An American in Paris

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https://www.artscentremelbourne.com.au/whats-on/2022/musical/an-american-in-paris

18/03/2022 until 23/04/2022

What a joy it was to enter the State Theatre again after a two-year hiatus! Crowds of excited people (many in masks) all eagerly awaiting the pleasure of a live performance. And not just any performance – we are lucky to have An American in Paris musical performed in Melbourne. Inspired by the brilliant George Gershwin’s 1928 composition of the same name, and the subsequent 1951 movie, it has won four Tony Awards. Memorable and emotional lyrics are by George Gershwin’s older brother Ira Gershwin. The two were frequent collaborators.

The musical was first staged in Paris in 2014 in the Theatre du Chatelet (see if you notice this name on the decorations), and then on Broadway in 2015. The show toured USA in 2016, opened in London in 2017 and Genoa (Italy) in 2018 and finally arrived in Australia. It is directed and choreographed here by its Broadway Director and Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon.

Performing in Australia (in most of the performances) are the original Broadway stars Robert Fairchild and Leanne Cope. I was lucky to see them perform. And what a performance it was – singing, dancing, acting, with the cast matching these two fabulous star performers! Unusually, tap dancing and ballet are combined with the jazzy moves and music to an exhilarating, breath-taking result.

Set in Paris, 1945 at the end of WWII (we thought this would be the end of all wars, but now we know it wasn’t), the musical tells the story of three friends, a pianist, a painter, and an aspiring singer, each with their own story, ups and downs, fears, and tears, but most of all they are full of thirst for life and hopes for the future.

The historical background of France in an elation of victory and contempt for collaborators is enhanced by the dizzying array of costumes and fast-moving, digitalised decorations recreating crowded Paris streets, museums, theatres, and bars. The life orchestra adds to the excitement and Gershwin’s music remains, always, the true star of this musical.

A complicated love situation ensues, with the three young men falling for the same girl (or at least they think so at the time). Sparks fly in all directions, accompanied by beautiful jazzy music, exciting dancing, sublime singing, and excellent acting. True love wins at the end and the memorable musical ends on a positive note.