By Jeff Favre

02/10/2011
‘She Loves Me’ opens Civic Light Opera season
Kodaly (Mark Edgar Stephens) seduces Ilona (Susannah Hall). Photo courtesy of Alysa Brennan

Stephanie A. Coltrin enjoyed stage managing a revival of the 1963 musical "She Loves Me" for L.A.'s Reprise Theatre Company, but she also thought about what she would do differently as director, given the chance.

That chance has arrived.

Coltrin will direct "She Loves Me" to open the 20th season of Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities, featuring Lesli Margherita, Jason Webb and Susannah Hall. Previews begin Wednesday at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center.

Based on the Hungarian play "Parfumerie" by Miklos Laszlo, the play centers around two strangers - Amalia (Hall) and Georg (Webb) - who begin a romance via letters, unaware that they work together at a shop. The story may be most familiar to modern audiences from another adaptation - the Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan romantic comedy "You've Got Mail."

The Tony-nominated musical was written by "Fiddler on the Roof" creators Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock, with a book by Joe Masteroff. Its best known song is "Vanilla Ice Cream," which has become a staple in concerts for Barbara Cook, who originated the role of Amalia.

Despite critical praise, "She Loves Me" remains a mostly overlooked show, only occasionally benefiting from high-profile productions. "The show doesn't have name recognition, and I don't know why," Coltrin said. "The music is beautiful and the story is interesting. But it's a challenging show because you need more than good voices. You need actors with good voices."

One person Coltrin believed fit the bill was Margherita, who won the Olivier Award for her performance in "Zorro the Musical" on London's West End. Margherita was cast as Ilona, a single shop worker looking desperately for love.

"I'd never done it, but it's one of those shows where I knew the songs because people always use them for auditions," Margherita said. "For years, people had told me I would be good to play Ilona. Then I read the part and I find out she is a very loose woman. But I think it's a great comedic part, so I was totally interested."

"She Loves Me" is a small show compared to the big spectacle musicals that have become commonplace. So Christopher Beyries' set is crucial in creating the proper atmosphere, Coltrin said.

"This is a large venue and a small show," she said. "We have a 60-foot proscenium and this shop can't be 60 feet. So we're narrowing it and creating an intimate atmosphere."

As stage manager for the production at Reprise, Coltrin said she learned that a key to the show is focusing on the characters.

"The singing has to come from an acting place," she said.

Margherita concurred, adding, "This is an innocent story everyone knows, but what's special is that this group in the shop are a family. They need these jobs and they need each other. And the way they all come together is uplifting."

"She Loves Me" may be new to many CLOSBC subscribers, but Coltrin believes they will quickly become fans.

"It's an ideal way to start the season," she said.

Jeff Favre is a freelance entertainment writer based in North Hollywood.

She Loves Me

When: Previews Wednesday, Thursday and Feb. 18; opens Feb. 19 and continues at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday through March 8.

Where: Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd.

Tickets: $40-$60.

Information: 310-372-4477 or www.civiclightopera.com.