Hey readers!
"Amélie is the story of an astonishing young woman who lives quietly in the world, but loudly in her mind. She secretly improvises small, but extraordinary acts of kindness that bring happiness to those around her. But when a chance at love comes her way, Amélie realises that to find her own contentment she’ll have to risk everything and say what’s in her heart. Although times are hard for dreamers, Amélie is someone to believe in…"
I first saw Amélie in April 2017, during its short stint at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Broadway. At that point, my feelings regarding the show were mixed. Whilst it was very much enjoyable, I found it to be somewhat peculiar. Since then, the show has been significantly re-worked ahead of its West End transfer, with a new creative team at the helm. The orchestrations have been altered, there is an expanded repertoire of songs, and the show is now staged in the actor/muso style. These changes have largely proven worthwhile, and it is much stronger than it was before. Amélie now feels far more authentic, and the show as a whole is more endearing than it was previously.
The story of Amélie is very charming, and it's easy to sympathise with the journey of the titular character. She's rather introverted and a little awkward, but she has a heart of gold and devotes almost all of her time to helping others. It's a sweet narrative, and if more people were like Amélie, the world would be a much nicer place. One can only hope that the show will inspire people to carry out good deeds of their own. It's also a rather romantic tale, and the love-story between the two main characters is delightful. My only quibble with the show's book is that some elements of the story could have been removed in the interest of time. The show was only one act when on Broadway, however the run-time has since been extended and it is now a musical of two-halves. Amélie may have perhaps benefitted from remaining a one-act show, as this could have helped with pacing.
As previously mentioned, the orchestrations have been completely re-done by musical supervisor Barnaby Race. These mark a significant improvement from the Broadway production, and it now feels far more authentic to the Parisian style of music. In addition to this, the added touch of the performers playing their own instruments proved very effective. It made the entire production a lot more enchanting, and helped add to the overall atmosphere of the piece.
Audrey Brisson portrays the leading role of Amélie; a performance for which she was nominated for an Olivier Award. Brisson puts her own spin on Amélie and really makes the role her own. She has the character down to a tee; Brisson embodies Amélie's innocence very well, and encapsulates the character's quirkiness too. She is also a talented singer, showing that there are no limits to her talents. The entirety of the cast were also excellent, and the way in which they were able to act and perform their own instruments simultaneously was awe-inspiring. It is by no means an easy feat, and yet they did it faultlessly.
The scenic design, by Madeleine Girling, is very different to previous productions, but this too is an improvement. The set is very quaint, and it was the perfect way of conveying Amélie's world to the audience. In spite of the fact that it doesn't change all that much throughout the show, it was particularly effective at showcasing a variety of different locations. It was a masterful design, and proved to be an overall highlight of the entire production.
Now for my final verdict on Amélie. I give Amélie...
Amélie features some outstanding orchestrations, as well as an exceptional leading performance. The show has certainly come leaps and bounds since its original incarnation, and I am glad to have seen it flourish in this way.
Think it should have got a higher rating? Agree with my rating? Think it should have got a lower rating? If so comment below.
Thanks for reading!
-The Basic Theatre Reviewer
No comments:
Post a Comment