Greater Boston Stage Company Presents "She Loves Me" - The Sweet Smell of Success in Stoneham Square

The setting of "She Loves Me" is an upscale parfumerie in pre-war Budapest, Maraczek's shop. The story line is a familiar one. Think of the film "You've Got Mail" or "The Shop Around The Corner." Two lonely singles reach out through anonymous correspondence and fall in love with the idea of the person they are imagining. Then they meet, and complications ensue. Before the days of eHarmony and Tinder, there were organizations called Lonely Hearts Clubs (even before Sargeant Pepper!). Individuals would be matched blindly with someone of the opposite sex with whom they would begin a correspondence. Amalia Balash (Jennifer Ellis) and Georg Nowack (Sam Simahk) have been matched, and have become smitten with the literary personas of one another.

I think I have figured out the recipe that Director Ilyse Robbins used in assembling this amazing cast to tell this simple and intimate story. Here it is:

• Crash the closing night cast party of the recent Huntington Theatre smash hit "Merrily We Roll Along."
• Throw a lassoo around some of Boston's best talent, including Jen Ellis, Aimee Doherty, Robert Saoud, Bransen Gates, and Music Director Matt Stern.
• Toss them in a van, and drive north on I-93, exiting at Montvale Avenue.
• Drop them off at the stage door of The Boston Stage Company.
• Induce Sam Simahk to return home to Boston after completing a year on the road in the National Tour of "The King and I."
• Cast as Arpad Brendan Callahan, one of the most talented high school actors working in Boston who has trained with Greater Boston Stage Company.
• Hold auditions to fill in the rest of the roles with great triple threat singers, dancers,and actors.
• Start rehearsals.
• Set them free to tell this delightful story.

"She Loves Me" appeared briefly on Broadway in 1963 starring the late Barbara Cooke. It had a short run, partly because this is a delicate little music box of a musical, and audiences were buying tickets to bigger productions like "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," and "Oliver." Ilyse Robbins has always loved this show, ever since being cast in it as her first Actors' Equity gig. She has done us the favor of reviving the show, and opening up the little music box for us to listen to the delicate notes, and take in the fragrence of a story well told.

The book for this show is by Joe Masteroff, adapted from a play by Miklos Laszio. Music is by Jerry Bock, and Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. For this production, the wonderful foldout Scenic Design is by Brynna Bloomfield, effective and elegant period Costume Design is by Gail Astrid Buckley, mood-setting Lighting Design is by Jeff Adelberg, and appropriate ambient Sound Design is by John Stone.  As written, this story is strong in that it allows each character to reveal who they are through action, dialogue, and song or dance.

What makes this production one that you will not want to miss is the skillfully directed cast. Here are some of the things that stood out for me:

• Jen Ellis, Jen Ellis, Jen Ellis. Her interpretation of Amalia shows us a woman who is desperate for a job, opportunistic, linguistically sophisticated, vulnerable, saucy, lonely, fearful, sometimes petty, alluring, demure, and always adorable. Her sparks of conflict, and then of love, with George are incandescent. We see her revealed in the wonderful songs "Will He Like Me?" "Dear Friend," and "Vanilla Ice Cream."

Jennifer Ellis as Amalia
"She Loves Me"
Directed by Ilyse Robbins
The Greater Boston Stage Company
Stoneham Theater
Through December 23rd

• Sam Simahk, welcome home! His Georg is complex, having to navigate some unexpected obstacles - in his work at Maraczek's, and in his correspondence and romance with Dear Friend. When he sings "She Loves Me," his gorgeous tenor voice fills the theater with his sense of joy and urgency. His exuberance reminded me of the infectious joi de vivre of Gene Kelly in "Singin' In The Rain." The chemistry that reigns between Ms. Ellis and Mr. Simahk is just as evocative as the authors envisioned.

Sam Simahk as George

"She Loves Me"

Directed by Ilyse Robbins

The Greater Boston Stage Company

Stoneham Theater

Through December 23rd

• Aimee Doherty is often at her best when she and Ms. Ellis are cast in complementary roles. Her Ilona Ritter is struggling with her own romantic complications and loneliness. She befriends newly hired clerk, Amalia. They get to exchange some "girl talk" in the shop's upstairs work room as they sing "I Don't Know His Name." Her time to shine comes when she describes having her eyes opened when she meets her new optometrist beau in "A Trip To The Library."

Aimee Doherty as Ritter

"She Loves Me"

Directed by Ilyse Robbins

The Greater Boston Stage Company

Stoneham Theater

Through December 23rd

• Robert Saoud is gently wondrous as senior clerk Ladislav Sipos, a humble man trying not to get fired from his position as the pre-war Hungarian economy stumbles. He poignantly proclaims his philosophy of life in the moving "Perspective." He uses Russian nesting dolls as props to demonstrate his view of the world and his place in it - Matrioshki at Maraczek's! Whether intentional or not, those nesting dolls serve for me as a metaphor for each of the characters in this play. "If you take the time to pry me open, you just might find that there is more inside than initially meets the eye."
• Jared Troilo skillfully manipulates us into hating his smarmy Lothario, Steven Kodaly. He gets to show of his impressive vocal range as he dramatically departs Maraczek's with his swan song "Grand Knowing You."

Jared Troilo as Kodaly

"She Loves Me"

Directed by Ilyse Robbins

The Greater Boston Stage Company

Stoneham Theater

Through December 23rd

• As the owner of the shop, Tom Gleadow is perfectly cast. He is at times officious, at other times avuncular, and then fragile and vulnerable when he learns about his wife's infidelities. His reminiscences of his lively youth in "Days Gone By" is a delight. It is like watching Ebeneezer Scrooge gleefully returning to Mr. Fezziwig's Christmas party.
• As the young messenger and clerk-in-training, Arpad, Brendan Callahan is a revelation. This student from St. John's Prep fully inhabits the role, and rules the stage when he pleads for a chance to be promoted to clerk as he sings "Try Me." This young actor has a bright future, and an already impressive past and present.
• Ensemble members Sarah Coombs and Bransen Gates are dressed to the nines as they tango while Amalia and George spar at the cafe. The birthday boy was in fine form last evening.
• Nick Sulfaro as Headwaiter sets the right tone for the lovers' hideaway as he croons "A Romantic Atmosphere."
• Additional ensemble members are Sean Mitchell Crosley, Angelo McDonough, Jennifer Mischley, and Sara Jane Morse Mullins.

As he always does, Matt Stern adds a deft touch as Music Director and conductor of the 9-piece band.

Here is one final observation that may convince you to come see this show, and to bring others with you to share the joy. The plot is a familiar one, and I could see the denouement coming from a mile away. I was prepared not to be moved when the big reveal happened, but the skill of Jennifer Ellis and Sam Simahk is at such a level, that the look of recognition and sheer joy that erupted on the faces of Amalia and Georg at the key moment caused me to experience chills and tears over which I had no control. That is the sweet smell of theater at its best!

Through December 23rd.

Greater Boston Stage Website

Enjoy!

Al