Justin Sheedy

Pen-pal pandemonium at Buck Creek Players

PWJW_Indy Reviews, Stage , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By John Lyle Belden

Buck Creek Players lifts our spirits with a fun production of the classic rom-com musical, “She Loves Me.”

This 1960s Broadway hit by Joe Masteroff, with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, is based on the 1937 play “Parfumerie” by Miklos Laszlo, which also inspired the 1998 movie “You’ve Got Mail.” Directed for BCP by Drew Bryson, its setting in 1930s Budapest, Hungary, feels like any European or American major city in a gentler time.

Maraczek’s perfume shop prides itself on its service, including a warm greeting, swift attention to returns and complaints, and even singing you out the door with your purchase. The staff includes neurotic family man Sipos (Phil Criswell), suave ladies’ man Kodaly (Troy Bridges), hopeless romantic Ilona (Miranda Boyle [nèe Nehrig]), eager delivery boy Arpad (Colton Woods), and introverted assistant manager Georg Nowack (Bobby Haley).

On a summer day, owner Mr. Maraczek (Darrin Gowan) brings to the shop a selection of musical cigarette boxes, which Georg fears will never sell. The boss declares they will, and bets him that one will be sold within the hour. Moments later, a young woman, Amalia Balash (Jenna MacNulty), nervously asks for a job at the shop. After being told there are no openings, she quickly talks a customer into purchasing a music box, convincing her it’s for holding sweets.

Amalia is hired; Georg is annoyed. While they bitterly bicker through the coming months, neither knows that they are anonymously writing romantic letters to each other through a lonely-hearts club. The “Dear Friends” of their correspondence plan a first-time in-person rendezvous in December. Looks like they are in for a holiday surprise!

Supporting in roles including shop customers, as well as discreet diners at a cozy café, are Zach Bucher, Drew Hedges, Elizabeth Huston, Sheila Raghavendran, Josh Rooks, Derek Savick-Hesser, Lizzie Schultz, and Lauren Bowers Werne.

Like a well-run parfumerie, this is an excellent ensemble performance. Each of the shop workers, including Gowan’s Maraczek, get moments to shine. We even get a personal-growth arc with Ilona, which Boyle brings out beautifully. On the other hand, Bridges keeps Kodaly cool but difficult to like, his bad-boy persona more than a facade. Criswell keeps Sipos’s nobility hidden, but it’s not hard to detect. High-schooler Woods maintains Arpad’s boyish charm as he matures before our eyes.

Haley shines as his Georg sorts out what he wants, struggling with confidence as events turn out nothing like he expected. As Amalia, MacNulty is simply brilliant – beautiful and powerful in voice and personality. We can’t wait to see how these two finally get together, though, as always with such stories it won’t be easy.

Content is no worse than PG, though there is an instance of self-harm.

Kelsey McDaniel is assistant director. Meg Benedict leads the 12-piece orchestra. Andy Riggs is vocal director. Choreography is by Justin Sheedy. Kayla Richardson is stage manager, assisted by Olivia Lawson.

With lots of laughs and sweet as vanilla ice cream, fall in love with “She Loves Me,” performances Friday through Sunday, Oct. 17-19, at Buck Creek Playhouse, 11150 Southeastern  Ave. (Acton Road exit off I-74), Indianapolis. Get info and tickets at buckcreekplayers.com.

Omigod you guys(?) – Indy Drag goes to law school

PWJW_Indy Reviews, Stage , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By John Lyle Belden

(Note: Out of respect for the art form and its performers, they are identified by their Drag names as given in the show program.)

Many of us are familiar with the 2001 film “Legally Blonde,” and perhaps with the 2007 stage musical, however for Indy Drag Theatre, it was a parody tribute to this fun comedy in 2022 that got the company rolling. Now, this clever melding of both movie and Broadway – acted, danced and neatly lip-synched by local Drag Queens and Kings – has returned to The District Theatre.

Also notable as an actor in conventional musicals, Parker Taylor makes a stunning transformation into Honey Bunn, who plays our blonde heroine, Elle Woods. To win back the love of her ex-boyfriend Warner (played by Cadence), she leaves UCLA to enter Harvard Law School. Needless to say, it won’t be easy for her but very funny and entertaining for us. In Boston, Elle gets help from teaching assistant Emmett (Eli Rose) and local beautician Paulette (Sydnie Blair), but no help from Vivienne (Kalinda), who is with Warner now.

Elle finally gets to prove herself as part of a team of interns for Professor Callahan (Kristen N. Peterson), who is defending a famous fitness expert Brooke Wyndham (Vera Vanderwoude St. Clair) charged with murder.

The cast includes Axel Brozie as classmate Enid, and AJ Thoma, Kitt St. Clair, and B.B. Rosè as Elle’s Delta Nu sisters Margot, Serena, and Pilar, who appear as her literal Greek Chorus. Sean Seager is dog-gone cute as anthropomorphic pooch Bruiser, as well as hot UPS man Kyle.

A tip of the wig also to Ilana a la Mode, Madison Avenue, Kami Kamora, RoDick Heffley, Josè Dos Santos, Ellen Vander Missen, DeLuLu De Vant, Justin Sheedy, Sophie Sweany, Tiffany Rae, and CiCi Pasion.

Directed by IDT co-founders Blair St. Clair and April Rosè (who choreographed), stage manager is Natalie Port-Ma’am, with costumes by Alish Forner, makeup by St. Pussifer, wigs by Hair By Blair and sturdy sets by Josh Vander Missen.

While the Queens usually get the attention in these shows, it takes all kinds to make the magic work, and I must note the stellar King performance by Peterson as conniving, cruel creep Callahan.

With its energy, flair, and embrace of all things pink and shiny, this musical meshes perfectly with the Drag Theatre format, providing a wonderful experience all around. Get “Legally Blonde(r)” this Thursday through Sunday, May 15-18, at the District Theatre, 627 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis. Get tickets at indydistricttheatre.org.