There is something rather delightful about discovering a musical with no preconceived expectations. Before heading to review Phoenix Ensemble’s production of She Loves Me, I knew virtually nothing about the show, not its story, its musical style or even the era in which it was written. By the time the curtain came down, I had discovered a charming, witty musical with a great deal of heart.
Stepping into the theatre, director and set designer Sherryl-Lee Secomb immediately transports audiences into another world. Onstage is what looks like the interior of a shop, with cabinets covered in white sheets. A light tune is playing, one you could imagine playing in a high-end department store. The sign above the door reads “Maraczek’s,” which we find out is a parfumerie.
The story follows two employees at the parfumerie who, unbeknownst to each other, have become pen pals and fallen in love through their letters. When they finally arrange to meet, the nervous Georg Nowak (David West) discovers that his mystery pen pal is Amalia Balash (Chloe Evans), the new employee at the shop.
Rather than reveal the truth, he chickens out, leaving the pair to continue working alongside each other while their feelings begin to grow. Of course, there are a few revelations, a self-discovery song or two, and plenty of hints along the way before the penny finally drops and everything is tied up in a very satisfying happy bow.
If this sounds a lot like You’ve Got Mail, it’s because that film was an adaptation of the original play, Parfumerie, on which She Loves Me is based.
Leading the show as Georg Nowak is David West. Georg is a serious, committed-to-his-job, no-nonsense kind of guy, someone who almost blends into the background. West brings this character to life and shows the audience the genuine journey he goes on.
There’s excitement, disappointment and genuine love. West’s performance allows us to see the softer side of a character who initially appears quite reserved.
On the other end of the anonymous letters is Amalia Balash, played by Chloe Evans. This character is a new hire at the shop and, while initially shy, develops into a proud go-getter who knows what she wants.
Evans expertly plays this character with facial expressions and vocalisations that never detract from the story and always feel true to the character. Vocally, Evans delivers without fault, almost making it look easy.
Standout songs are Dear Friend, the end-of-Act One ballad where she pours her heart out to her mysterious pen pal who is nowhere to be seen. Also, Vanilla Ice Cream, a brilliant number where she begins to connect the dots about Georg being her mystery correspondent.
The character Arpad Laszlo, played by Joshua Brandon, is a delight to watch. Arpad is the delivery boy for the shop who longs for another one of the shop assistants. Brandon shows many sides to the character, from the puppy-dog infatuation with an older woman to the confident, eager shop assistant. There is a comedic brightness that Brandon brings to the character without ever becoming over the top.
Another character I have to mention is Steven Kodaly, played by August Cocks. This flamboyant Casanova is delightfully entertaining to watch. His air of confidence is unwavering throughout, and the musical numbers are sung with that same self-assurance.
This is especially present in his two main numbers, Ilona and Grand Knowing You, where even when being fired, he maintains his pompous, nose-in-the-air presence.
She Loves Me does not rely on big dance numbers. When the ensemble is onstage, the movement is often more stylised, working in the background rather than demanding attention.
Jaime O’Donoghue’s choreographic work is particularly effective during Tango Tragique, complementing the action without taking away from it. The restraint suited the intimate setting, allowing the story and characters to remain the focus.
Another standout is the hilarious Christmas Sequence, where a group of carollers perform a rendition of The 12 Days of Christmas as a countdown. This takes place while the shop assistants are serving customers during their busiest trading days of the year.
What ensues is a number built around repetition and escalation. As Christmas gets closer, the music gets faster, the stylised choreography gets quicker and purposefully messier, and the staff become increasingly exhausted. By the end, they are completely wrecked, and anyone in the audience who has ever worked in retail at Christmas could definitely relate.
Phoenix Ensemble has once again delivered a production that gives audiences plenty of opportunity to laugh, escape for a couple of hours and simply enjoy themselves.
What stands out most is how much fun the cast appear to be having onstage. Their enjoyment is infectious, spreading through the audience and making She Loves Me an incredibly entertaining night at the theatre.
She Loves Me is presented by the Phoenix Ensemble and runs to 29 August. The Tin Shed, 60-74 James Street Beenleigh Showgrounds, Beenleigh Qld 4207.
Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1507617
Website: https://phoenixensemble.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/phoenixensemble/
Photo credits: B’rit Mobbs
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