With e-mail, instant messenger, Facebook and all the other mediums of communication that are available, sparking up a new romance is more accessible than ever. Unfortunately, this technology also makes love letters via snail mail a romanticized idea of the past.
Arizona Repertory Theatre’s latest production “”She Loves Me”” illustrates the idea of finding love through anonymous correspondence. This is a storyline that has definitely been seen before.
“”To kind of relate to the bigger audience, if you have ever seen the movie ‘You’ve Got Mail,’ with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, it is basically the same story,”” said musical theatre senior Joey Snider.
Snider’s character George and his counterpart Amalia, played by musical theatre senior Alison Pahler, work together as clerks in a 1930s European parfumerie. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, a parfumerie is an upscale shop that sells lotions, cosmetics and of course, perfume.
The two are unknowingly pen pals who find interest in one another through their correspondence but are at each other’s wits in the workplace.
“”(George is) kind of the middle class, the working man,”” Snider said. “”He’s looking to get married with that special someone.””
Pahler describes her character Amalia as equally a nice person in comparison to George, but for whatever reason their personalities seem to clash in person.
“”George and Amalia really butt heads. They love to hate each other,”” Pahler said. “”But the audience can tell that they are perfect for each other, they are just put in the wrong situations.””
Although this is a musical, both actors agree that the plot of the show, which is based on the book by the same name, could stand on its own.
“”The book for this musical is really genuine, and the music just enhances that,”” Pahler said. “”There is not really a lot of showy numbers, so it is just really dependent on the acting and how the characters relate to one another.””
Nevertheless, Pahler is still very impressed with the music written by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick.
“”Oh my gosh, it is absolutely gorgeous. It is not contemporary. It’s very classic musical theater,”” Pahler said.
After having experienced the romantic plot along with some enjoyable music to accompany, Snider hopes the show inspires audience members to chase after their own George or Amalia.
“”I think what I would want to happen after the show is to for everybody to find that person in their life that they adore and to go tell them,”” Snider said.
Previews of “”She Loves Me”” will be held Friday and Monday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Regular showings will be held Wednesday to April 15, 20 to 22 and 27 to 29 at 7:30 p.m. and April 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30 at 1:30 p.m. All shows will be held at the UA Laboratory Theatre, located at the southeast corner of Park Avenue and Speedway Boulevard. General admission is $29, $27 for senior citizens or UA employees and $21 for students. Preview tickets are $20.
