She Loves Me previews — Page 9

Actually, Kodaly, Kuhn did transfer to Broadway but left during the run. In fact, she was nominated for a Tony.

Saw this show tonight. Wow! Great casting and great sets. If I lived here, I'd want to see it all over again! And Zachary Levi at the stage door is fantastic. It's like you have come out side to say "great job friend". He's really an amazing guy. Even you don't like to do the stage door thing, do it for this show. He's a great, down to earth, genuine person. Respect him a lot and will support all his future projects. Hits or flops!

With an actor, you seldom know when they are being genuine. Not saying that he isn't a nice guy, but actors usually stage door in order to generate word of mouth for the show. It's in their best interest to have people in the seats. That is the real reason for stage door appearances.

Cupid Boy2 said: "henrikegerman said: "Actually, Kodaly, Kuhn did transfer to Broadway but left during the run. In fact, she was nominated for a Tony."

Not sure about the arcane rules involved with the Tony nominations but Judy Kuhn did not continue with the show after the transfer (see attached excerpt from 10/3/93 NYT .

THEATER; Encore for 'Ice Cream' Team

By AVERY CORMAN;

Published: October 3, 1993

... On Thursday "She Loves Me" will have its second opening in less than a year. This time, it will be at the Brooks Atkinson on Broadway, where it is now in previews. The Roundabout Theater Company production has transferred almost intact. The love story is still bittersweet: it is the 1930's, and two clerks in a Budapest parfumerie who disliked each other on sight discover that they have been romantic pen pals all along. Boyd Gaines is George and Diane Fratantoni, replacing Judy Kuhn, is Amalia, with Louis Zorich as Maraczek, the store's owner.

"

Updated On: 3/10/16 at 09:25 AM

I may have similarly misinterpreted your earlier comment as well, Kodaly.

Gee, gfaustswa has a happy and fun experience with Zachary Levi at the stage door, and somehow Levi gets compared to O.J. Simpson, a former NFL player and alleged killer of Nicole Simpson? As I read it, gfaustswa was just expressing some joy at meeting this actor who was being gracious to his fans. I didn't see gfaustswa knocking other actors who don't do the stage-door thing. Some actors enjoy the interaction; some don't. For whatever it means, Levi has a history of greeting his fans and even co-founded a company (Nerd Machine) that celebrates the nerd culture.

It seems churlish to be a killjoy and diminish gfaustswa's experience by scolding them: ''You don't know Zach'' or ''You seldom know when [actors are] genuine.'' Forget the stage door. You can say that about everyone. We all have our public persona and our private ones. If faustswa had a cheerful experience, good for them, and I'm glad I got to read about that.

Updated On: 3/10/16 at 08:10 PM

I only see about 2 shows a year and never posted here, but longtime reader. I saw this last weekend and was kind of disappointed. Not being familiar with the show at all before (yes my Broadway background is nil), I had read the posts here and thought I was going to see a "perfect" musical, but found it merely ok - I think I maybe had my expectations too high. The story is so predicable and tired, I had trouble looking past that - it was just very old fashioned. The performances had some laughs and good singing but none of the songs stuck in my head and the only thing that truly stood out to me was Krakowski's performance which had some laugh out loud moments. Benanti was also amusing at times. For instance, what is the significance of it being set in Budapest? I didn't see that the story really incorporated that at all. The end right before intermission was also pretty jarring considering the light subject matter before it. And my final criticism is the ending is just so quick and easy that it lacked any drama and rushed by. I do give points to the set design, I enjoyed that very much.

Uh-oh. Laura Benanti's Instagram says she is currently sick and was out of tonight's show...

I was there tonight. While I was so sad Laura Benanti wasn't there, her understudy was amazing and it was the first time she ever went on. Besides I really think act 2 was amazing, the last scene in act 1 dragged a bit. I think the set looked ridiculous and plasticy although it's movement was really intelligently designed. Paul Geminagni is conducting and I died. There were plenty of open seats as I was able to move from the mezzanine to the orchestra during intermission.

NFools said: For instance, what is the significance of it being set in Budapest? I didn't see that the story really incorporated that at all.

Bock and Harnick chose to retain the setting of the source material, which was by Hungarian Playright Miklos Laszlso. I don't think the city is specifically mentioned; The character names are all Hungarian and at one point Sipos referrs to himself as "an old Hungarian" but otherwise it could be set in any pre-war City in Europe. When I did it in college, we updated it to the 50s (because it was easier to costume) and, because at that time Hungary was behind the Iron Curtain, decided that we were setting in a Hungarian-heavy community in the midwest. We didn't have to change a word. Maraczeck was played with a heavy accent as an emegree, everyone else was played as American.

There's not much else to add to this thread regarding this production's strengths. I loved it quite a bit. I figure in order to contribute more meaningfully to the conversation, I'll mention one quibble I have:

Was anybody else really unimpressed by Creel? He certainly wasn't bad, but I found him to be very bored and boring. I felt like he lacked energy, like he was really going through the motions. Or maybe he just wasn't playing to the rear-mezz well enough. I would much rather have seen someone like Andy Karl in the role.

I actually really enjoyed Gavin Creel. I thought he was adorable and charming, and that made it easy to see why Illona would fall for him time and time again. And the number "Illona" was actually one of the most thrilling moments for me, too. He had fantastic chemistry with Jane, his voice sounded heavenly, and I loved the staging.

Interesting that others have updated the setting. We did it in Naples, Florida a number of years ago and set it in the early 1900's. The costuming was very effective and stage settings made great use of Art Nouveau. And again, while it gave a slight bit more "naughtiness" to the sexy parts, not a word was changed and it played beautifully. But yes, we left it set in Budapest.

Incidentally, my avatar is me as Marachek in that production.