She Loves Me previews- Page 8

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 5:42pm

Expectations can sometimes stand in the way of appreciating something to its fullest, even if it is indeed good.

In reading these boards it sounds like that has happened for some with Fiddler too.  Expectations of a great director, at the helm of a classic musical.  Some are very happy with this Fiddler, others are mixed.

Such is the case for She Loves Me with a few people maybe.

Personally I have worn out my CD from the 90s production, so I fear I might end up comparing this present version to that incarnation of the musical.  I love Brad Kane's voice in the role of Arpad, and I pretty much find every performance in that rendition of the show to be spot on.  And the orchestration is equally amazing.

I'll go into this show with an open mind though. 

I'm very happy to see how many people really are loving this version as well.  There's a lot of talent in this cast, and I'm just excited to be seeing a performance of this great musical.

Updated On: 3/6/16 at 05:42 PM

[decotodd]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 10:05pm

Back in LA after a brief visit for work. Saw the show from orchestra last night and found it an absolute delight from start to finish. The cast is wonderful and perform the score to perfection, esp Benanti.  The chemistry is so palpable that it is hard to believe they are in previews. I enthuasiastically recommend this wonderful revival. 

As some posters above mention, hype and expectations can sometimes disappoint (I didn't care for Noises Off at all, which felt forced); sometimes hype is met and even exceeded (case in point, Hamilton, which surpassed all of my expectations). It was a great feeling to realize within the first few minutes that She Loves Me that I was going to be in for a real treat. 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 10:48pm

"She Loves Me" for many is like a first kiss;  nothing ever quite tops the first experience of it. And I think because it's such a little undiscovered gem of a show, that's why the first experience of it for many is often such a sweet surprise!

 

It's interesting to me that so many people when they speak about past productions they've loved, speak most about individual performances- Judy Kuhn, or Sallie Mays, or Ruthie Henshall, etc. rather than the craft elements (staging, design). In truth, I confess I think that's because the show itself doesn't really have much lingering impact. It's just a well-done light piece of musical comedy. And that's quite all right! 

Updated On: 3/6/16 at 10:48 PM

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 11:01pm

From LA as well, decotodd, and heading back to NY again in a couple of weeks.  She Loves Me is one of the shows I'm seeing and I'm really enthusiastic about it.  Good to hear your take on Hamilton too, as I have tickets for that, as well.

Your review gets me pretty excited about seeing both of these shows.

I've added The Color Purple, American Psycho (we'll have to see how that one goes), Shuffle Along, The King and I, and Daddy Long Legs.  Might get a cheap seat for Fiddler if I have time.

Thanks for the reviews….and thanks, Alice.   I have a feeling I'll really enjoy it too.

Posted: 3/6/16 at 11:02pm

 

With all due respect to the legendary musical writers Joe Masteroff, Sheldon Harnick, and Jerry Bock, I have to say,  I'm not sure why She Loves Me was revived for the second time, especially if you consider the cultural climate of 2016 (what are we gaining from seeing this now).  Let me preface by saying that i think it's almost impossible to critique some of these older shows because they have everything to do with the time period in which they were created and this one is over 50 years old.  So judging them from a 2016 perspective isn't very fair, but I have to say the decision to do it at all again on Broadway is perplexing...it's really not known as a classic example of the musical art form and I think the writing is the reason.  The book is passable, but a weak story, lots of tone issues,  and some underdeveloped characters . Plus the score and its placement feel a bit grab baggy to me; the melodies often times feel like they are from different worlds and the moments in which they chose to musicalize in the first place feel banal and stagnant (again hard to judge because at the time this was written I can see why this felt relevant).

