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| Stacey Murdock (Kodaly) and Cassi Q. Kohl (Ilona) |
By Tina Arth and Darrell Baker
Lakewood Theatre Company’s entry into the holiday theater
scene is a wonderful production of She
Loves Me – definitely a must-see for lovers of musical comedy. This rarely
performed gem is given stellar treatment by director Tobias Anderson and music
director Jon Quesenberry, both of whom clearly understand the light and deft
touch needed for a small, intimate show. With music and lyrics by Jerry Bock
and Sheldon Harnick (of Fiddler
fame), She Loves Me demands top-notch
vocalists, and the Lakewood cast not only meets, but also exceeds, our
expectations.
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| Paul Angelo (Georg) and Dru Rutledge (Amalia) |
Long before Match.com and Facebook – even before Al Gore
invented the Internet – people had a way to connect emotionally before they
ever met by sending (gasp…) letters. She Loves Me tells the story of Georg
and Amalia, two constantly feuding clerks at Maraczek’s Parfumerie in 1930’s
Budapest who are unaware that each is, in fact, the other’s romantic (but
anonymous) pen pal. The story revolves in large part around their inevitable
(and initially disastrous) face-to-face meeting. (Sound familiar? Perhaps
you’ve seen You’ve Got Mail!) Another
clerk, sleazy womanizer Kodaly, is secretly having an affair with Mrs. Maraczek
and spending his free nights bedding another employee, Ilona. In the end, love
and honor triumph.
Martin Tebo (“Arpad” the delivery boy) is by far the
youngest cast member, and his youthful exuberance – augmented by impressive
athleticism – brings a lot of energy to the stage, while his plaintive delivery
of “Try Me” relieves the doom and gloom of Mr. Maraczek’s unfortunate “gun
accident.” Brandon Weaver’s cameo as the tightly wound Maître d’ combines a
controlled and lovely singing voice with a deer-in-the-headlights, almost
Oliver Hardy-like panic as the situation spins out of his control. Jeremy
Southard develops the role (“Sipos”) nicely with his one song, “Perspective,”
but it is his consistent acting that really sells the character. On Saturday,
Bryan Luttrell (“Mr. Maraczek”) seemed to be struggling a bit with timing at
the beginning of “Days Gone By” but he quickly captured the rhythm, and his
charming waltz turn lends a dignified Old-World charm that softens the blow of
his angry moments later in the show.
“Ilona,” as portrayed by Cassi Q. Kohl, is in serious danger
of stealing the show. Always a key comic role, Kohl’s “Ilona” is a true triple
threat. She is an outstanding actress whose stage presence is utterly
captivating, her timing is impeccable, and her delivery of “I Resolve” and “A
Trip to the Library” showcases one of the best voices we have heard on a Portland
Dru Rutledge and Paul Angelo are beautifully matched as
Amalia and Georg – while the nature of the relationship evolves from hostility
to the flames of newly discovered love, the level of passion is consistent
throughout. Angelo’s nuanced performance gives Georg a likeability that makes
the “happily ever after” conclusion satisfying and believable. She
Loves Me has been called the “Ice Cream” musical, and Rutledge’s amazing
rendition of “Vanilla Ice Cream” fully validates the appellation. From the
opening notes of “No More Candy” to the finale, Rutledge’s beautiful soprano
integrates the music into her acting with seamless transitions.
Positioning the orchestra behind a semi-transparent scrim is
a nice touch that allows the audience to observe these talented musicians
without distracting from the central action. Both orchestra and chorus provide
powerful support to the leads, and Laura Hiszczynskyj’s choreography brings
wonderfully controlled chaos to the nightclub number. The functional art deco sets allow for
seamless scene changes, ensuring a constant flow of action.
Lakewood Theatre Company’s She Loves Me is running at Lakewood Center
for the Arts, 368 S. State Street ,
Lake Oswego
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