By Kate Neeley
The forerunner of the familiar beloved film You’ve Got Mail, Utah Festival Opera’s production of She Loves Me brings the fun of the classic Chick Flick, but with the added benefit of gorgeous vocals and top notch dance numbers. She Loves Me, under the direction of George Pinney, will steal your heart and tickle it with an absolutely delightful performance in the charming historic Utah Theatre’s stage on Logan’s Center Street.
The beautiful set designed by William Forrester and costumes by Ashley Bellet have a somewhat Miracle on 34th Street feel. Dresses, heels, pea coats and all the best in pinned waves, it nails the classy World War II era, leaving you wishing the world still dressed like that. Wigs and makeup are more than tastefully mastered by Melyssa Swensen.
Early on in the show, you’re drawn in immediately by the sound of the orchestra led by Nicholas Pothier and not long after that, you meet the staff of the somewhat stern Mr Meraczek’s (W. Lee Daily) Parfumerie. Arpad Laszlo (Alex Spence) is the young delivery boy, Ilona Ritter (Lindsey Kelstrom) is a beautiful, flirtatious young woman with a witty personality. She is flanked by the womanizing Steven Kodaly (Bryce J. Bartu) and Ladislav Sipos (Fatu Su’esu’e). Georg Nowack (Stefan Espinosa) is a conscientious employee who is trying to win the praise and respect of his boss and happens to be somewhat of a lonely bachelor.
They all are surprised one day by a bold and attractive gal named Amalia Balash (Vanessa Ballam) who bounces into the shop, cheerfully and confidently demanding to be hired. When she uses her somewhat ludicrous and creative sales tactics to sell a musical cigarette box that had recently been added to the shop’s inventory, she lands the job. Once she is hired, Amalia immediately hits it off with Georg, but not in a friendly way, much more of an on-each-other’s case sort of way.
Little do each of them know that their anonymous pen pals they’ve been writing letters to happen to be each other. Ladislav tells Arpad that since they’re always arguing, they clearly must like each other very much. And you as the audience want to believe he’s right.
The story keeps you on your toes as the dramatic irony unfolds of the two co-workers nonstop banter without realizing that they’re criticizing the person they’ve each fallen for through anonymous love letters. When the blind date is set for meeting their secret pen pals – you’re dying to see what happens while they’re in the local restaurant.
A super fun and high energy dance number ensues by an absolutely spot on ensemble when the restaurant guests tango and the waiter (Timothy Stewart) and bus boy (David Postlewate) offer some hilarious entertainment.
This cast conveys an exceptionally cohesive energy. The chemistry between the actors is so convincing and so fun to be drawn into. I could not help but be pulled into the development of the romance between Georg and Amalia. For anyone looking for a spark and to be entertained by a bright, funny, and clever romance, UFOMT’s She Loves Me is for you.
Utah Festival Opera presents She Loves Me, book by Joe Masteroff, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and music by Jerry Bock.
Ellen Eccles Theatre, 43 S Main Street, Logan, UT 84321
One more show next week: August 3, 2022 1:00 PM
Tickets: $22-$82
Contact: 800-262-0074, ext 3
Utah Opera Festival Facebook Page
She Loves Me Promo Video
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