`She Loves Me` enchants at Chichester

Chichester is fast acquiring an impressive name for its musicals. She Loves Me is the fifth adaptation of the play Parfumerie, Katherine Cusack writes. It was originally written by the Hungarian playwright Miklos Laszlo, and first made into a beautiful film in 1940 directed by Ernst Lubitsch, with James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan called The Shop Around the Corner. It was first produced as a musical in 1963.

 

A classic tale of misinterpreted love so perfect for musical comedy, the pen pal lovers by night the arguing shop assistants by day the confusion eventually resolved. All is well that ends well.

 

This is a charming production in the perfectly proportioned intimate space of the Minerva. Again this little gem of a theatre, so loved by the directors and birthplace last year of the excellent Enron, manages to allow all the choreography, drama and style you would expect from a much larger arena, how do they do it?

 

The action takes place in the exquisitely dressed set of the parfumerie in old Budapest. A myriad of perfume bottles of all sizes of the most delicate shapes in jewel like colours adorn the glass shelves which climb up high.

 

The accomplished orchestra is engagingly set in the wings either side and above the stage. Stephen Mears' sympathetic direction and tight choreography are a pleasure to watch and the singing voice of Diane Pilkington as the heroine is enchanting. Steve Alias as Sipos, the sad fat boy, provides comedy and arguably the best number in the first act 'Perspective'.

 

Our hero Georg, a gentle timid character, is well cast and tenderly played by Joe McFadden. Annette McLaughlin, who is also an accomplished performer, is attractive and funny as the ageing receptionist.

 

There is a wonderful number in the last act, `The Twelve Days of Christmas`. It includes the whole 16-strong cast and shows the skill and talent of the team who must have worked so hard to produce this very polished and engaging show.