 

This production looks amazing! The set is the star of the show here (I'm not sure that's a good thing). David Rockwell's colorfully elegant and smartly designed Maraczek's Parfumerie (it opens and closes, spins, reveals many different rooms...all in whimsical ways) over powers the small charming story here. An odd decision considering this show doesn't really work unless you really care about what it's characters are saying (singing about)....they should be the stars here. Jeff Mahshie's costume's although handsomely made have a color palate that is naturalistic and dark that it clashes against the bright colors of the set.  The result causes instant tonal issues....they continue throughout the show. I think that problem lies with Scott Ellis' direction. This is a tough show to figure out tonally, part of it is larger than than life musical comedy, the other is a romance with serious undertones....Ellis doesn't get through to the audience why we should be watching this production now (nothing new is discovered here) and much of that is because he doesn't seem to be confident which way the show should go tonally.  Just when a moment is starting to feel honest he seems to force a campier element into it...it happens all throughout the show; Kodaly (Gavin Creel) and Ilona's (Jane Krakowski) numbers are affected the most. Crudely put, there is a lot of cheese to go around when no ones hungry for it. Warren Carlyle's uninspired (seemingly phoned in) choreography doesn't help...it feels amateurish, especially during the restaurant scene.

The cast sounds fabulous, conducted by Paul Gemignani...they should =). The orchestra is perfection.  Zachary Levi is perfectly cast here.  Even though most musical fans wouldn't consider him a singer he sounds good enough and sells songs like she loves me 100% (he reminds me of boyd gaines). He feels like a leading man from the golden age of Broadway when vocal chops weren't always the most important thing...personality and uniqueness were.  Laura Benanti is simply put....a star. She is in my opinion the ONLY person who could the role of Amalia right now on a Broadway stage.  She's smart, she's funny, she can sing and she's beautiful to boot. She creates a journey through every song she sings...Will He Like me is a stand out number because of her. Vanilla Ice Cream doesn't feel like a silly musical theater song with her steering the performance wheels. Jane Krakowski plays the role she always plays in the theater and of course she wins you over...it seems to wear thin quickly in this show though.  Her numbers feel like they are staged without much intelligent thought or without much time.  Gavin Creel sounds fantastic as always, but just isn't the right fit for kodaly....he always feels false.  Michael McGrath is just right as Ladislav...his number is once again staged really poorly.  A major bright spot, however, is the youngest in the cast.... Nicholas Barasch as Arpad.  Great voice, great presence, and great timing. He is one to watch.  From the chorus, Peter Bartlett has a funny moment as the head waiter.

 

I think the bottom line here is that this is just not the greatest work from the golden era of Broadway and these older shows can be tricky to make work in 2016.  It also feels like their rehearsal time was rushed and they didn't have enough time to research and explore. Design elements and Laura Benanti fans aside, this show is not for everybody....even some theater fans.

 

 

 

 

 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 3/6/16 at 11:19pm

Love, I think you are looking for Ivo Van Hove's production of SHE LOVES ME, which I suspect will play Amsterdam in sometime in 2020.

 

But I don't discredit your observations. It would probably be facile of me to say, 'in this day and age'  of course the world needs "She Loves Me." It's light. It's fun. It's escapism. And that is always relevant. 

 

 

 

 

 

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 3/7/16 at 1:06am

As I said in my previous post, the TKAI was good.  Not great.  The orchestra could have been much louder, Kelli looked bored and talked through several of her songs, and only Ruthie Ann Miles really made an impact (...And what an impact! You own that Tony girl!).

 

I've always wondered how actors could play the same role eight times a week for over a year and not get tired of it. One of the answers that comes up is "Oh, every show is different." Not really convinced by that. If there is anyone whom I would not expect to show boredom, even if bored, it would be Kelli O'Hara. She is such a professional. But it wouldn't shock me.

 

More likely she just wasn't feeling well. Another tough thing for a theater performer, to have to go on even if feeling poorly. Maybe like Audra she needs to head for the West Coast to co-star in one of the ubiquitous generic crime dramas or medical dramas. Nah, I guess not.

 

I have tickets to see her farewell performance on April 17th. I don't think that she will be bored on that day. Some friends and colleagues will probably be in the audience. I just hope that her voice has something left.

