By Rikki Lee Travolta
September of 2022 we made our first visit to Citadel Theatre’s Lake Forest home, reviewing a surprisingly wonderful production of “Little Shop of Horrors.” The director, I felt, had done just the right job balancing innovation and tradition. It was fresh and pioneering. That director was Matthew Silar.
I had seen multiple incarnations of “Little Shop of Horrors” before the Citadel production, and have seen more since. Silar’s vision ranks among the best.
“She Loves Me”, now being presented by Citadel Theatre through December 17, finds Silar returning to Lake Forest to helm the 1963 Broadway romantic musical comedy that features a score by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick of “Fiddler on the Roof” fame. Adding to his hitmaker reputation, Silar has turned in the best production we’ve seen Citadel produce yet.
The story is based on the play “Parfumerie,” by Hungarian-born writer Miklós László, which has also been adapted into a number of films including the 1940 Jimmy Stewart/Margaret Sullivan favorite “The Shop Around the Corner” and the 1998 Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan hit “You’ve Got Mail.”
It is not a complex story. Two quarrelsome co-workers from an upscale perfumery unknowingly become anonymous pen pals with one another, only to fall in love with each other through their letters.
The “She Loves Me” adaptation has the two bickering would-be lovebirds, Georg Nowack and Amalia Balash, working in an upscale perfumery. Their co-workers include good-natured owner Mr. Maraczek; salesclerks Steven Kodaly, Ladislav Sipos, and Ilona Ritter; and delivery boy Arpad Laszlo.
Over the course of two and a half hours, Mr. Nowack and Ms. Balash spar in growing animosity when at work, while in private being inspired by feelings of euphoric love from the words they share in correspondence.
The young woman looking for love is played at Citadel by Hannah Louise Fernandes, who has a sparkle to her personality that radiates to every corner of the theatre. She has a phenomenal voice that she can manipulate in endless ways – from operatic to bluesy with a hint of sin. I think every open heart in the audience will fall in love with Fernandes over the course of each performance.
Playing her Prince Charming disguised as a retail store assistant manager is Travis Ascione. He has a boyish mischievousness to his smile. He really captures the pleasant aspects of the character, even when showing frustration with situations at work. Ascione understands how to play the nice guy without infusing any unnecessary darkness. This is a specialty that can be hard to master, and he nails it.
Part of the fun of “She Loves Me” comes from the supporting players. For the Citadel production, the cast on the night being reviewed was exceptional.
The character of Mr. Kodaly is quite the lady’s man. Played by Trey Mendlik he oozes seductiveness and charm. It is a masterful performance that totally captivates and threatens to steal the show, made all the more impressive by the fact that Mendlik is the understudy for the role.
One of the objects of Kodaly’s affections is his co-worker Ilona Ritter. Ms. Ritter is played to perfection by Kaitlin Feely. She is stunning to look at and to listen to. She is a walking work of art as she conveys the desires of a woman longing to be loved, but without ever getting too heavy for a romantic comedy. There is always a playfulness to her character, and to the entirety of the show.
Darian Goulding is very enjoyable as the remaining salesclerk, Ladislav Sipos. He is a Nervous Nelly of sorts, but Goulding resists any temptation to stereotype him. He slides in and out of scenes as needed with a theatre ninja’s precision.
This is a well-cast production from top to bottom, and one actor who stands out is Brody Tyner as the shop’s delivery boy. Tyner has a fine voice and creates a fantastically entertaining character – a young man earnest and eager to prove himself in a grownup’s world. I look forward to seeing Tyner continue his career. He has a bright future.
The shop’s owner is played by Geoff Isaac. His chief objective is to be likable, slip into darkness, and then emerge likable again – and Isaac handles that task easily. Meanwhile, Jake Busse vies with Mendlik for the scene-stealing title for his wonderfully hilarious turn as a head waiter trying to keep a romantic atmosphere.
Also adding to the overall package in multiple roles are an ensemble of Laura Brennan, Jill Iverson, Abbey Loria, and Adam Thatcher – with swing Natalie Stahl available at the ready.
The small, elegant orchestra is conducted by keyboardist Rex Meyer and includes Bret Sher (percussion), Paul Nielsen (bass), Katie Brown (violin), and Theresa Lams (flute/clarinet). They all play beautifully.
The overall music direction by David Zizic is inspired. The blend of voices is splendid. I did not hear one sour note all night. Choreography by Amanda Schimidt moves the story along without ever being overly showy. Movement is efficient and effective.
Also of note, the set by Eric Luchen is stylish and functional – inventively allowing for quick transitions between scenes and locations. Costumes by Danielle Reinhardt are great, with a real eye for color. Lighting design is by Jodi Williams and sound design is by Kurt Ottinger. Nicolas Bartleson adeptly handles props and house management is skillfully coordinated by Bruce Ackerman.
This time of year is a great time to see live theatre. “She Loves Me” doesn’t beat you over the head with Christmas themes, but it is a holiday show. So, if you are looking for something different to do as one of your holiday theatre outings, then grab tickets to “She Loves Me” in Lake Forest at Citadel Theatre. The cast is magnificent, and the direction is exquisite. Citadel’s “She Loves Me” is award-worthy theatre.
“She Loves Me” plays Thursdays through Sundays, with performance through December 17. For tickets visit www.CitadelTheatre.org or call (847) 735-8554 ext. 1.
Photo credit North Shore Camera Club
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