It's time for my mini-reviews of She Loves Me, An American in Paris and Ben Platt: Live from Radio City Music Hall!
She Loves Me
"Meet Amalia and Georg, who work as clerks in Maraczek’s Parfumerie and aren’t exactly the best of friends. However, they have something in common. They both rapturously write to romantic pen pals. Despite the anonymity of their secret admirers, they live for the love letters that they exchange and the day they will finally meet."
I first saw the Broadway production of She Loves Me during my trip to New York in 2016, and loved it. As a result, I was thrilled to once again have the opportunity to watch this magnificent production. The show features an utterly stellar cast, and each and every one of them brings so much energy to their respective performances. They are all incredible to watch, and the range of talent shown is striking. In particular, Laura Benanti, Zachary Levi and Jane Krakowski were all spellbinding. The scenic design, by David Rockwell, won a Tony Award in 2016, and rightfully so. The attention to detail is absolutely extraordinary, and the level of thought and effort that had been put into it was remarkable.
She Loves Me can be watched on BroadwayHD here (please note that a subscription is needed in order to view): She Loves Me.
An American in Paris
"Based on the 1951 Academy Award-winning film of the same name, An American in Paris brings to life the beauty of post-war Paris with one of the most romantic stage musicals ever seen. World War II Army veteran Jerry Mulligan is eager to begin a new life in the newly-liberated city of Paris, following an army career and brutal realisation of combat. Dreaming of living in the city of love and making a name for himself as a famous painter, he meets the beautiful Lise, a young Parisian shop girl who has her own secret."
I viewed the Broadway production of An American in Paris in 2016, before getting the chance to see it again in Chicago the following year. I awarded the show five stars both times, and it remains to be one of the best musicals I have ever seen. The show is very dance-oriented, and the choreography in An American in Paris is among the best I have ever seen. In particular, the ballet section featured within the titular number is breathtaking, and the large ensemble of dancers are mesmerising. The cast featured in this production are also outstanding. I had previously seen Leanne Cope perform in the role of Lise on Broadway, and her performance was just as good as I had remembered it. Robert Fairchild, as Jerry, was equally as excellent. Fairchild is a very skilled performer, and proves to be a triple threat; he's a very good actor, a talented singer and a truly phenomenal dancer.
An American in Paris can be watched on BroadwayHD here (please note that a subscription is needed in order to view): An American in Paris.
Ben Platt: Live from Radio City Music Hall
"Backed by a full band and a ready wit, actor Ben Platt opens up a very personal songbook onstage - numbers from his debut LP, "Sing to Me Instead.""
Ben Platt is undoubtedly among my favourite performers; whilst I was familiar with his previous musical theatre work, I primarily came to know Platt through his work on the new Netflix show 'The Politician'. The Politician grew to become a personal favourite of mine, and thus it was a privilege to see Platt in a new light. Firstly, there can be no doubt regarding Platt's abilities as a singer. He truly has a voice like no other, and his vocal range is simply remarkable. It should be noted that Platt writes all of his own music, which is commendable in itself. His lyrics are very heartfelt, and I personally found it extremely easy to connect with his music. Platt expresses his emotions very well through his lyrics, producing outstanding results.
Ben Platt: Live from Radio City Music Hall can be watched on Netflix here (please note that a subscription is needed in order to view): Ben Platt.
Thanks for reading!
-The Basic Theatre Reviewer
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