The central set of the often charming musical romance “She Loves Me” is a perfume store on a Budapest street in the 1930s.
But as envisioned by Arvada Center scenic designer Brian Mallgrave, Maraczek’s Parfumerie should really be a jewelry store. It glimmers.
Or maybe it can be likened to the musical cigarette boxes that an excited Mr. Maraczek wants his doubtful staff to sell. After a festive street scene (“Good Morning, Good Day”), the storefront smoothly opens on the store itself, revealing beckoning counters and prettily stocked shelves. Behold the star of “She Loves Me.”
Mallgrave has outdone himself. And as directed by Gavin Mayer, much of this production is just as lovely.
When store manager Georg (Andrew Russell) meets Amalia (Julia Jackson), it is not love at first sight. Far from it.
Amalia comes in seeking a job. Georg says they aren’t hiring but she shows Maraczek himself (Mark Rubald) that she can sell a musical box. She’s hired. Let the bickering and head-butting begin.
Although Georg and Amalia make each other’s work life a grind, they unknowingly have been stirring the embers of romance as pen pals. This twist will strike a familiar note to fans of the movies “The Shop Around the Corner,” “In the Good Old Summertime” and “You’ve Got Mail.” All owe a debt to Miklós László, whose 1937 play “The Parfumerie” is the touchstone.
“She Loves Me” was first performed on Broadway in 1964 and revived in 1993. The book comes from Joe Masteroff, who penned “Cabaret.” The music and lyrics are by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, Tony-winning partners on “Fiddler on the Roof.”
Stephen Day nearly steals the show in “A Romantic Atmosphere,” playing the waiter in the restaurant where the two correspondents are finally going to meet. Amalia waits with a rose and Tolstoy’s tragic novel “Anna Karenina,” agreed-upon signals to her “Dear Friend,” who never arrives.
Yes, things will go deliciously awry for a bit. But we can trust in the verve of this musical romance that their conclusion will be far from tragic.
“SHE LOVES ME.” Book by Joe Masteroff. Based on the play by Miklos Laszlo. Music by Jerry Bock. Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. Directed by Gavin Mayer. Featuring Andrew Russell, Julia Jackson, Rob Costigan, Jennifer Lorae, Parker Redford and Stephen Day. Through Dec. 21. Run time 2 hr 40 min, At the Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd. $36-$73 via or 720-898-7200
