By Hannah Curran, Editor
LEEDS — The Leeds Arts Council is preparing to have every love-sick romantic on the edge of their seat with its spin on the iconic She Loves Me directed by Brandi McClaran.
This romantic comedy is the third adaptation of the 1937 play Parfumerie by Hungarian playwright Miklós László, and it followed the 1940s film called the shop around the corner.
“It’s been around for quite some time,” McClaran said. “This shop around the corner was actually the premise for the 1998 movie, You’ve Got Mail. So if you’re familiar with You’ve Got Mail, it’s the same premise.”
The Leeds Arts Council will transport you to a 1934 Budapest Parfumerie, which sells women’s toilet articles such as shampoo, soap, and makeup. The two main characters, George Nowack (Brian Allison) and Amalia Balash (Kathryn Schmidt), unbeknownst to each other, ended up working in the Parfumerie.
However, Amalia and George do not see eye to eye, frequently arguing, believing the other to be infuriating, but not all is as it seems.
“They’re both members of a Lonely Hearts Club, and they have never met their pen pal,” McClaran said. “They have decided that through their letters, they’re madly in love with each other, even though they’ve never seen each other and they don’t know each other’s names.”
McClaran said that this is only the second week of rehearsals, and the extremely talented cast has gelled together and is making the musical their own.
“So they’re all very well versed, very talented, vocally and in acting ability,” McClaran said. “It’s a smaller cast, so they’ve gelled really well together. They’re telling a really beautiful story.”
Dan O’Rourke (Mr. Maraczek) explained that the audience should expect a wholesome romantic comedy.
“There’s a purity to the story and innocence to the story that I think anyone could enjoy,” O’Rouke said. “So these two characters, at long last, are willing to unfold themselves up to the point where they’re vulnerable to someone knowing about them and exploring that other person. It’s the way that I wish more love stories played out.”
Join the Leeds Arts Council as the audience dives into the twist and turns that come with discovering that their pen pal is the person who irritates them the most. What happens when the truth is unveiled? Will love prevail?
The show opens after Valentine’s Day on February 24 and 25, March 2 and 4 at 7 p.m., and February 26 and March 5 at 2:30 p.m. You can purchase tickets at lac.booktix.com.
“I consider February to be the month of love, and if you’re looking for a really great night out with your significant other, this will be a perfect show to come see,” McClaran said. “It’s just a beautiful, lovely story, and the talent is fantastic.”
Cast:
- Brian Allison as George Nowack
- Kathryn Schmidt as Amalia Balash
- Heather Duncan as Ilona Ritter
- Jon McClaran as Ladislav Sipos
- Dan O’Rourke as Mr. Maraczek
- Josh McDaniel as Steven Kodaly
- Trinity Dillingham as Arpad Lazlo
- Spenser Thompson as Waiter
- Blake Echols as Mr. Keller
- Jenna Rutledge as the Busboy
- Angela Forehand Ensemble
- Lori Theriot Ensemble
- Lara Moore Ensemble
- Shannon Jordan Ensemble
- Melissa Foster Ensemble
- Aidan Kay Ensemble
- Directed by Brandi McClaran
- Asst Director Hailey Lowery
- Music Director Jon McClaran
- Choreographer Miah Thompson