 

 

 

Posted: 3/7/16 at 10:52am

lol, not Ivo Van Hove, but maybe just a little more of a fresh perspective that gives us more of a cultural context or a real connection between then and now....I just didn't quite understand why we where there except but to have a sweet saccharine old fashioned time as you suggest, which i absolutely agree with....but that comes guaranteed by just performing the piece.  I think revivals should have a reason though,  that is more than just restaging the show...which I agree with Tommy Tune when he says it feels a bit disrespectful to the original creators that way.

[little_sally]

Posted: 3/7/16 at 2:23pm

I was at yesterday's matinee, and while I enjoyed it and found it cute and charming, I didn't love it as much as everyone else does. The cast is uniformly excellent (especially Laura Benanti, even though it was hard to believe all of those lines about Amalia not being beautiful) and the set is beautiful but the first act felt very long and began to drag. It picked up for me in the second act, and I ended up enjoying it in the end. I will say, unlike a few other musicals that have been revived lately, it did not feel dated at all.

[Jshan05]

Posted: 3/8/16 at 3:34pm

Has anyone filmed or recorded any of the songs yet? Would love to hear anything people might have...

[Jw75]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 6:52am

There are some video clips on the Roundabout site, 4 of the songs from a sneak preview event that was held before the official previews started: http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/Shows-Events/She-Loves-Me.aspx

If you're asking about recordings of She Loves Me in general, rather than of this production, there are a few versions on YouTube.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 9:34am

I just the show last night..and it was lovely from start to end. The cast is just amazing ..(and to think what a loss it would have been NOT to have Zachary Levi as Georg - replacing Josh Radnor who went to PBS's Mercy Street. Nothing against Josh, but Zachary is just perfect here). I can't imagine anyone other than Laura doing this show to perfection today the way she does. The cast as a whole is fabulous

I remember seeing the 90's revival and being so disappointed in the sets and style of the show. This one is spot on. I was enchanted from the second the show starts to the end.. I give the whole production a grade of A-.

 

My only quibbles..I think that Gavin and Jane as Kodaly and Ilona are not really playing their roles as if they were in the 1930's. Their performances seemed very "modern" to me..good, funny, but could be living anywhere anytime. Jane's duet with Laura was a bit off as Laura has a strong classically trained voice and Jane does not - so the balance was off.

 

Also, I had the same feeling with the "Romantic Atmosphere" number - it seemed a little less "Hungarian Europe" and a little more today's gimmicky than I would have liked... It wasn't really "classy" enough. It was more the "kit kat klub" than the European elegance it should have been.

 

But overall, I just had a smile on my face from start to finish and am looking forward to going back again.

 

Updated On: 3/10/16 at 09:34 AM

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 10:32am

"(and to think what a loss it would have been NOT to have Zachary Levi as Georg - replacing Josh Radnor who went to PBS's Mercy Street. Nothing against Josh, but Zachary is just perfect here. I can't imagine anyone other than Laura doing this show to perfection the way she does."

Kathy, I saw Radnor and O'Hara and with all due respect to Levi - a sympathetic and nicely played Georg, with an appealing Jimmy Stewartish quality, but vocally not nearly as interesting as Radnor, and neither as funny nor as charmingly humble  - and Benanti- as terrific an Amalia as O'Hara (high praise!) if not nearly as perfectly cast (Benanti does everything she can and more to make Amalia her own, but she is still too sophisticated and glamorous for the part; it matters little for me (and many others) but to some it does matter) - Radnor and O'Hara were the best Georg and Amalia I have ever seen (and I'd even include Stewart and Sullivan and Johnson and Garland in that estimation, and certainly Hanks and Ryan), they had unmatchable chemistry, totally carried the show in a cast of stars, and they aced the challenging rhythms of the delicate final scene (which, as others have stated, Levi and Benanti do not).

