A love letter to romance

Foote in the Door Productions, Edmonton’s newest musical theatre company gets off to a delightful start with their first full-length show now playing at Campus St. Jean Auditorium.

She Loves Me is a charming piece based on Hungarian playwright Miklos Lazlo’s 1936 play Parfumerie.

The romantic comedy was so arresting it later spawned three Hollywood movies including Nora Ephron’s blockbuster You’ve Got Mail starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.

The action takes place in a 1930s Budapest perfume shop. At its centre is Georg Nowack, a laid-back perfume shop manager well liked and respected by co-workers. The exception is Amalia Balish, the high-strung and feisty new hire.

By day Amalia and Georg bicker non-stop. But at night the two lonely-hearts retreat into an anonymous, romantic pen pal exchange through the classifieds.

Eventually Georg and Amalia realize they’ve been writing to each other, but not before a few farcical mix-ups and sad misunderstandings.

Jerry Bock (music) and Sheldon Harnick (lyrics), two musical luminaries responsible for the runaway hit Fiddler on the Roof, first premiered She Loves Me in 1963.

Although She Loves Me never quite gained the status of Fiddler, it continues to enchant largely because its musical collaborators wrote a lively, lilting score that respects the musical’s 1930’s nostalgic backdrop. While the songs may not be memorable, they are snappy and smartly worded.

And they are accentuated by the clever banter of playwright Joe Masteroff (Cabaret).

The entire musical is a good-old fashioned romantic romp that oozes charm and is sown with remarkably likeable characters.

And yes, the plot is definitely formulaic. But there’s a certain comfort in the familiarity of knowing the comedic antagonism will lead to a sweeter reunion at the end.

There are several levels of talent and experience within the cast of 16, somewhat of a challenge for any director. However, director-choreographer Barbara Mah has levelled out the playing field adapting simple, but stylish choreography to each actor’s strengths.

Ruth Wong-Miller is spunky and a confident soprano that reveals Amalia’s disarming vulnerability within a prickly exterior. Wong-Miller’s vocals shine particularly in solo numbers such as Will He Like Me? and Dear Friend.

St. Albert’s Russ Farmer as Georg, although a less powerful singer than Wong-Miller, holds his own by pulling back a veil back to show a sad, lonely single man whose burning desire is to have a family.

A stellar cast of supporting actors surrounds the two leads. James Toupin as Mr. Marazcek, the perfume shop owner, displays a deft comedic touch in bringing to life a man that is gruff on the outside, but a marshmallow inside.

Dustin Berube is Ladislav Sipos, the long-time suffering clerk at Maraczek’s shop. Although Sipos tries to fly under radar, he inadvertently gets pulled into the drama. Berube has a knack for giving straight lines a comedic twirl and quickly became an audience favourite judging by the applause level during the final bows.

St. Albert’s own Christina O’Dell is Illona Ritter, the romantically insecure woman who always picks the wrong guy. O’Dell is a force on stage and her alto vocals carry an emotional wallop especially when she sang the duet I Don’t Know His Name with Wong-Miller.

Mitch Caddick is perfect as Steven Kodaly, the sleazy Romeo who sincerely believes he is God’s gift to women. Sam Banigan is a delight as the earnest Arpad Laszlo, a delivery boy with grand ambitions to become a salesman.

And finally there’s Kent Sutherland, an over-the-top waiter desperately trying to create a romantic atmosphere in his restaurant.

And kudos to the live, six-piece band that filled the auditorium with sounds of charming, old-fashioned romantic music.

She Loves Me is a feel-good musical that will always be in style. Although the tools of finding romance may evolve from letters to tablets, the urge to find that special someone never wavers. She Loves Me is simply a love letter that grows richer with time.