This delightful musical is one of those little gems that rarely comes up with a success on Broadway. This happens to be the third production of the show on Broadway, and without a doubt one of the most attractive sets in recent memory. But in a Broadway musical, you don't come out singing the sets, and composer Jerry Bock and lyricist Sheldon Harnick came up with a totally gorgeous score for this frequently utilized plot. This production was my second visit to the Budapest perfume shop, first having seen an excellent Los Angeles production from the Reprise company starring Rebecca Luker. Considering that Luker had already revived several musicals in roles which Barbara Cook originated, she was a perfect choice, but that production was only several years after the previous Broadway production, so a return at that time was not considered.
The 2016 Roundabout production of thus show cast Tony winner Laura Benanti in the role of feisty Amelia Balash, tough on the outside, but romantic and too filled in the heart where everything that matters is formulated. It's hate at first sight for Benanti and veteran clerk Zachary Levi who resents her being hired and her high and mighty outwardly attitude. But there's a secret between them that even they are unaware of: they are secret pen pals, and while you'd think an "eew" factor would keep them apart, well...think again.
Having won a Tony for seducing Antonio Banderas while swinging from the ceiling wearing nothing but a bed sheet, Jane Krakowski practically tops that with her energetic, lovable performance as the lovelorn sexy clerk fearing the lack of matrimonial prospects, basically used by nefarious playboy clerk Gavin Creel for commitment free encounters, and this all sends aging store owner Byron Jennings on edge, especially when he learns that one of his clerks is seeking his (unseen) wife, and it all comes to a head when these conflicts explode as the busy Christmas holidays approach.
There's definitely a romantic atmosphere abound in this glorious show, featuring way too many glorious melodies to mention. The cast is letter perfect, with Benanti glittering in her multi layered characterization, stubborn and funny, hopeful and sweet, yet independent in her way of looking at life. Zachary Levi fills his role with absolute charm, with Gavin Creel deliciously smarmy as the sex obsessed lothario who misses out on a good thing with the devoted Krakowski. Peter Bartlett scores in delight as a huffy head waiter, while Tom McGowan is huggable as the sadder and wiser older clerk. Nicholas Barasch is the type of growing young man that older women in the audience want to slip in their purse and adopt, especially when he sings of his own ambitions, not content with just running people down on his bike as he makes deliveries. After seeing this, you too may be craving vanilla ice cream and searching for your own romantic atmosphere, especially when you get near to those twelve days to Christmas.
The 2016 Roundabout production of thus show cast Tony winner Laura Benanti in the role of feisty Amelia Balash, tough on the outside, but romantic and too filled in the heart where everything that matters is formulated. It's hate at first sight for Benanti and veteran clerk Zachary Levi who resents her being hired and her high and mighty outwardly attitude. But there's a secret between them that even they are unaware of: they are secret pen pals, and while you'd think an "eew" factor would keep them apart, well...think again.
Having won a Tony for seducing Antonio Banderas while swinging from the ceiling wearing nothing but a bed sheet, Jane Krakowski practically tops that with her energetic, lovable performance as the lovelorn sexy clerk fearing the lack of matrimonial prospects, basically used by nefarious playboy clerk Gavin Creel for commitment free encounters, and this all sends aging store owner Byron Jennings on edge, especially when he learns that one of his clerks is seeking his (unseen) wife, and it all comes to a head when these conflicts explode as the busy Christmas holidays approach.
There's definitely a romantic atmosphere abound in this glorious show, featuring way too many glorious melodies to mention. The cast is letter perfect, with Benanti glittering in her multi layered characterization, stubborn and funny, hopeful and sweet, yet independent in her way of looking at life. Zachary Levi fills his role with absolute charm, with Gavin Creel deliciously smarmy as the sex obsessed lothario who misses out on a good thing with the devoted Krakowski. Peter Bartlett scores in delight as a huffy head waiter, while Tom McGowan is huggable as the sadder and wiser older clerk. Nicholas Barasch is the type of growing young man that older women in the audience want to slip in their purse and adopt, especially when he sings of his own ambitions, not content with just running people down on his bike as he makes deliveries. After seeing this, you too may be craving vanilla ice cream and searching for your own romantic atmosphere, especially when you get near to those twelve days to Christmas.