ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 2, 1995 TAG: 9512070011
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B-12 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: THEATER REVIEW
SOURCE: KATHERINE REED STAFF WRITER
A terrific set and six terrific actors with wonderful voices do not, unfortunately, a terrific play make.
An okay play, yes. But ``She Loves Me,'' which opened Friday night at Mill Mountain Theatre, suffers from a definite ho-hum quality, the fault of the play itself. The story lacks surprise, is very short on the kind of snappy repartee one expects from musical comedies, and is just plain too long.
Written by Miklos Laszlo, it's about the employees of a 1930s European parfumerie called Maraczek's. In particular, it's about a bachelor named Georg and a new employee, Amalia, whose hate-at-first sight relationship is complicated by the fact that, unbeknownst to them, they have been carrying on an amorous correspondence with each other. One knows from the outset that Georg Nowack (Bobby Smith), who is the parfumerie's manager, and Amalia Balash (Elizabeth Silon), a resourceful saleswoman, will eventually discover that the other is the ``Dear Friend'' of their private correspondence. And that they will, of course, fall in love and live happily ever after.
Meanwhile, Miss Ilona Ritter (Karen Faistl) and Steven Kodaly (Abe Reybold), two other salespeople, are carrying on in semi-secret. But Steven is a cad and Ilona a little too blond for her own good - though about to see the light.
Finally, there are Arpad Laszlo (Bryant Carroll), the delivery boy who aspires to more, and Ladislav Sipos (Leslie Feagan), the voice of reason at Maraczek's.
All six actors get admirable mileage out of some pretty weak scenes - especially Faistl and Reybold, who have impeccable comic timing. Faistl conveys a genuine vulnerability as the working girl who just can't seem to learn from her mistakes. Reybold brings originality to a character stereotype.
Only Marvin Einhorn as Mr. Maraczek seems miscast as the boss who strikes fear in his employees. Einhorn has a very warm, grandfatherly quality that he struggles hard to overcome as the intimidating Mr. Maraczek - especially in scenes where he's coming down hard on poor Mr. Nowack.
It would help somewhat if the play were shorter (it's two and a half hours long), and slightly less chock-full of songs, some of them not terribly memorable. Notable exceptions: the Bob Fosse-style ``A Romantic Atmosphere'' at the Cafe Imperiale, ``Sounds While Selling,'' ``I Don't Know His Name,'' ``No More Candy'' and Reybold's delicious ``Ilona.'' Director/choreographer Richard Stafford and Musical Director David Caldwell do fine work here. Frank Ludwig's beautiful sets really help captivate.
This musical has its moments - but they are diluted by its excessive length and insufficient story. It is sure to be refined over the course of its run. In any case, musical lovers may find enough to like - if not to love - in ``She Loves Me.''
LENGTH: Medium: 56 linesby CNB