I've got twelve words for you: get your butt to New York City and see She Loves Me. The current revival of the 1963 musical is definitely not one to miss out on, with its stellar cast and sweet story line. It leaves you with all the goosebumps from voices of gold, and all of the swells in your heart. There's no bad seat to be had in the house--each seat offers a full view. You'll miss absolutely nothing, wherever you are.
Audiences are invited into a small parfumerie in 1930's Budapest, where we meet and follow the employees for the next two and a half hours. At the core of movement are employees Georg Nowack (played by Zachary Levi) and Amalia Balash (Laura Benanti) who despise each other, yet have been unknowingly exchanging romantic letters. Meanwhile, worker Ilona Ritter (Jane Krakowski) and womanizer Steven Kodaly (Gavin Creel) maintain an ongoing affair, as tension among employees and the possibility of being fired surfaces and comes to fruition. Each performer fully fleshed out their characters to make them what we all hope to see: human. It was difficult not to see every player in a lovable manner, no matter how sly they may be or how harsh they are in a heated moment. Faceted and complex human beings are the people we find here, and the people we won't soon forget. All help the audience treasure the idea of love, first love, and the ways in which it manifests itself. She Loves Me exudes timelessness in its tale. It's an absolute dream.
Set to heavenly orchestrations, there is never a dull moment to be had. The musicians are seated at the level of the mezzanine, which creates a more intimate effect within the theatre. Add the tear inducing vocals (truly, my tear ducts were full-on activated when anyone opened their mouth to sing) and you've got yourself something really special. "Good Morning, Good Day" opens the show and sets the precedent for the show's lighthearted and elegant tone. Every performance brought its own beauty and power, but a few notable numbers include "Ilona", "Will He Like Me", and the title song "She Loves Me". The only scene that felt like it could have been trimmed was "A Romantic Atmosphere". It was dance-centered and earned the laughter it sought, but didn't propel the story.
And the cast. Oh, the cast. Musical theatre performers never fail to impress with a trifecta of skill and the execution of said abilities. Laura Benanti is a soprano angel, transcending the limits of Earth with the high notes she repeatedly, flawlessly hits and coupling those with her character's complexities. Zachary Levi's voice is almost unrecognizable when compared to his animated character, Flynn Rider of Tangled. In the film, he is rarely used in song and when he is, it is in quieter moments. But he is absolutely a powerhouse of vocal talent, and his presence on stage made it hard not to smile for or sympathize with Georg at all moments. Jane Krakowski's Ilona was immensely comedic, sad at moments, but ultimately hopeful and affable. Gavin Creel stole the show for me: his portrayal of Kodaly is sublime. Creel is breathtaking in his depiction of someone who should be despised yet cannot totally be. He is funny, endearing, and plot twisting. To boot, he has a voice that can be defined as otherworldly, and a stage presence that demands much deserved attention. All I can say is, I can't wait for the cast recording to come out. My summer soundtrack it shall be.
On top of it all, the show boasts an intricate and lively scenic design. Scenes weave fluidly between one another, and the change in set adds to the aesthetics of the entire performance. It's no wonder, then, that the 2016 revival has been nominated for eight Tony awards this season--the most of any revival in the 2015-2016 year--including Best Revival of a Musical, Leading Actor/Actress in a Musical, Feature Actress in a Musical, and Set Design. My fingers are crossed that they end Tony night with at least three awards.
She Loves Me is playing at Studio 54 on W 54th Street. And if you're between the ages of 18-35, you can sign up for Roundabout Theatre's Hip Tix program and purchase $25 tickets for any available performances. The run ends on July 10.