StandingOvation, I disagree vehemently with you on the quality of She Loves Me as a show.  To me the book remains perfection (yes, I know Gaveston, you and I agree to disagree about what you feel are certain second act problems) and the score among the very best in the American theatre, both rhapsodically melodic and exquisitely lyrical.  It's a classic romance with a story that is far from weak; this well explains why it has been repeatedly committed to great success on film (The Shop Around the Corner, In the Good Old Summer Time, You've Got Mail) and why a recent Paris production of Lazlow's original play, Parfumerie, was a huge hit (winning five Moliere awards, including curiously "best new play"....guess unlike the Tony's, the Molieres don't treat classics as revivals just because they haven't been staged in Paris before).  Perhaps this explains why someone else posted that it seems far less dated than many recent revivals of classic musicals.

This is an excellent revival.  In fact, I think in many ways it's much better than the last revival which was also excellent.  It has some problems, which others have mentioned here.  The balance between the orchestra and the vocals often makes hearing these fine performers and these peerless lyrics a strain.  For some members of the cast (gratefully including Benanti!) this is never a problem (at least for my center mezzanine hearing) but for others it is.  I could always make out the vocals from everyone but it was all too often a chore to do so.  And it shouldn't be a chore.

You may be right about the set.  During the show, I recall being relieved that the set, rather than looking oppressive and charmless as it did in some of the publicity stills, was instead impressive and sumptuous.  But now reading your very finely written critique, I agree that it all too often clashes with the intimacy of the material.   Blissful moments as once perfectly focused as Krakowski's mistaking her right glove for her left during "I Resolve' (a brilliant comedic coup in the concert) are now all but lost among the staging and the now expansively fine appointments of Maracek and Company and of what sometimes seems like all the glory of MittelEuropa surrounding it.   

I also agree, that, as someone else stated, the huge set pushes the Cafe Imperial too far downstage, and the staging and choreography of Romantic Atmosphere loses much because of it.  And the same might be said for other scenes (including Will He Like Me and with it our first experience of Amalia sustainedly alone on stage, the hospital scene) that take place in front of the closed doors of Maracek's.  These scenes suffer both from a kind of referred claustrophobia and by being upstaged by the grandeur of central Budapest.  

Because of a combination of all of these factors, as good as Krakowski and Bartlett are here they were far more effective in concert.

On balance, this is a great show being given a strong if imperfect revival.

Some else posted that like a first kiss, one's feelings about She Loves Me, depend so much on whom one was kissing.  Not for me.   I first saw it on tv, the British version.  I immediately fell in love with the show itself.  The book and the score.  The performers were all fine, but the show was the thing.

Perhaps the takeaway here is that She Loves Me isn't for every one.  As many have stated it's a special brew.  There are those, like myself, who cherish it.  To me, and I am far from alone, it is the perfect musical.  It not only has everything Lehman Engel insisted a great musical should have - plot, subplot, romance, comedy, conflict, lyricism and feeling - but it serves them all up as tasty and filling as many of us could possibly hope for.   But clearly there are others for whom it's just not their favorite kind of dish.

Updated On: 3/10/16 at 10:32 AM

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 10:50am

henrikegerman said:

Kathy, I saw Radnor and O'Hara and with all due respect to Levi - a sympathetic and nicely played Georg, with an appealing Jimmy Stewartish quality, but vocally not nearly as interesting as Radnor, and neither as funny nor as charmingly humble  - and Benanti- as terrific an Amalia as O'Hara (high praise!) if not nearly as perfectly cast (Benanti does everything she can and more to make Amalia her own, but she is still too sophisticated and glamorous for the part; it matters little for me (and many others) but to some it does matter) - Radnor and O'Hara were the best Georg and Amalia I have ever seen (and I'd even include Stewart and Sullivan and Johnson and Garland in that estimation, and certainly Hanks and Ryan), they had unmatchable chemistry, totally carried the show in a cast of stars, and they aced the challenging rhythms of the delicate final scene (which, as others have stated, Levi and Benanti do not)."
 

I admit it. I am older. I was lucky to see the original cast with Barbara Cook when I was VERY young (and it was actually the first show I ever saw more than once) - no one is every going to hold a candle to her IMO. I can still hear some of her line readings - I wanted to call up the director and say..try this, it works much better.."Amalia...Take a pause before you make a comment about Georg's fingernails"...LOLOLOL

 

And again, I was not putting down Josh Radnor who I have NOT seen - just praising Zachary Levi who I did see and who I loved (and reminded me so much of Daniel Massey from the original cast).

