Chicago Tribune
- Recommended
"...In some ways, "She Loves Me," which opened Friday at Writers' Theatre in Glencoe, is what you might call a jewel-box musical. Given the romantic department-store setting -- the show ends at Christmas in a thriving Eastern European city in its prime -- and the succulent Bock score, it requires intimacy. And although the setting at Writers' is more prosaic than one might wish (one is hardly transported to Budapest), the scope of the show is an apt match for this boutique theater."
Chicago Sun Times
- Highly Recommended
"...Halberstam, who will stage the Writers' Theatre-originated musical, "A Minister's Wife," at Lincoln Center this spring, is in top form here, with Jack Magaw's art nouveau set and Nan Zabriskie's zesty period costumes capturing Central European style of the time."
Chicago Reader
- Highly Recommended
"...Michael Halberstam's Writers' Theatre production isn't very visually exciting, but it boasts uniformly fine performances, particularly from supporting players Heidi Kettenring as the shop tart, Kevin Gudahl as the shop nebbish, and Bernard Balbot as an ambitious delivery boy."
Copley News Service
- Highly Recommended
"... “She Loves Me” ranks among the most charming musicals in American theater history. The score by Jerry Bock (music) and Sheldon Harnick (lyrics) won’t make any hit parades because the songs are entirely in the service of character illumination and plot development. The show doesn’t rely on glitzy production numbers or glamorous leading characters. The musical triumphs on its warmth and wry humor and a delightful pair of lovers who don’t discover they are lovers until the end of the evening. "
Centerstage
- Highly Recommended
"...In one of Chicago's most highly anticipated productions of the season comes the marriage of what many consider to be the perfect musical with the perfect cast. Add to the mix the perfect artistic team plus the perfect intimate venue for this sweet, old-fashioned script and you have a production guaranteed to charm even the most hardened audience member."
Time Out Chicago
- Highly Recommended
"...
Ultimately, of course, the show comes down to Georg and Amalia (and to Bock and Harnick’s arresting score, beautifully led by music director Ben Johnson). Thomas imbues Georg with an appropriately if not unexpectedly Stewartesque manner, while Mueller recalls a less strident Streisand. In Writers’ intimate production—so close that the actors are refreshingly unmiked—She Loves Me is as darling and unadorned as the music box that secures Miss Balash her job."
ShowBizChicago
- Highly Recommended
"...Although the show may be mawkishly sweet, the strong performances of the cast elevate the Writers’ Theatre’s production above the tender source material to a strong, polished piece of entertainment. Today classic, old-fashioned shows are seldom mounted with the professional flare needed for true resuscitation and are even less frequently performed well with any kind of originality. The Writers’ Theatre provides a rare opportunity to for both."
ChicagoCritic
- Highly Recommended
"...She Love Me is a chamber romantic musical filled with character-specific songs with smart lyrics (by Sheldon Harnick) on Jerry Bock’s bouncy score. This is a feel-good musical fantasy that is sophisticated in its simplicity. The effective and seemingly easy manner from director Michael Halberstam’s cast is a testimony to everyone understanding and respecting the nature of the material. This is a slickly enchanting musical. Jessie Mueller and Rod Thomas were outstanding. Halberstam has a “perfect” production of a “perfect” musical."
Chicago Stage and Screen
- Highly Recommended
"...Veteran actors Kevin Gudahl and Ross Lehman can always be counted on for memorable work. One small quibble here, I would have had them switch roles. Gudahl's paternal warmth and old world gentility would have been better suited to the shop owner Maraczek, however both actors handle their assignments professionally. Gudahl's character of the self-described cowardly middle-aged salesman Ladislov Sipos is one we should all be able to sympathize and relate to as he suppresses his ambitions and dignity for self-preservation. Jeremy Rill has a hilarious turn as a beleaguered restaurant head waiter. And Kelli Clevenger, Stephanie Herman, Bethany Thomas and Andrew Goetten round out a hard working ensemble, scoring an increasingly frantic and amusing Christmas rush. This intimate and inventive production has been mounted with such taste, talent and charm by Halberstam and Musical Director Ben Johnson, it is nothing short of a gift to lovers of musical theatre. Don't miss it! "
Around The Town Chicago
- Highly Recommended
"...Also of importance is the ensemble players. I love ensemble players as they are the people who change clothes and characters on a dime and blend their voices to fit the story. Andrew Goetten, Kelli Clevenger,Stephanie Herman,Bethany Thomas and Jeremy Rill who is outstanding in his featured spot as the waiter. they are all top-notch with great energy. The musical direction by Ben Johnson and the sound (Ray Nardelli) and lighting(Keith Parham) all help to create Halberstam’s magic in this very intimate theater setting. The set, designed by Jack Magaw tends to make the best use of this small space allowing the shop to be both inside and out and with a piece of furniture here or there and a curtain closing, it becomes a nightclub, the park, a bedroom or a hospital room- very clever. The costumes (Nan Zabriskie are very “fitting”, but in this particular production, the prop master/designer Nick Heggestad is to be applauded- he and his staff really “got it”"
Chicago Theater Beat
- Highly Recommended
"...Dressing up the ensemble with 30’s finery, Nan Zabriskie provides a multitude of exquisite costumes. The chorus coming and going from the shop provide a marathon vintage fashion show. Beautiful! Halberstam, along with choreographer Jessica Redish, provide many amusing, visual stunners, including; Christmas shopping and silhouette dancing. Not quite the Anna Karenina of romantic literature, She Loves Me has all the guarantees of a blockbuster romantic comedy. It requires limited emotional or intellectual investment and promises laughs and a happy ending. She Loves Me makes finding love simply a pluck of the petal to determine the emotional connection: she loves me, she loves me not, she loves me… Aw, if it was only that easy, dear friend!"
