her “A Trip to the Library” was as good as you could hope for). Gavin Creel is smooth and effortlessly seductive as Kodaly, and his show-stopping “Ilona” is one of the highlights of the evening. Wonderful support is also being given by Byron Jennings (Maraczek), Michael McGrath (Landislov), and Nicholas Barasch (Arpad). Absolutely do not miss this most perfect revival of this most perfect of musicals.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

 

SHE LOVES ME
Broadway, Musical
Roundabout Theatre Company at Studio 54
2 hours, 30 minutes (with one intermission)
Through June 21

Categories: Broadway, Theater

Leave a Reply