 

I can only comment on those who I have seen. I saw Boyd Gaines - who was excellent in the past revival but I enjoyed Zachary more. And I unfortunately did not see Judy K in the same 90's revival but saw her replacement (Diane something whose name I can't remember) whose performance I personally didn't enjoy at all.

 

I have never seen Laura is this type of part - she has usually been the bad or edgy girl in what I have seen her do so far - so for me, I didn't focus on whether or not she was too sophisticated but how relaxed and unsophisticated she was compared to what I expected. And her voice was perfect.

 

Updated On: 3/9/16 at 10:50 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 10:54am

 

Diane Fratantoni, and I thought she was quite wonderful.

 

 

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 10:57am

You beat me to it!!  I thought so, too.  I really enjoyed the 90s revival.  It was my first exposure to the show.  Arena Stage's production several years ago was absolutely wonderful.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 11:03am

 

She changed her name after she married actor Brian Sutherland in 2000, and she has been known as Diane Sutherland ever since.

 

 

[Jshan05]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 11:19am

Jw75 said: "There are some video clips on the Roundabout site, 4 of the songs from a sneak preview event that was held before the official previews started: http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/Shows-Events/She-Loves-Me.aspx

If you're asking about recordings of She Loves Me in general, rather than of this production, there are a few versions on YouTube."

 

Oh yes I've seen those clips and they're amazing! I meant more bootleg ones...I just can't get enough of this cast so I was putting feelers out if anyone had anything else they could share! :)

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 11:20am

Thank you Kathy, I should have mentioned a major caveat.  That I had not seen the original production.  Would that I would have!

[Peter2]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 4:06pm

henrikegerman, just a word of thanks for your wonderful post. I agree complete with your high praise of the show. It really is, as you say, perfection--one of the very few where there is nothing I would change about it. (I'm talking about the show itself, not this production, which I don't see until next week.)

[woeisme3]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 6:57pm

Well, the show clips are out and they're marvelous.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-TV-Watch-Zachary-Levi-Laura-Benanti-Gavin-Creel-More-in-SHE-LOVES-ME-on-Broadway-20160309

Every song performed looks fantastic-I'm even more excited to see the show now!

[gypsy101]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 7:14pm

PalJoey said: "Diane Fratantoni, and I thought she was quite wonderful."

I have absolutely nothing against Diane Fratantoni or Sutherland, but because I am of the opinion that Judy Kuhn was one of the finest voices of her generation (if not the finest), I will always be a little bitter about her not being on that recording (which is a fabulous cast all around). I don't know why they chose not to record it until after she left or what the deal was with that (did it have to do with Sunset Boulevard in LA?) but it irks me to this day.

[KODALY]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 7:31pm

Judy Kuhn did not transfer with the show to Broadway or participate in the recording made of the Broadway transfer due to her commitment to Disney to be the voice of POCAHONTAS in the movie of the same name.

Updated On: 3/10/16 at 07:31 PM

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 7:32pm

gypsy101 said:

I have absolutely nothing against Diane Fratantoni or Sutherland, but because I am of the opinion that Judy Kuhn was one of the finest voices of her generation (if not the finest), I will always be a little bitter about her not being on that recording (which is a fabulous cast all around). I don't know why they chose not to record it until after she left or what the deal was with that (did it have to do with Sunset Boulevard in LA?) but it irks me to this day.
 

Just YES. I was also sad that she was not on the recording also. Was it Sunset Blvd? I seem to remember something about Les Mis in London for the 10th anniversary concert...but I have no idea if that's correct.  (nevermind..I just read about Pocahontas above..)

 

"

 

Updated On: 3/9/16 at 07:32 PM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 7:46pm

Those clips are delightful- Benanti sounds beautiful, and Krakowski put a big stupid grin on my face with her song. April 1st can't come fast enough.